Anyone From The Regiment,or American/aussie Special Forces On Here?

[chiangmaikelly]

My 2nd wife's father was in the trenches in France during WWI and he got gassed and it messed up his feet. I checked his records after he died. He never left a supply depot in Arkansas.

There is a history site on the INTERNET where real American Vietnam Vets talk to real Vietnamese Vietnam war vets about the war and battles and stuff like that. The only special forces guys; MAC SOG guys, I knew in Vietnam stole my jeep twice. I wasn't impressed.

I'm not real good at telling war stories. But it doesn't bother me. All the Generals write books as do all the hero's. Sergeant York and Audi Murphy and MacArthur and Eisenhower even turned it into the Presidency so I don't really buy the argument that real soldiers don't talk about it. Real good soldiers write about it and make money from the books and movies.

[chiangmaikelly]

Funny, I have never met a British ex-special forces who would talk about it in public. Ask questions on an internet forum as to the identity of others?

The majority of people who claim to be ex are in fact "special" in a different sort of way, IMHO of course.................

And yes, I used to know lots!

In Afghanistan.To the irritation of the British government, and particularly the Ministry of Defence, General David Petraeus, former US commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, does not miss an opportunity to praise our special forces. Why has such praise not been welcomed by British officials? Because they stick to the policy that operations involving special forces can never be disclosed. Officially, at least. http://www.guardian....ct/27/sas-libya

So the Brits would talk if they could but they can't.

I think there is a big number difference also. How many American Special Forces since 1965 and how many UK. It has to be 100 to 1. There just aren't very many SAS guys are there? For example, "By the end of 1969, SOG was authorized 394 U.S. personnel, but it is useful to compare those numbers to the actual strengths of the operational elements. There were 1,041 Army, 476 Air Force, 17 Marine Corps, and seven CIA personnel assigned to those units. They were supported by 3,068 SCUs, and 5,402 South Vietnamese and third-country civilian employees, leading to a total of 10,210 military personnel and civilians either assigned to or working for MACSOG." So that means, technically, there were over 10,000 Special Forces.

[Soutpeel]

, technically, there were over 10,000 Special Forces.

so not that "special" then considering the numbers... ....I would hazard a guess and say there are less than 1000 SAS troops currently in the British army...so guess you wouldnt call the SAS "special forces" but rather a "very elite" force.....to use an Americanism, The best of the best...

[chiangmaikelly]

, technically, there were over 10,000 Special Forces.

so not that "special" then considering the numbers... ....I would hazard a guess and say there are less than 1000 SAS troops currently in the British army...so guess you wouldnt call the SAS "special forces" but rather a "very elite" force.....to use an Americanism, The best of the best...

To be sure the Brits taught the Americans special operations during WWII. They are the experts. Now since America has had so many wars since 1965 you would have to assume there are many different kinds of American special operations retired and active duty people about. Green Berets, Seals, Rangers, Marines, Delta force and so on...

[NanLaew]

only member of my close family who had a wonderful war,was my uncle, he served as a mechanic in japan,he had great time, as he would tell all,

My late father was an RMP in the Scots Guards in Germany post WWII, up until the Nuremberg Trials where he was a court guard. His favourite assignment was riding all over Germany on the footplate of trains as a security detail. And something called the Reeperbahn?

His kid brother, my Uncle Duncan, was in the Paratroop Regiment in the late 50's and 60's and did the usual rounds in sh!tholes like Aden and Borneo. He really wanted to join the RAF but at 6'2" was deemed too tall to pilot plane so enlisted in the Para's so he could jump out of them instead.

These guys were real special.

Me? I did a couple of Wednesday nights with the Elgin branch of the Boys Brigade when I was about 5 years old (I think).

