[The_Mentalist]

The Mentalist

men·tal·ist noun \ˈmen-tə-list\

Definition of MENTALIST

: mind reader
First Known Use of MENTALIST

1909
men·tal·ist noun \ˈment-əl-əst\ (Medical Dictionary)
Medical Definition of MENTALIST

: an adherent or advocate of a mentalistic school of psychology or psychiatry

First and foremost I want to make absolutely clear and will use caps not to scream but to emphasize...I AM NOT, NEVER HAVE BEEN AND WILL NEVER CLAIM TO BE SPECIAL FORCES, SEAL OR ANY OTHER SUCH SERVICE MEMBER OR ANY KIND OF "DOOR KICKER"

Although a member of 1SOCOM (before it was turned into JSOC) it was only because they couldn't figure out where else to put our kind of unconventional warfare unit. I was a member of the 9th Bn, 4th PSYOP group, Ft Bragg. By MOS, I was a 97E Interpreter, Interrogator, Translator cross trained in a few inks, but assigned as the team NCOIC of the propaganda development team. In other words, we sat around reading intel reports, studied demographics and wrote commercials. We were fortunate enough to get to spend a little time in the woods with the real door kickers but were ourselves nothing more than a glorified intel asset. I have the utmost respect for all that have qualified for the green beret or the "equivalent" in other branches to include the black beret of the rangers. (Before it was bastardized by a left wing wuss that was jealous of them).

Other training included NBC NCO school and a bunch of irrelevant stuff that does no one any good. Activities were primarily TDY assignments doing demographic research, intel research and analysis or command post exercises playing war games from behind a desk.

Proudest moments in service. I actually have 2 things I am most proud of. #2 is working at the USDAO at the embassy in Tokyo where I worked on a research project that was later used for the '86 economic summit as a basis for security operations at e embassy and for Pres. Reagan. That was 2 months of going through intel files and collating them into a useable format, reporting on data gained from that intel and making that more concise information available in a useable format to those agencies that needed them for their security operations. Most people don't realize just how much was going on in the pacific theater at that time.

My #1 proudest moment actually was over an extended period. This was not due to any achievement of mine, but the performance of others. My unit was tasked with providing interrogation assets for the SERE course. So, throughout 1986-1987 every few weeks (unless on another TDY assignment) I had the HONOR of conducting interrogations for the final phase of SERE. After my first shift, I had decided that I could not continue to do this. It was voluntary duty. Those of you that have been through it know what my duties entailed and can understand why I would feel this. The students were our guys and not the enemy. I did have to remain through the end of that class and that is when things changed. The final formation. Graduates of the program know how that goes. When I observed the reactions when the U.S. flag went up and the national anthem played, that did it for me. Afterward, an E6 student approached me and thanked me. This person broke during an interrogation. He told me he appreciated what I had done and it would make him stronger if the situation ever arose that he actually had to use the training. After that, I had my proudest moment over and over again at each and every final formation. I thank the students for that. They showed true patriotism, love of country, pride and professionalism. All these years later, I can still see it in my mind and feel just as proud of them as I did on those occasions.

Members of the groups would on occasion conduct training classes for us. 1 class in particular was OPFOR weapons training. A few times we would cross paths on field exercises. I have always respected them and this respect only grew with each time we crossed paths. I also had the brief pleasure of joining the Green Beret Sport Parachute Club. Got my first 5 jumps in, went to Benning for my wings and got dropped due to injury. My biggest regret was not sucking it up and driving on. So, I stayed a super leg. Never jumped again, even civilian jumps. I do miss it.

Now, I drive a semi around the country delivering all that we need. I still live by my oath to the Constitution. I regret not being physically strong enough to have become one of you but am still proud of what service I did provide. I thank the rangers, SF, pilots and all the others that went through SERE and taught me true patriotism.

ETA: forgot to mention, my name is Floyd