Who's this?

[papabear]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030413/capt.sge.uxx33.130403145853.photo00.default-255x384.jpg

Does anyone know who's providing security in this pic? (Not his personal identity, but unit affiliation.)

[Zach R.]

Looks like CAG to me.I'm not sure it could be SF.Do you know where and when this photo was taken.Delta usually does security for the generals.They were Swartskopf's personnal body guards in Desert Storm.So probably Delta.

[FallenAngel]

He's wearing Rank insignia (Lieutenant bars) so I think that rules out SF 'cause I heard somewhere Operators don't wear rank or unit patches.

[Knave]

He might be from a PMC. They provide security to the Afghan leadership right now, and have a rank structure.... I'm not sure if they'd be taking care of bona fide US military folks, though.

[Apogee]

Common mistake. Thats a warrent officer, not an LT.

[Argyll]

Maybe the CP guys were wearing rank insignia due to the Spanish that were there,to give them an idea of whom to address etc?
They probably are CAG though.

[papabear]

Looks like CAG to me.I'm not sure it could be SF.Do you know where and when this photo was taken.Delta usually does security for the generals.They were Swartskopf's personnal body guards in Desert Storm.So probably Delta.

This from Yahoo:
Franks speaks to soldiers at Bagram air base, 31 miles from Afghanistan capital Kabul April 11.

[Chops]

Fellas

Now how could you possibly say this guy is CAG? Look at his M4. Anything unusual about it? Nope plain vanilla M4, not even an RIS. Looks pretty damn new too. LBE? Nope, nothing unusual there either. Ah, he wears Oakleys... he must be an operator!

Guys he could be anyone. I seriously doubt he is a Tier One guy because as Fallen Angel rightly points out, he is wearing rank insignia. He might be SF, he might be an MP, he might be a civie contractor. Actually looking at his weapon, it appears to have a fixed stock so it might be a straight M16A2.

All I'm saying is don't jump to the conclusion that everyone who is on CP duties and wears Oakleys is an operator... :)

Rgds

Chops

[Mal3]

I have Oakleys, am I SpecOps? :D

[Chops]

Yep so do I mate! :lol:

rgds

High speed and low drag Chops

[Mal3]

I think it was in Andy McNab's (this might draw fire, which is ok, I'm only telling it as I read it) autobiography, Immediate Action where he went to some Middle East country for an op and met up with fellow SAS troops.

The other blokes were all wearing Ray Bans so McNab asks how come. They explain that in training they discovered they needed sunglasses because exiting a dark helo in daylight blinded them. He says, neat, you got Ray Bans and the other guys go, it sucks, we asked for Oakleys.

Never settle for 2nd best ;)

[Zach R.]

He could be wearing the bars just to throw us off.I actually think that his weapon is custom.It has a shortened barrel and yes it has a ful stock.But I have a book with a photo of an M4 with a full stock,specially made for a CIA officer.But it could be Special Forces because the SF is allowed to wear thier insignia. ;)

[JohnJohn]

McNab is a tit :fork:

[Smoothie104]

What's so great about oakleys? what about Maui Jim's, Bolle, Costa Del Mar, Briko, RayBans, Killer Loop, Black Fly, Arnette. Are Oakley's even cool any more? How about those Oakelys with the 2 straps that fit over the top of your head. But they leave some nice tan lines if you are bald.

(note: please flame away)

[Piccolo]

Zach, it's not a custom weapon, it's a plain jane M4. It's pretty obvious once taken into Photo Shop and brightened up abit. Also, an M4 with a full stock wouldn't be hard to rig up. In fact, Knights Armament make a variant close to this, called the SR15.

[virtualpender]

Chops is right as usual - looks like a team chief from a SF ODA.

[Royal]

Just 'cos a guy's wearing rank in an 'operational environment' doesn't mean he isn't SF - sure it's unusual but it happens, certainly as far as Brits and Yanks go...

[hood]

He's kind of like a where's waldo... he's everywhere!

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030417/i/1050608097.2415927336.jpg

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20030417/i/1050607954.2684477481.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030417/capt.sge.bgi85.170403102912.photo01.default-261x384.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030416/capt.1050531394.war_us_iraq_franks_.jpg

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030416/capt.1050514135.war_us_iraq_franks_nywd102.jpg

[Alleycat]

rofl

[yellowking]

Any particular reason he's always on Franks' left, or is that just coincidence?

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20030416/capt.1050531394.war_us_iraq_franks_.jpg
"Right on, bruthah! The Revolution will be televised, by 500 embedded reporters!"

[JTFazz]

Okay, my guess...

Special Forces??? In a "garrison" or rear environment they do wear rank insignia. However, this guy's rank insignia does look as if it is sewn on and a lot of SF guys don't wear sew-on so their uniforms can be quickly shed of rank for ops. Those who do sew them on, have a different set of BDUs for the two different environments. A lot of the guys who are real "gung ho" like their unis to have a tight squared-away look. A lot of older SF guys will tell you that uniform look doesn't mean much, though, because in a field operating environment, breaking starch and shiny boots are not what they care about.

Whoever it is, it is definitely either Air Force or Army based on the way the rank is position on the collar. Marines and Navy have the bottom of the insignia pointed to the collar tip. AF and Army have the right edge parallel to the bottom edge of the collar one inch away.

You will note in one photo he appears to be wearing a dark business suit. That leads me to believe that he could be CID. As I have posted before, CID is often tasked with "executive" protection. Regular MPs are not tasked with that duty typically. I have been out of CID for 12 years now, but our SAs never wore rank insignia on field uniforms. The subdued U.S. was worn on collars and caps, especially for the enlisted guys. Of course in a day-to-day environment, SAs wore civilian business attire... sport coats, dress shirts and ties.

Sometimes the officers, mostly warrant officers, would wear rank insignia on field uniforms. I am trying to figure out why the cadet thinks he is a WO. Maybe my eyes are failing me, but I thought the insignia was a 1LT. BTW USMA_SCUBA, warrant does not have an e in it. Could be a WO, but because I can't see his left collar where the branch insignia goes (if USA) then I don't know. I took that pic into Photoshop and cranked up the brightness and contrast, but could not tell for sure whether 1LT or WO/ CWO.

So, my guess is probably SF or CID. Nothing definitive either way. Could be AFSOC as well, although I don't know if they are ever tasked for personal protection duty.