March 12,
2008: U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) is a "purple" (it contains troops
from all the services) organization that is mostly noted for its "operators"
(SEALs, Special Forces, and commandos of various types). But most of the SOCOM personnel
are support troops, and they are drawn from all the services. In order to
insure that SOCOM gets the people it needs (and not troops other services are
just willing, or eager, to part with), the SOCOM support units recruit from all
the services. Anyone can apply, but SOCOM has high standards. However, if an
applicant is accepted, the units he (or she) is currently in, has to let them
go. This usually ruins a commanders day, because SOCOM only takes the best.
SOCOM
support troops have to be airborne qualified (have attended the U.S. Army Jump
School), but that also means they get a monthly bonus for that. Spending a few
years with a SOCOM support unit enhances ones career, and, and SOCOM service often
turns out to be quite an adventure. SOCOM takes its own support people
overseas, so these jump qualified REMFs (Rear Echelon Motherfuckers, what
combat troops call everyone else) often
find themselves in hostile, or at least exotic, territory. There, they can get
additional monthly bonuses (combat or "hazardous duty" pay). But you don't go
SOCOM for the money, but for the challenge. It's also one of the few
opportunities for army, navy, air force and marine personnel to operate
together in the same unit.
