<p><img src="https://static1.businessinsider.com/image/60235fc767d1e300113c52d3-2000/5621675.jpg" border="0" alt="Army Special Forces Green Beret Robin Sage" data-mce-source="US Army/K. Kassens" data-mce-caption="A Special Forces candidate crosses a water obstacle during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage in central North Carolina, July 9, 2019."></p><p></p><bi-shortcode id="summary-shortcode" data-type="summary-shortcode" class="mceNonEditable" contenteditable="false">Summary List Placement</bi-shortcode><p><em>This story originally appeared in September 2015.</em></p><p>Special Forces soldiers are the snake-eaters, known for slipping into enemy territory, living off the land, and then killing all the enemies of America they find.</p><p>They trace their unit lineage back to the Office of Strategic Services in World War II, served with distinction as both warriors and <a href="http://www.wearethemighty.com/top-secret-green-beret-unit-quietly-won-cold-war-2015-02" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spies in the Cold War</a>, and snuck into Afghanistan to <a href="http://www.wearethemighty.com/special-forces-avenged-911-horseback-2015-09" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hunt the Taliban before anyone else</a>.</p><p>But for all most people think they know about Special Forces, there's a lot they don't. Here are seven things that might surprise you.</p><h2>1. They have a reputation for 'creature comforts'</h2><p><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/586e8619ee14b637588b6414/green beret horse riding techniques.jpeg" border="0" alt="Green Beret horse riding techniques us army" data-mce-source="3rd Special Forces Group" data-mce-caption="A US Green Beret overlooks a valley while training horse riding techniques." data-link="https://www.army.mil/yearinphotos"></p><p>While Green Berets are known to rough it on missions, they're also known for bringing blankets and cots to training exercises.</p><p>Operators have a grueling deployment schedule and are required to prove their skills to their teammates every day. So when they show up to a training event, they're likely to cut loose and enjoy some barbecue and football in their off-time.</p><h2>2. Green Berets are as much teachers as fighters</h2><p><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5d2e1fa9b44ce775f031b3b5-2400/rtr4qytp.jpg" border="0" alt="green beret chad training" data-mce-source="Emmanuel Braun/REUTERS" data-mce-caption="A U.S. soldier trains a Chadian soldier during Flintlock 2015, an American-led military exercise, in Mao, Chad, February 22, 2015. Picture taken February 22, 2015."></p><p>While SF soldiers are very capable fighters, it's just as important to their mission that they are good instructors.</p><p>Green Berets are called on to deploy all over the world, build lasting relationships with local groups friendly towards the United States, and then teach those groups how to kill effectively. The SF soldiers then begin going on missions with the locals and fight side-by-side.</p><h2>3. They are required to learn new languages</h2><p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/56095826bd86ef16008bd7f5-895-592/screen shot 2015-09-28 at 10.59.18 am.png" border="0" alt="special forces commander elders arabic language" data-mce-source="Signaleer via Wikimedia Commons" data-mce-caption="A Special Forces company commander meets with village elders and members of the 209th ANA Corps in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, 2007. Spc. Daniel Love, U.S. Army - http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/531605513/ (direct link) A Special Forces company commander meets with village elders and members of the 1st Kandak, 209th Afghan National Army Corps April 10, 2007, to discuss military operations in the Sangin District area at an undisclosed forward operating base in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Permission details Public Domain, U.S. Army photographView more Public Domainview terms File:Special Forces commander meets with village elders Afghanistan 2007." data-link="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Forces_(United_States_Army)#/media/File:Special_Forces_commander_meets_with_village_elders_Afghanistan_2007.jpg"></p><p>Of course, training the locals to kill their enemies is a lot easier when everyone speaks the same language. Special Forces soldiers attend 18-24 weeks of foreign language and cultural training at the <a href="http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/sfas/overview.html">Special Operations Academic Facility</a> at Fort Bragg.</p><p>The language these soldiers learn usually depends on what Special Forces Group they are later assigned to, since each group has a certain region of the world it needs to be oriented toward.