i know the Navy has the SEALS, the Army has the Rangers, and Delta Force, among others..Do the Marines and Air Force have special forces too?? and if so what exactly do they do (especially in the Air Forces case)
2006-12-04 03:16:08 · 12 answers · asked by jefferson 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Wow, there are a lot of people answering this question who have never been in the military or haven't been in since before WWll. The USMC ISN'T part of the Navy and hasn't been for most of it's existance. There was a short period when the USMC fell under the Department of the Navy but that time is long, long since past. So then lets answer the question.
The AF...parajumpers (an excellent special forces operation that is highly overlooked), the Army is Delta Force (not Rangers, they are what are referred to as SOC...we'll get to that later) the Navy is obviously the most popular to civilians the SeALs. In the USMC you'll find a several different types of units out there. The Marine Corps has the Expeditionary Units or MEU or MEF the F stands for Force. These are what is referred to as SOC or Special Operations Capable. These are small units that can perform many of the operations of special force units such as HRT (hostage rescue), CQB (close quarter battles), Recon...etc. The USMC also has Force Recon (of which I am a memeber). Force Recon are specially trained units that only perform Special Operations within the USMC but do not fall under SOCOMM....(Special Operations Command). They work directly for the USMC and therefore usually perform Recon/HRT/CQB/Demolitions when ordered to do so by the Corps. The USMC just started (three years ago) a Special Operations unit at Camp Pendalton, CA that falls under SOCOMM...This unit is made up of 86 Marines and it is a little known unit.
So I hope this has answered your question...Yes all branches of the Military have Special Force Units but the USMC has the most opportunity to perform Special Operations tasks.
Again for those of you who answered this question incorrectly, please don't pretend to know the history of my beloved Corps....we aren't part of the USN.
2006-12-04 07:29:27 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 5⤋
The Air Force has Combat Controllers, Pararescuemen, and Combat Weathermen.
The Marines have Force Recon and Scout Snipers.
2006-12-04 12:26:24 · answer #2 · answered by Mutt 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Marine Corp falls under the US Navy and are part of its Special Forces. The Air Forces has Pararescue and Combat Controllers. Go here for info:
http://www.specwarnet.net/americas/usaf.htm
2006-12-04 12:24:37 · answer #3 · answered by Shogun 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Marines are themselves a large form of special forces since they are extremely tailored to their mission and generally move with light and mobile forces. As has been said, being part of the Department of the Navy, Marines can also join the SEALS.
As for the Air Force, you can ignore armchair critics that say the Air Force doesn't have Special Forces. The Air Force has three kinds of special forces:
1) Pararescue jumpers: combat medics trained in special forces fighting. Extremely effective at infiltration and combat medivac. Think of it as a SEAL with a bandage in his left hand.
2) Combat Controllers - Highly trained Air Combat Directors who deploy with Army units and a full radio and control suite. Basically direct all munitions deployment of available air power in support of the Army units they're functioning with. An integral portion of the modern DoD philosophy on warfighting.
3) AF Special Forces - Highly secretive black ops. To even apply for this position one must be SEAL, Delta, Green, or Pararescue. Very few actually pass and join up with the units.
2006-12-04 12:21:31 · answer #4 · answered by promethius9594 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The Delta's can come from all branches.
There can be overlap of what is special operations. The US Army Rangers and Green Berets probably see some of that overlap. Some Marine may correct me but I'd put the Army Rangers and the Marine Recon in the same category. Not exactly special ops, but not exactly a traditional tactical force.
Marines can be SEALS. The Marines are part of the Navy so that goes hand in hand.
The Air Force, well we all know the Infantry does the real fighting.
2006-12-04 12:32:04 · answer #5 · answered by k3s793 4 · 0⤊ 6⤋
Marines have Marine Force Recon and the AF has the PJ's.
2006-12-04 12:42:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The marines being subordinate to the navy form up in the seals. The air force has no special forces per se. They do have the rescue teams that go behind the lines that's as close as the air force gets.
2006-12-04 11:27:25 · answer #7 · answered by brian L 6 · 0⤊ 6⤋
The Air Force's do as well, they are called combat controllers, tough guys for sure!
2006-12-04 11:31:37 · answer #8 · answered by AFwife 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes. I just don't know all their names. But most of the time we don't hear what these special fighting units are doing or where they are being sent.
2006-12-04 11:20:59 · answer #9 · answered by Mikira 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
read about Camp Lejune :) Lots of special forces training there
2006-12-04 11:24:07 · answer #10 · answered by Brian P 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