Special forces

: For the .38 Special album, see Special Forces (album).

Related Topics:
.38 Special - Special Forces (album)

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: For the Alice Cooper album, see Special Forces (Alice Cooper album).

Related Topics:
Alice Cooper - Special Forces (Alice Cooper album)

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Special Forces are relatively small military units raised and trained for special operations missions such as Special Reconnaissance (SR), Unconventional Warfare (UW), Direct Action (DA), Counter-Terrorism (CT), and Foreign Internal Defense (FID). These highly-trained, often self-sufficient units rely on stealth, speed, close teamwork, and specialized equipment.

Related Topics:
Military - Special operations - Special Reconnaissance - Unconventional Warfare - Direct Action - Counter-Terrorism - Foreign Internal Defense - Stealth - Speed - Teamwork

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Candidates who hope to join the ranks of a special operations force are volunteers for extremely rigorous selection processes. Often, basic training exceeds two years, and certain missions may necessitate additional training.

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The work of special operations forces is usually classified, and hence candidates are put through extensive trials prior to acceptance. These trials have an extremely high "washout" rate. Candidates must also have at least a Secret clearance. Not infrequently, there are ties between intelligence agencies and special operations forces units, acting rapidly on current intelligence.

Related Topics:
Classified - Intelligence agencies

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Special forces soldiers may also be used to train foreign local forces when military aid is given to other countries, thus much of their specialized training includes language and cultural skills. Because of the secrecy surrounding much of their training, and the typically covert nature of their work, special operations forces have an aura of mystery surrounding them and are frequently the topic of military fiction. Coincidentially, those in a special operations unit often refer to themselves as "Quiet Professionals".

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