Reply With QuoteHe's ODA not Agency. A couple of guys on here know him- I can't remember which ODA for the life of me but they will.
C
Anyone want the CIA para look, on the cheap?
First saw this picture of what I presume is an American 'operator' (of some sort; maybe from the CIA's Special Activities Division) in Afghanistan on the front of an issue of Time magazine back in 2002.
The Time piece mainly focused on the CIA and it's chequered history in the paramilitary business. It also looked at what the CIA and the Pentagon's regular specops people did in Afghanistan in late 2001.
Well, as you can imagine, the point of this thread is that I'd like to know, to a relative degree of certainty, what kit that bloke's wearing.
The obvious bits of gear; a baseball cap (with an IFF tag on it?), some regular shades, a beard (ukitmonster?), a ballistic vest, tan trousers, desert boots (i'm assuming he's wearing desert boots), dark green gloves, padded belt, leather thigh holster (looks like an M9?), a bog-standard hunting knife (I don't know squat about knives) and an M4A1 with an aimpoint and a light (surefire maybe?).
I'm guessing you wouldn't have to fork out that much to look like an SAD operator at an airsoft game.
He's ODA not Agency. A couple of guys on here know him- I can't remember which ODA for the life of me but they will.
C
Well, well, well - all this time I thought he was CIA, lol. So do you reckon he's a green beret?Originally Posted by Chops
A Green Beret is what one wears, he is a Special Forces soldier. This particular picture seems to be quite famous, it graces the cover of at least two books I can think of right now, Masters of Chaos and The Killer Elite.
It is somewhat deceptive in that the Killer Elite (I think) deals with the unit known as the ISA or one of the many cover names used I guess, ie. Gray Fox, Torn Victor, Centre Spike, and on and on.
If your looking for a CIA SAD pic there is an album here, pics of officers around Mazar IIRC. Take a look at it, there is one of an officer dressed semi-indig.
EDIT: http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/CIA_SAD here it is.
Good Luck,
FT
Last edited by Futile Talisman; 04-23-2006 at 10:15 AM.
I'm not from the states, so i've only ever heard them referred to as green berets (I get your point though). The picture's great isn't it - sorta sums up the American fighting man for me.
Will take a look at the CIA SAD pics, thanks.
I dont get involved with airsofting or the hierarchy of the American speical forces that goes on on here.
But if you want to wear something sleevless and a thin cotton tshirt to get shot at then thats your own choice.
Gotta love the beard
I'm working on mine at the moment... anyway, he's carrying a Randell knife from what Ican tell.. just though I would throw that in..
As for the book "Masters of Chaos".. has anyone read it yet (BTDT), and what did (BTDT) think about it.. I have it, and am currently reading it.. I find it a good read, but I know that good reads are someimte flawed, anyway, there's a pic inside of it, of an ODA in A-Stan, with a pic of a guy, that was also in a pic that one of our members posted last year. Can't remmber which member it was, but I'f I find the pic in our files, I'll link it.
Masters of Chaos is a great book. I'd kind of like to know what actual SF guys think of it, though.
Here's another picture of him: http://media.militaryphotos.net/phot...stan/SF_Cowboy
You can get a better look at his gear there. I can't figure out, though, where he's carrying his M4 magazines.
The pic of the 3 SF fellas I was refering to was a pic of three guy in Blue jeans inside of a tent before they went out on a mission I believe.. anyway, there's one guy with Blonde Hair, in that pic who is also in the book..
He's with or was with ODA 081..
Here's a drawing I did of the subject in question....I still think it's stoli....
I read The Hunt for BL and thought it was a good read.. but I read some who didn't like it, and thought it was total BS..
Nice pic CJ..
And I usually knock the ruler out of place.
Jeez! Nice Pic, Good Stuff........................Here's a drawing I did of the subject in question....I still think it's stoli....
Not a BTDT but I would suggest taking a look at Gary Bernsten's (Gary #2 for the Bush at War readers) Jawbreaker, as well as First In by Gary Shchroen. Schroen's definetly shows that age ie. "Pappy" as well as Schroen is invaluable and not always a bad thing. Speaks volumes for experience. Schroen's includes the work the SAD officers did with ODAs 555, 574, and 585.
Bernsten's is complete with redactions that the censors at CIA did on the m****cript, overall he captures what it was like to work with Afghan troops and the difficulties it entailed. I have read mixed reviews on both but one point does come through in each book. The ability of the SF troops and the SAD officers to work on the fly without a play book so to speak is impressive to say the least.
There is a small segment in Bernsten's book that deals with a missing pistol and Afghan honor that I thought was insightful. Anyway JMHO and 0.02 cents.........
FT
PS and Lanton to get back to your original question, lol, both of the above have descriptions and some b&w pics of the kit that the CIA teams wore in Afghanistan, even some nice tidbits about the Soviet/Russian equipment and weapons used, helicopters and all.
Last edited by Futile Talisman; 04-23-2006 at 05:01 PM.
I haven't read First In, but Jawbreaker is great. The redactions get a little annoying, though I understand why he left them in.
But no, it's a great book. I've been impressed enough by the book, and what little else I've read about the SAD that I'm working on an airsoft team modeled after them. People with knowledge of foreign languages, cultures, etc. I'm thinking of setting up some sort of training program that involves surveillance, infiltration and other tradecraft skill.
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