Navy SEAL takes charge at U.S. Special Operations Command

Associated Press (excerpt) ^ | July 9, 2007

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

TAMPA, Florida: A U.S. Navy admiral who won a Silver Star for his role in a famous 1993 battle to rescue downed Black Hawk helicopter crews in Somalia took charge Monday as the new commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Adm. Eric T. Olson, 55, is the first Navy officer — and the first Navy SEAL — to run the command, which oversees the military's elite forces fighting terrorism in more than 50 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

~ snip ~

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

http://www.special-operations-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=531

interview with Adm. Olson

[Red6]

http://www.special-operations-technology.com/images/ThisIssue/2_4_QA.jpg

[Recon Dad]

Lt Col. Bill Cowan was on Fox this morning and had a lot of good things to say about him.

[AprilfromTexas]

Congratulations and God bless him!

[sageb1]

The man deserves some payback time.

[MarkT]

I was in the USMC (69-72) - I was always told that one does not “win” a medal - one might receive it - one might even be awarded it - one does not win it. The truly deserving are the ones who died defending their brothers and this country.

[Tallguy]

True enough. It’s a way of recognizing that a lot of deeds go unnoticed. Phrasing it as an award implies that there are others who were deserving.

[Oberon]

Just yesterday I read the first chapter of Starship Troopers, for the first time in a long time...since college, actually...and your post reminded me of it.

"To the everlasting glory of the infantry
Shines the name, shines the name of Rodger Young."

I know Young wasn't a Marine, but still.

[Former MSM Viewer]

May God be with him, with our troops and their families

[colorado tanker]

I was going to whine that this post should go to an Army officer, but Adm. Olson is the real deal, and has definitely earned his spurs in the special operations community.

[CPT Clay]

Adm. Olsen look good to go.

[quadrant]

Its sad that the Army is spiraling down at such a rapid rate. If the leadership of the Army does not reform the service, its doubtful that any of the senior leadership of the Armed Forces will wear Army green.

[magslinger]

Rodger Young Lyrics
Artist(Band):Jim Reeves

On July 31st 1943 a bloody round in the battle for the Solomon Islands
Was being fought in the tangled jungle of the island of New Georgia
This is the story of one of the young men who fought and died there
This song is respectfully dedicated to those heroic infantrymen
Who like Roger Young have sacrificed their lives
That their nation might remain forever free

Oh, they've got no time for glory in the infantry
Oh, they've got no time for praises loudly sung
But in every soldier's heart in all the infantry
Shines the name, shines the name of Roger Young

Shines the name - Roger Young
Fought and died for the men he marched among
In the everlasting glory of the infantry
Shines the name of Private Roger Young

Caught in ambush lay a company of riflemen
Just grenades against machine guns in the gloom
Caught in ambush till this one of twenty riflemen
Volunteered volunteered to meet his doom

Volunteered Roger Young
Fought and died for the men he marched among
In the everlasting courage of the infantry
Was the courage of Private Roger Young

It was he who drew the fire of the enemy
That a company of men might live to fight;
And before the deadly fire of the enemy,
Stood the man, stood the man we hail tonight.

Stood the man, Roger Young,
Fought and died for the men he marched among;
Like the everlasting spirit of the infantry,
Was the spirit of Private Rodger Young.

On the island of New Georgia in the Solomons
Stands a simple wooden cross alone to tell
That beneath the silent coral of the Solomons
Sleeps a man sleeps a man remembered well

Sleeps a man Roger Young
Fought and died for the men he marched among
In the everlasting glory of the infantry
Lives the story of Private Roger Young

Rodger Young was a MOH winner.

[Chgogal]

Why are you saying that? I’m quite impressed with all the Airborne divisions and the 10th. The 3rd and 4th ID are quite impressive too.....

I’m really curious what your POV is. Thank you.

[quadrant]

I agree the Army troops have been excellent, but the senior leadership of the Army has refused to adapt to a new combat environment. They treat urban guerrilla warfare as some aberration instead of the future of combat, wishing instead for a war of massed maneuver on the plains of Europe.
The other services made adjustments to doctrine years ago, but the Army clings to a top heavy command structure suited to WWII. And when the Army does change, they invest in expensive technology that likely as not will not work and will sap the initiative of the captains and sergeants who will do the actual fighting.
As long as the Army continues along this course, its senior leadership will find itself excluded from the top levels of command. Think about it: why did GWB chose the CNO to be the new Chairman? The Navy is contributing to the war in Iraq but not on the scale of the Army and Marine Corps.
One sad fact I heard several months ago: one Marine regiment can put nearly as many boots on the ground as an Army division. This is sad.
This isn't my opinion but that of very experienced combat leaders who are quite familiar with Army tactics and doctrine.