"Oh yeah I'm Special Forces"

[professionalcoyotehunter]

That sure is a classic saying.

[CavTrooper]

19D
SSG
Indef
Armor recon (bradley), javelin gunner, instructor, basic recruiter, combat lifesaver, field sanatation, bluebird operator!
Scout 04-05 1/64 AR 2nd BDE 3ID
Squad leader 05-06 1/64AR 2nd BDE 3ID
Instructor 06-07 Armor School, Ft Knox, Ky
Detailed recruiter 07-current

Anything else?

[CavTrooper]

Bring your coin

[tacticalcity]

Sounds like you treated him with kindness and decency. Can't ask for more than that.

You never know who is who. My sergeant used to say "beware the quite ones". Most of the Rangers, Seals, Green Berets and so forth that I ran into in the military looked nothing like what you would imagine they would. A few were muscle heads, most looked like the nerd you picked on in math class (boy do I feel sorry for the idiots who actually did). Some where loud characters, most were very nondescript. I'm told Delta guys are for the most part really skinny since they stress endurance more than anything else during their selection process (see Eric Haney's Inside Delta Force). I'm pretty sure I met a few Delta guys, but that is more assumption on my part than anything else. Process of elimination, since you usually knew when someone was a Seal, Recon Marine, Ranger, Green Beret, etc. In that particular environment there was no need to hide it. That said, I only recently realized that I deployed with the Army's SOAR Team. At the time I had no idea who they were (as far as what they were called or what their story was). All I knew is that they were Army, very secretive about their mission, otherwise very friendly, and flew black helicopters with obnoxious artwork painted on the side. One had the logo from Thrasher Magazine. I would never have known who they were if I had not recently read a book about SOAR. Lead me to put 2+2 together. So who knows. My AFC was nothing special. Just a support guy, one of many. I sure did enjoy the opportunity to deploy with some very cool operators. Made me feel like I was doing something important, even if I didn't know what that big picture was.

I do have a similar example from my own personal life, though I would not describe him as quite, just discrete.

A buddy of mine from college later went on to join Diplomatic Security (as in the federal agency not private security). Very charismatic, friendly, nice guy. If you did not know him really, really well you would never know what he does for a living. He just doesn't talk about work, unless you ask, and the detail to which he goes depends on your personality and how well he knows you. Turns out he is on their tactical response team. Real crazy gung ho type stuff. Definitely not something you would picture this kind, funny, life of the party guy doing. If I didn't know him as well as I do, I might be intimidated.

His wife is even more surprising. Very pretty, 120lbs if that, blond with a great smile and bubbly personality. She is also Diplomatic Security, and was assigned to Condoleezza Rice's protection detail. Not sure if she is on Hilary Clinton's detail, she is not allowed to say. Needless to say she can kick all 230lbs of my rear end any time she wanted.

If you met them in a social setting, you would have no clue what they did for a living. Heck, if you saw them standing in an office you would assume they were someone's personal aid or something. Anything but what they are. Two very talented, bad arse special agents.

My buddy just returned from Pakistan...another assumption on my part since he is not allowed to say exactly where he was. It is a logical conclusion based on the photos he emailed back. Very proud of him.

[Grassninja]

19D
SSG
Indef
Armor recon (bradley), javelin gunner, instructor, basic recruiter, combat lifesaver, field sanatation, bluebird operator!
Scout 04-05 1/64 AR 2nd BDE 3ID
Squad leader 05-06 1/64AR 2nd BDE 3ID
Instructor 06-07 Armor School, Ft Knox, Ky
Detailed recruiter 07-current

Anything else?

I love bluebird operator being tossed in there. Awesome memories are generated when E-3's drive them.

[1lostinspace]

Yeah me to! When people tell me that crap I always tell them I am in SF as well. Then I start to tell them stories of me killing everyone with a spoon!! One time I had a guy tell me he shoots 5 rounds on a quarter at 1000 yards, I have had some drinks in me so I told him he is full of crap to his face!! He looked like he wanted to kick my *** lol. Another guy told me he was in the Army as a Marine sniper! Lol my girl was there and asked so you used to kill Marines? lol oh man too funny.

[imtheomegaman]

Can't you two stay out of each others way, and not derail this thread? Take it to pm (thanks for your service though gents)

OP sounds like your boat cleaner is a real patriot, glad you tracked him down.

[CavTrooper]

It takes a special breed to handle the Bluebird! Defenitly not for the squeamish!

[Lower86]

Scout 04-05 1/64 AR 2nd BDE 3ID
Squad leader 05-06 1/64AR 2nd BDE 3ID

Were you at Rusty/Sadr City then? I was there 05-06 with 3/67 AR 4ID. I was an 11B team leader then.

[professionalcoyotehunter]

Were you referring to the bus?

[guns_and_labs]

I like that they both list "field sanitation".

[professionalcoyotehunter]

Every person in the Army is Field Sanitation Qualified.

[guns_and_labs]

Every person in the Army is Field Sanitation Qualified.

And the mere existence of a "study guide" for the exam just brings joy to my heart.

[The Director]

Excuse my ignorance but what is the bluebird? are you referring to the bus?

That's the bluebird alright. Takes a special breed to drive 'er! That's a top secret photo - where did you get that?

[professionalcoyotehunter]

I will never tell.