[Soutpeel]

Reeperbahn?....Hamburg....Germanys equivilant to Soi Cowboy, Nana or Walking street... ....or so I am told

[macksview]

hope the OP finds some comrades from the special services fraternity, me as a just a simple storeman/communications when serving, rarely had much to do with more elite branches of the services, but the disturbing thing is i have met so many retired ones when in thailand.

must have been recruiting desperately for the special forces at various times,because it seems when in thailand they out number the storemen 10 to 1.

dare i say it "thailand the hub of retired special service members"

You must have met a lot of entertainers .... Special Services is the entertainment branch of the American military.

• 03B Entertainment Specialist
  
• 03C Physical Activities Specialist
  
• 03D Crafts Specialist
  
• 03Z Recreation Service Senior Sergeant
  

[edit]Famous Special Service soldiers

• Maurice Evans
  
• Howard Morris
  
• Carl Reiner
  
• Werner Klemperer
  
• Burt Lancaster
  
• Sammy Davis Jr.
  
• Dick Van Dyke
  
• Ken Berry
  
• Frank Gorshin
  
• Mitch Ryan
  
• Jack Paar
  
• Philip Ahn
  

liked burt lancaster,but bloody dick van dyke oh no x 100

[oldsailor35]

We're all Special Forces, man.

Not everyone would think that was funny.

why ?

If you are ex SF you would'nt need to ask that question. And if you are not SF then it does'nt concern you.

[oldsailor35]

I am not ex-services, all I have is an Uncle who was RNE and I have a nephew who is serving in Afghanistan (comms on base though, Blandford boy...something tells me that he wants Hereford though!). What occurs to me every time I hear one of these "glory boys" telling people their war stories is how much I would like to have my Uncle or Nephew with me just to hear them out them publicly.

OP, you seem like a straight up guy. Please, whilst you are here, enjoy a moment or two to rib a couple of b**lsh***rs on behalf of us straight up types....just wish I could be there.

Don't understand "Blandford Boy" ? thats my hometown its also home of British Army School of signals.

[dean999]

When i talk to people, i never tell them i'm in the Navy. Then when they start talking sh_t, i can usually blow a big whole in there lies. When they try saying i don't know what i'm talking about, i explain that i'm in the navy and have worked with a lot of different countries military. I'm currently working for NATO in Belgium, so as you can imagin, my knowledge is growing 10 fold.

Anyone that says how many people they killed, is a big red flag that they are lying. I was being trained by Royal Marines and they were saying the one question that pisses them off the most is, how many people have you killed? Nobody likes to talk about it. They do like to talk about the sick things they do to each other though. Some very funny stories.

[Farma]

Over the years I've worked with an electrician who went on to become SAS, been taught ways to avoid kidnap by an ex SAS, spent years working with a guy who had/still has a son in the SAS, currently have ex SAS security consultants taking care of my accomodation security plus shared a few beers with them.

The only legit if you could call Air America legit guy I know in Thailand lives in Pattaya.

Of all these guys you wouldn't know what they do or did. They live the life of the grey man .

[Hedghog]

Would think you old war mongers would rather forget the Vietnam debacle of a war effort.

Against a third world country.

Yes I have served my country.

[Scully]

I have a friend in the UK who is rather high up in the military. He regularly goes over to America to train with the yanks, he always comments that while he is there he is treated like a demi-god.

While in the UK he is treated like anyone else and as he says just doing his job.

He doesn't talk about his job as anyone who talks about work soon becomes boring. Maybe these ex veterans think we will be impressed, but not me.

[chiangmaikelly]

Would think you old war mongers would rather forget the Vietnam debacle of a war effort.

Against a third world country.

Yes I have served my country.

I assume you have served your country in a non military capacity?

[chiangmaikelly]

I have a friend in the UK who is rather high up in the military. He regularly goes over to America to train with the yanks, he always comments that while he is there he is treated like a demi-god.

While in the UK he is treated like anyone else and as he says just doing his job.

He doesn't talk about his job as anyone who talks about work soon becomes boring. Maybe these ex veterans think we will be impressed, but not me.

Ya I wouldn't be bored by a guy telling me he was a demi-god; nor would I ask him what he did! You do bring up an interesting use of a word I have never seen before. How does one become an ex veteran? I served in Vietnam among other places so I am a Vietnam Veteran. How would I become an ex Vietnam Veteran?