</p><h2>4. They're in about 90 nations every day</h2><p><img src="https://static5.businessinsider.com/image/5ce2f3a24cf27004d103c7c2-1000/1000wq95 72.jpg" border="0" alt="U.S. Army Special Forces members assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) perform an airborne operation out of a U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, near Mont Saint Michel, France, May 18, 2019." data-mce-source="U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Benjamin Cooper" data-mce-caption="U.S. Army Special Forces members assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) perform an airborne operation out of a U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, near Mont Saint Michel, France, May 18, 2019."></p><p>Operators need access to so may bi- and trilingual service members because they are in about 90 nations every day.</p><p>In 2015, they've already <a href="https://www.rt.com/usa/316476-us-forces-deployed-worldwide/">visited at least 135 according to media reports</a>. This represents a significant increase in operational tempo. Eight years ago SF visited only 60 countries.</p><h2>5. They're still in Iraq and Afghanistan</h2><p><img src="https://static6.businessinsider.com/image/5ae0e3d619ee8650008b49fd/4287744.jpg" border="0" alt="U.S. Special Forces Soldier afghanistan" data-mce-source="DVIDS" data-mce-caption="A U.S. Special Forces Soldier, attached to Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, provides security during an operation in the Achin district, Nangahar providence, Afghanistan, Oct. 2, 2016."></p><p>Two of the countries people might not be surprised to find Special Forces is in Iraq and Afghanistan. While most military units have been pulled out of these countries, the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/treading-line-between-war-and-peace-u-s-special-forces-groom-afghan-troops-1440782892">Green Berets never left Afghanistan</a> and may have never fully leave Iraq.</p><p>Currently, Special Forces soldiers are advising troops in both countries. In Afghanistan they are fighting shoulder-to-shoulder against insurgents with commandos they have trained. In Iraq, they are advising Iraqi Army and militia units who are trying to roll back ISIS.</p><h2>6. Recruits can enlist straight into Special Forces</h2><p><img src="https://static2.businessinsider.com/image/5ffcb917bde805001980c3fd-2000/5621686.jpg" border="0" alt="Army Special Forces Green Beret Robin Sage" data-mce-source="US Army/K. Kassens" data-mce-caption="Special Forces candidates listen to a briefing during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage in central North Carolina, July 9, 2019."></p><p>Believe it or not, a recent high-school graduate could walk into a recruiting office and enlist for <a href="http://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/browse-career-and-job-categories/combat/special-forces-candidate.html">18X, Special Forces Candidate</a>.</p><p>These recruits go through basic training and then immediately enter the Special Forces training pipeline. If they fail or are simply aren't selected during the Special Forces assessment, they are re-assigned to infantry.</p><p>It wasn't always this way. In the past, Special Forces typically wanted soldiers to be older and more seasoned in the regular Army before making the jump. The older SF soldier even have a name for the younger generation making it through the Q-course: "SF Babies."</p><h2>7. 'Weekend warriors' can be Green Berets</h2><p><img src="https://static3.businessinsider.com/image/5c6c7eabbde70f57750448a3-2000/senior airman crystal housman air national guard a california national guard soldier from the 19th special forces group descends for a landing during a high altitude high opening training near los alamitos california in february 2018.jpg" border="0" alt="California National Guard 19th Special Forces Group" data-mce-source="Senior Airman Crystal Housman/Air National Guard" data-mce-caption="A California National Guard soldier from the 19th Special Forces Group descends for a landing during a high altitude, high opening training near Los Alamitos, California in February 2018."></p><p>The National Guard has SF companies across the south. Green Beret and UFC fighter <a href="http://www.wearethemighty.com/veterans-ufc-2015-09">Tim Kennedy continued serving by switching to a National Guard unit in Texas</a>.</p><p>These soldiers drill like other National Guard soldiers, but are still <a href="http://www.nationalguard.com/special-forces-arng-vs-active-duty">required to maintain the same certifications as Active Duty SF</a>.</p><p><strong>SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/special-operations-gear-that-regular-troops-get-to-use-too-2021-2" >4 pieces of special-operations gear that regular troops now get to use too</a></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-us-army-special-forces-2015-9#comments">Join the conversation about this story »</a></p> <p>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/special-operations-forces-favorite-military-weapons-2016-7">These are the favorite weapons of the Army Special Operations Forces</a></p>
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