You know, being a disabled vet, I hear a lot about combat stuff from guys when I am around the VA. A lot of the guys who manage to get compensation for whatever was incurred during service are not the guys who actually did what it is that they claim they did. Guys who were seals, SF, etc, are the guys that the VA basically was turning their backs on. You were much more likely to get a comp check for being a cook, a 703, or whatever any particular branch calls clerk typists than you would ever be by being a Special Forces operator. This is particularly true of Vietnam era vets.
But face facts. If you wear the uniform, you are in danger no matter what, if you are in a combat zone. You are more likely to encounter Enemy activity if you are a normal troop than if you are SF. SF guys are a lot less visible, speak several languages, and often insert for recon ops than for actual combat. Heck, Jessica Lynch proves that point totally. A girl who worked in supply is the most recognizable name of the Iraq war, bar none. Every person here knows who she is.
The single most important thing to remember is that any type of special forces missions involve training. Lots and lots of intensive training. People talk about being in SF, or wanting to be in SF, because IMO, they think that the psychological advantage of being some kind of bad ops guy is going to make people respect you more. But it doesn't mean anything at all without training. So do this.
Run three miles before breakfast.
Go to work on supersonic jets.
Come home, lift weights, run at least another 3 miles, go to the pool, swim a mile, practice martial arts, study, practice a foreign language, get some sleep, repeat.
Spend 2 years homless, with a 40 lb pack on your back, and hike an average of 20 miles a day, give or take.
Learn morse code. Learn radio communications. Learn computers. Study basic engineering. Study networking. Linux, Os/2, Macs, hardware repair, winXX, and software debugging.
Then study Security. Train with weapons, both lethal and non. Lifesaving skills. Study criminal justice. Study security management. Supervise and train employees. Do security site surveys, establish patrols, write Post Orders.
Get a license to drive armored vehicles. Drive 200-500 miles a day. Do 16 to 20 miles a day on foot when you work foot patrol.
You'll be there. And you'll find out what a lot of these other guys know. Because once people are convinced that there is something different about you, you're in big trouble. You're a liar. You're a poser. A fake. A charlatan. That's what those guys are, and you're a wuss. You're gay. You take drugs. You have non consensual sex with small furry animals. Worst of all, you're mentally unbalanced. A threat to teenage girls. You need to be drugged. Crackheads know you did it. And "it" is something that people will refer to you as. Forever and ever. And it was you who stole their Harley, and molested grandpa too.
So the cops come. And the cops see. And that's bad, because now...
Big brother is watching. You're a fed. A narc. A rat. A pig. You brainwashed them. Framed them. Set them up. The cat is wired. They're not going down alone.
Sounds imple enough, right? Wrong, psycho boy. You skitzo, bipolar, manic depressive, delusional, disaffected sociopath. That's the last time we ever trust you. It was you in Castro's butt. You're sold out. Down the river, and up the creek. Russian porn stars hate you bad, and Paris Hilton wants her tapes back.
And you lied. You know you did. That's why it's all your fault.
Last time I talked to the SEALS I knew, they were trying to make bail. Course, that was a few years ago. Think they split for more friendly parts. Me, I am keeping my head down, and the powder dry. May be able to sell the house this year. Thinking of leaving South Florida. For something resembling the USA. Where you might actually get to tell your side of the story before they execute you.
Stretch
Quit cigs 3W 6D 22h 46m ago. So far saved $167.69, 1,117 cigs not smoked and counting ...