[MrRealDeal]

Couple of points

The DD214 is not 1 thing with all your information , their are a couple of different types , Their is a short version which omits your service record , and the long version, and your origional one ( Member 4) is not replaceable, but you are given a Service 2 copy as a replacement. Which is essentially the same thing but shows anyone who knows, you didn't keep very good care of your documents.

The VFW and who it allows is up to each VFW to decide , the one in my town in the USA allows people who are not even veterans because otherwise they would need to close due to lack of customers, a lame excuse to me but thats what they do.

VFW Membership is another thing ...... not all VFW's limit customers to members or guests only, and some do. But you can't be a Member unless you qualify and can prove it.

I was a SAR Corpsman\swimmer in the USN , not exactly special forces but slightly more special than some other rates ! lol

[Scully]

I have a friend in the UK who is rather high up in the military. He regularly goes over to America to train with the yanks, he always comments that while he is there he is treated like a demi-god.

While in the UK he is treated like anyone else and as he says just doing his job.

He doesn't talk about his job as anyone who talks about work soon becomes boring. Maybe these ex veterans think we will be impressed, but not me.

Ya I wouldn't be bored by a guy telling me he was a demi-god; nor would I ask him what he did! You do bring up an interesting use of a word I have never seen before. How does one become an ex veteran? I served in Vietnam among other places so I am a Vietnam Veteran. How would I become an ex Vietnam Veteran?

I wrote ex army and decided on veteran but only deleted army, my bad.

I said he is treated like a demi-god he isn't one, though you may think he is. It's a job, not one I would want but that's not the point.

[Terry Newman]

You have just been invited to every bar in Pattaya, Spew~Ket and Patpong !!!!!!!!

back in the day I could have joined you, but I had to swear to secrecy.......

[chiangmaikelly]

I have a friend in the UK who is rather high up in the military. He regularly goes over to America to train with the yanks, he always comments that while he is there he is treated like a demi-god.

While in the UK he is treated like anyone else and as he says just doing his job.

He doesn't talk about his job as anyone who talks about work soon becomes boring. Maybe these ex veterans think we will be impressed, but not me.

Ya I wouldn't be bored by a guy telling me he was a demi-god; nor would I ask him what he did! You do bring up an interesting use of a word I have never seen before. How does one become an ex veteran? I served in Vietnam among other places so I am a Vietnam Veteran. How would I become an ex Vietnam Veteran?

I wrote ex army and decided on veteran but only deleted army, my bad.

I said he is treated like a demi-god he isn't one, though you may think he is. It's a job, not one I would want but that's not the point.

You said, "he doesn't talk about his job" If he doesn't talk about his job how do you know about it and that he thinks Americans treat him like a demi god?

All I am trying to say is some people have interesting jobs and others don't. I think flying helicopters is interesting and enjoy listening to the Canadians who fly out of Thailand every day. There are a couple of high ranking CIA guys who live in Thailand who have fascinating, although clerical, jobs and one old guy who really did fly for Air America who lives in Pattaya.

I find some people interesting and others boring but would never stereotype everyone who has been in the military as being boring unless I had a major case of envy.

[The Regiment]

Funny, I have never met a British ex-special forces who would talk about it in public. Ask questions on an internet forum as to the identity of others?

The majority of people who claim to be ex are in fact "special" in a different sort of way, IMHO of course.................

And yes, I used to know lots!

Sounds like a Crap Hat to me,if you never met one that'd talk about it in public how do you know that you know lots?

Very strange post!

[RabC]

Funny, I have never met a British ex-special forces who would talk about it in public. Ask questions on an internet forum as to the identity of others?

The majority of people who claim to be ex are in fact "special" in a different sort of way, IMHO of course.................

And yes, I used to know lots!

Sounds like a Crap Hat to me,if you never met one that'd talk about it in public how do you know that you know lots?

Very strange post!

