SF - Officers role

[Chrisbrum]

Just as a general question, could someone in the know shed some light on what an officer's role within special forces is? In the limited amount of literature I have read on SF it appears to me that most patrols consist of small groups of 4-8 men under the command of their NCOs. The kind of larger scale operations which would require an officer present to take command seem to be few and far between (e.g. Oman, 1st Gulf War Fighting columns etc). Am I right in this, or am I completely off the mark? To what extent do officers, in particular lower ranking ones (Lts, Capts) get involved in the groundwork? Do they tend to go out on patrol or is theirs more of a strategic role.

Please note this is just a general interest thread, at this stage in my life I have little aspiration to join the special forces, my focus is currently purely on the RM (i.e. not trying to run before I can walk etc)

Cheers

Chris

[KIMBERLYPARE]

Think you would need to be further into the system of things SF before that kind of thing would be known to you and doubt folk will reveal current procedures.

[Chrisbrum]

Fair play, like I said before, just a general interest query really, probably will be something I'll never know!

[mfat_man]

Think you would need to be further into the system of things SF before that kind of thing would be known to you and doubt folk will reveal current procedures.

Good point KP.

Best thing is to have a read of the Peter De La Billiere book this is written from a SF Officer's viewpoint.

[King_duck]

Why should the officer's role be any different to a non-SF officer? What are officers for? paperwork..responsibility etc Just put that into an SF role... Just like a cpl would command a section attack and a lt a platoon attack, NCOs leading patrols, officers in command of troops etc and all the roles that are associated!

[Artist]

They are there to say "Make it so" after the blokes on the ground have told them the score ref what has to be done.

Artist

[King_duck]

Are you sure you're not thinking of Star Trek?...

[Rover]

King_duck,

"Make it so" comes from the Royal Navy, which as the Senior Service is a factual entity.

Star Trek is I believe fiction.

Rover

[King_duck]

Are you sure they didnt get it from Star Trek? or is Star trek really about the navy? In which case is that klingon guy like the SBS and what selection did he do?

[Rover]

Very sure.

Rover

[KIMBERLYPARE]

Pharoe says so let be written,so let it be done.


B.Hur