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5th Special Forces holds Green Beret for a Day event at Fort Campbell

Written by Sgt. Jacob Mahaffey
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Public Affairs Office

5th Special ForcesFort Campbell, KY – Soldiers from the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) welcomed members from the Middle Tennessee and Southwestern Kentucky communities to participate in Green Beret for a Day on Saturday, August 22nd, on Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Green Beret for a Day was developed to encourage the building of relationships between the U.S. Army Special Operations Command community and civilians from the surrounding areas of Fort Campbell. The attendees were given a small taste of what it is like to be one of the Army’s most elite Soldiers, the Special Forces Green Beret.

Community leaders from Middle Tennessee and Southwestern Kentucky receive an orientation to a parachute rigging facility as part of the Green Beret for a Day on Aug. 22, 2015, at Fort Campbell, Ky. (Sgt. Justin Moeller, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Public Affairs Office)
Community leaders from Middle Tennessee and Southwestern Kentucky receive an orientation to a parachute rigging facility as part of the Green Beret for a Day on Aug. 22, 2015, at Fort Campbell, Ky. (Sgt. Justin Moeller, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Public Affairs Office)

Karl Foster Dean, Mayor of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee, was thankful for the opportunity to come to Fort Campbell and learn about the 5th SFG (A).

“It was a great day where we got to see a lot and do a lot and had a lot of contact with Soldiers. I leave here very impressed by the commitment, the fortitude and the incredible sacrifices that are being made to defend our country,” said Dean.

The morning began with a briefing highlighting the rich and unique history and lineage of the 5th SFG (A) and Army Special Forces from World War II through recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The group was also oriented to the current area of operations, make-up and composition of a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, and an overview of some of the Special Operation Forces Title X Core Activities as instructed by the United States Congress to include Unconventional Warfare and Foreign Internal Defense.

Community leaders from middle Tennessee and southwestern Kentucky receive an orientation to the U.S. Army’s High Altitude Low Opening / High Altitude High Opening parachute system as part of the Green Beret for a Day on Aug. 22, 2015, at Fort Campbell, Ky. (Sgt. Justin Moeller, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Public Affairs Office)Following the Special Forces 101 brief, the group toured the Deeks Language Facility and saw where many 5th SFG (A) Soldiers improve their foreign language skills.

The group then traveled to a series of Fort Campbell training areas and witnessed Soldiers perform an airborne operation and a close-quarters battle demonstration through the eyes of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, or UAV.

Lunch was set up on Gabriel field, and the community members ate what Soldiers often eat while deployed or during training, Meals-Ready-to-Eat, commonly known as MREs. While eating their meals, the community leaders spoke with 5th SFG (A) Soldiers and watched as the Green Berets conducted several training and equipment demonstrations including a Multi-Purpose Canine demonstration.

After lunch, the guests were separated into three groups do conduct a round robin series of events. The attendees were provided the opportunity to receive hands-on orientation to several small-arms weapon systems and an in-depth capabilities brief on Special Forces airborne operations by 5th SFG (A) Parachute Riggers.

After firing all their bullets and seeing what goes on behind the scenes of an airborne operation, the group met up at the Oasis Dining Facility for light refreshments organized by the 5th SFG (A) Food Service Specialists. This closing event allowed the participants to enjoy and witness the life blood of the Army, the mess hall.

Kelli Pendleton, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Christian County Chamber of Commerce, Hopkinsville, KY, was present for the event and was excited for the day. “For the 5th SFG (A) group to allow me a little glimpse into what they do was something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time, I am very thankful to the 5th SFG (A) and the leadership to allow us to do this today,” said Pendleton.

According to Pendleton, the event was great for helping the community and Fort Campbell support one another. “Events like this give us a little insight as to how we can support Soldiers, we as civilians in the community don’t feel that you have the obligation to show us but we want to understand how we can support you better and embrace you, and let you know you have a community that supports you,” she said.

One of the attendees, Joshua Smith, owner of The Standard at Smith House Restaurant and Club, Nashville, Tenn., said he learned a lot about Special Forces from participating. “Before today, I thought that Special Forces encompassed all of the military’s special operations, SEALs, delta force and others. Today’s Green Beret for a Day allowed me the opportunity to realize and understand the difference,” said Smith.

“I learned Special Forces are trained to build relationships with people, who constantly go on back to back deployments and constantly refine and improve those same relationships. We need to integrate more of these specific Soldiers into society; once they retire they have so many opportunities because of their team building and organizational skills,” said Smith.

Smith, who also attended the event last year, said he enjoyed all of the activities of the day. “This year was even better than last year. The K9 demonstration was awesome and the shooting and witnessing the airborne operation; the level of professionalism and proficiency was really impressive,” added Smith.

“It is important for us to appreciate and understand Fort Campbell and what it means to the country and also what it means to the economy of middle Tennessee and what it means to our culture here,” said Dean.

To conclude the day, the Legion Leadership thanked everyone for attending the event and reminded them there is much more to Fort Campbell. “Although today your focus was on us, we want you to remember there are other units on Fort Campbell. We all work together, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the 101st Airborne Division.”

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