All the lingo but I call Walt. If you are who you say you are, you'd just ask mates who had also been in.

[MrRealDeal]

Well he didn't even say what he did that makes him "special", he beat around the bush a little about the SEALS but never said what he did that he thinks qualifies as "special".

The Royal Thai SEALS were not "taken" from the USN SEALS ..... The USN SEALS created the Royal Thai SEALS

[Hedghog]

Mr Kelly you presume wrong.

I am proud of my military service.

Third generation of my family to do so.

Not a conscript a volunteer.

[spacedcowboy]

The use of the word Ex-serviceman in UK Military circles was generally perceived very negatively amongst the ranks.

A serviceman was always (I don't know if this is still the case) classified as a former Marine, former Para this is normally an instant giveaway

to credibility of whoever is embeleshing there former active service heroics.

[chiangmaikelly]

Mr Kelly you presume wrong.

I am proud of my military service.

Third generation of my family to do so.

Not a conscript a volunteer.

Unusual to me that a soldier would mock another combat troop. Calling a soldier a war monger is a bit much. Generals or politicians maybe but a grunt who was drafted or in for a few years and mostly types or cooks food a war monger? Hard to believe anyone who was in the military would do that.

[RabC]

The use of the word Ex-serviceman in UK Military circles was generally perceived very negatively amongst the ranks.

A serviceman was always (I don't know if this is still the case) classified as a former Marine, former Para this is normally an instant giveaway

to credibility of whoever is embeleshing there former active service heroics.

I may be wrong but normally in the UK we use Ex-(branch) ie Ex-RN or RAF or Royal etc...............

[Scully]

You said, "he doesn't talk about his job" If he doesn't talk about his job how do you know about it and that he thinks Americans treat him like a demi god?

All I am trying to say is some people have interesting jobs and others don't. I think flying helicopters is interesting and enjoy listening to the Canadians who fly out of Thailand every day. There are a couple of high ranking CIA guys who live in Thailand who have fascinating, although clerical, jobs and one old guy who really did fly for Air America who lives in Pattaya.

I find some people interesting and others boring but would never stereotype everyone who has been in the military as being boring unless I had a major case of envy.

He is my friend so I naturally ask him questions hence him telling me. I am not stereotyping anybody I said people who talk about their jobs soon become boring, much like a scratched record.

We have all met the so called veterans propping up the bar telling tales to those too polite to walk away.

I also find it hard to feel envy for him as he rarely sees him family, has a wage packet that is not worth his effort and is constantly going to wars he either doesn't believe in or thinks we can't win.

[MrRealDeal]

Mr Kelly you presume wrong.

I am proud of my military service.

Third generation of my family to do so.

Not a conscript a volunteer.

Unusual to me that a soldier would mock another combat troop. Calling a soldier a war monger is a bit much. Generals or politicians maybe but a grunt who was drafted or in for a few years and mostly types or cooks food a war monger? Hard to believe anyone who was in the military would do that.

I was a little taken back by that myself ,,,,, but after thinking about it I understood what he meant. The part I didn't find very Veteran was the part that was slamming all of them for losing a war ...... He was calling the people still clinging to the war the mongers not everyone ..... but the part about the 3rd world country says something about him ..... not exactly sure what aside from not knowing much about the era or the war.

[kevvy]

We're all Special Forces, man.

Not everyone would think that was funny.

i thought it was in good humor

[MrRealDeal]

So what is the "regement" and aside from cows what is the relevance to the town in england ?

NVM I googled it

But it does beg the question of why SEALs would ask an air service person to go scuba diving ! lol

It also begs the question of why you are breaking the aggrement you agreed to when you because part of the "regement" which doesn't allow you to comment on it ?

"UK Government policy is not to comment on Special Forces activities, and personnel are bound by the same confidentiality agreement as other UKSF operators, therefore no verifiable information exists regarding the activities of the SRR."

I would point out that even saying you were in the SSR is a violation of your confedentiality agreement, assuming you had actually been in it you know that of course.