[Basenshukai]

Staff Sergeant (SSG) Chris Schuyler was the most experienced NCO in the team. He had served all of his time up to this point with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He was, in fact, one of only two Rangers not injured in the extraction convoy during what is commonly known as "The Battle of the Black Sea" in Mogadishu, Somalia, on October 3, 1993. He typified the image of a Ranger: Average height, broad shoulders, wide back, thick neck, powerful legs and recent combat experience in Afghanistan. He was also an avid Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappler and had been champion high school wrestler. SSG Schuyler's keen interest in medicine had led him to seek Special Forces training as an 18D -- a Special Forces Medical Sergeant. This is, academically, the hardest training available in the Special Forces pipeline. The 18D's are neither merely paramedics, nor are they doctors. They are somewhere in between and are renowned as the best special operations medics in the world. In fact, the Ranger Regiment, the Air Force Special Operations commandos, and the Navy SEALs send their personnel to be trained by Army Special Forces 18D's at the Special Operations Medical Training Center in Fort Bragg. But, for all of his physical ability, SSG Schuyler is one of the most intellectual soldiers I have ever met. "Own his own accord" he had taken-up college courses in physiology and medical terminology prior to attending Phase II. I had no doubt that he would succeed in the SF Pipeline. He became our de-facto "Team Sergeant", or senior NCO in the team.

SSG Mark Harvard was as small as any stout fourteen year old but was as outspoken and boisterous as anyone twice that size. He had served in the 10th Mountain Division as a scout sniper. He was an honor graduate of the US Army's Sniper Course and had his sights set on become an 18D as well. His infantry skills were up to par with anyone at his level of experience and rank. Though, most of his experience was with the light infantry units. He could probably pick out a main battle tank in a police line-up, but that was probably about it. I identified with him there, since the 10th Mountain Division was my first assignment as an officer. So far, my most significant training had entailed the Airborne Course, the Ranger Course, time in a light infantry division and the Infantry Captain's Career Course. Mechanized, or heavy doctrine was not my strong suit. In fact Mark and I had served in the same brigade and in the same infantry battalion. He may have well covered my men with his precision long-range fires during some of our tactical exercises in the battalion but we never met prior to this course.

SSG David Haynes had spent his entire Army career in the 82nd Airborne Division. His foray into SFAS took place as a result of his dissatisfaction with the way in which "Mother Army" handled its affairs. Mind numbing hours doing paperwork, disciplining unruly soldiers and trying to balance post clean up with combat training had gotten old for SSG Haynes. He wanted more out of his Army experience. He wanted to live the warrior lifestyle and he knew that only life in special operations would nearly guarantee such a chance. Shortly after receiving his promotion to staff sergeant, David put in his packet for SFAS at the Special Forces Recruiting Detachment in Fort Bragg. If David had a particular strength it was his ability to see things for what they were. He believed in realism. David was also one of the funniest and most talented comedians in the team and his antics kept us sane.

SSG Travis Halden had come to us from the 101st Airborne Division. He was young for his rank but was a cerebral soldier. He was much more emotional than the other guys. He often made the mistake of wearing his feelings on his sleeves. To the rest of us this quality was treated as blood in the water. Like a school of sharks, we would zero-in on poor Travis and tease him about this or that. He had a good sense of humor, however, and did not take things too seriously, most of the time. Travis had attended the Marine Corps Scout Sniper Course and achieved honorable mention upon graduating. Most of his skills had been honed in a Long Range Reconnaissance and Surveillance Detachment. Thus, he became our "recon man". We sent him out on the leader's recon often enough to pass on some lessons to the rest of us.

SGT Shelton Terry never really shared his reasons for joining SF, other than his desire to finally do some real-world missions. He came to us from a field artillery unit in the 4th Infantry Division. He lacked small unit tactics experience but having him was good since he was our expert on indirect fires and that facilitated our planning. He was tall and lanky and built like a basketball player. Shelton could probably carry a cement truck in a rucksack. He also preferred to carry the M-240 Machine Gun, or the M-249 Squad Assault Weapon. Those weapons matched Shelton's personality perfectly. Shelton was outspoken and oftentimes abrasive, but he was great to have around in a tough fix. Shelton could never be a doctor; his bedside manner was terrible and his spelling was worse. But, he also had all the indications of a heck of a future SF soldier.

SPC Mike Leicester was a recycle from a previous Phase II class. He had failed his graded patrols. Mike was an infantryman from the 3rd Infantry Division. He, however, lacked both the experience and knowledge that the other guys had. Nevertheless, Mike was not afraid to learn. If there was one thing that set him apart from the rest of us, it was his voracious appetite.

SPC Troy Aldridge was an MP from Fort Benning. He joked about the job and often regaled us with stories of stopping vehicles that were not speeding and accuse them of excessive speeds just to hear the drivers argue. We got a kick out of his stories. He rarely, if ever, gave out any tickets, however, as he hated the paperwork.

PFC Jonas Testaverde was our one Special Operations Preparation and Conditioning product. He was also a re-cycle from a previous class. Jonas was the youngest member of the team. He talked about sex with his girlfriends like any other high school kid in the middle of puberty. He understood the principles of small unit tactics but was not as adept at interacting with the rest of us. The significant age difference may have played a part in this. We never shunned Jonas aside and made constant efforts to keep him in the pack. But, at times, the rest of the men treated Jonas like the omega wolf. He wasn't discarded as a member of the team, but he had to earn his place at every "kill".

(To Be Continued)