Chris Martin
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SPEED.com Motorcycle Racing editor. Author of SHAPING THE WORLD FROM THE SHADOWS: THE (OPEN) SECRET HISTORY OF DELTA FORCE POST-911
Very cool. I'm extremely proud and grateful to have had the opportunity to play a very minor role in all this.
Excellent work once again, Iassen.
@southernbelle @StormR @JoeL2000 80% of HRT operators have prior tactical experience. The FBI actively recruits military SOF with an eye on fast-tracking them to HRT through their 'Tactical Recruitment Program.' That said, even those guys have to serve as FBI field agents for 1-2 years before they are allowed to try out.
Related to recent news of women being allowed into combat roles in the military, last I knew women are allowed to try out for HRT, although I believe (and this could be old information), only one did and she didn't make it. However, she ended up working with the team in a support capacity.
@JackMurphyRGR@ArcticWarrior@StormR
There is/was a movie in development about Delta's involvement in the Atlanta prison riot. Mark Bowden is/was producing it: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wb-locks-up-deal-prison-122882
That incident took place in '87 I believe. A few years later HRT actually did breach and take down FCI Talledega after another uprising by Cuban inmates. Ex-HRT operator James McGee wrote a book about it: http://phaselinegreen.com/
@Txazz @dmalert Well, I always envisioned a three-part series, two of which have now been published. I hope to write the third part at some point, but I'm busy with about five other projects at the moment. But hopefully before too long (if Jack and the boys will have me back that is)... ;)
"According to my sources within the FBI, the last hostage rescue conducted by the HRT was in Puerto Rico."
This is what has me most interested. I knew the HRT had operated extensively in Puerto Rico but was only aware of them taking part in a series of high-risk drug raids and the sort. I'd definitely be interested in learning more about the rescue.
@dmalert No worries. Actually, the HRT just celebrated its 30th anniversary last month. The FBI released a couple press releases and the following video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxZ6-67mS8I
@dmalertHRT is heavily based on Delta and basically came into existence when it was determined that Delta couldn't and shouldn't be used in a wide variety of potential terrorist situations on domestic soil. Most HRT operators are former military SOF (who are fast tracked to HRT), but there have been examples of guys with no military backgrounds making the cut as well. They extremely well funded and trained and are basically the nation's civilian equivalent to Delta and ST6.
@Tweeder There are a few books out there by ex-HRT operators and its founder, Danny Coulson. The common knock used to be that all they ever did was train and rarely conducted actual operations, but people used to say the same thing about the SMUs too. It seems as though their pace of operations has ratcheted up as it has for the nation's other special operation capabilities post 9/11. I'm sure we'll learn much more in the days ahead.
BTW, another excellent piece Iassen. Interesting notes on the inside info...
@QuietProfessional @Recon6 Good catch. Thanks.
@jct95 I'd have to do a bit of digging. I'm pretty sure this info is out there (in part) but I can't place it off the top of my head.
@Old PH2 The third one will be more of the same but also a bit different. I need a bit of a breather before I tackle it. And thanks.
@EliasFreire Thanks.
@FoCar Thanks man. And yeah, the plan is for a three-part series. I have a pretty firm idea of what and how for the last part, but I haven't really got cracking yet, at least in terms of actually writing.
@Magicmuffin The following are not my words; they are taken from 'Fearless', in which a ST6 operator is quoted as explaining it thusly:
"Guys will say they're going to get out and do something else, but honestly, the reason guys don't go, the only reason a SEAL from the regular teams won't go to Green Team, is because he's afraid of failing. Because if you fail out of Green Team, then you're automatically ranked in the SEAL teams as not good enough to be at DEVGRU -- and, some of us might say, not good enough to be a SEAL. If you don't go, you've never been ranked. Oh, you can still think you're a hotshot at the regular team level, but that's only because you've never been tested at the next level."
That's just one insider's opinion and I'm sure others would likely disagree. Nevertheless, combined with the fact that it's pretty much a 50/50 proposition even for the motivated guys who successfully screen, it's a bit of a gamble to take that chance considering the potential damage to your reputation. Also, I believe Pharrer, in his less... eccentric days... explained that if you fail, it also seriously derails your career.
@chris16 Check the comments for Part 4 that ran last Tuesday. We went back and forth on that a bit.
http://sofrep.com/11893/beyond-neptune-spear-the-open-secret-history-of-seal-team-six-part-4/
@jct95 It's safe to assume there is some additional training, but exactly what/how hasn't been explained in detail to my knowledge -- at least nothing recent. One would have to be trained as a sniper, certainly, if they haven't already (and perhaps, even if they have already, since they'd likely be a few years removed from that training). There are other skills required as well, but just how formalized the process is to become an ST6 sniper, etc. I really can't answer.