Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Mark Grdovic shared stories about his time in Iraq with Task Force Viking while assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in 2003. While conventional and special operations forces were pushing northward from the south and west of Iraq towards Baghdad, the 10th SFG(A) infiltrated Northern Iraq to open up a northern front against the forces of Saddam Hussein.

The 10th Special Forces Group formed the nucleus of Task Force Viking – more officially known as Joint Special Operations Task Force -North (JSOTF-N). Also assigned to JSOTF-N was an element of the Special Boat Service (UK SBS). The mission was to disrupt Iraqi forces in Northern Iraq.

A significant portion of Iraq’s military forces were deployed north of Baghdad and a front opened up in the north would tie down some of these forces and prevent their movement south to reinforce against the attacks coming from the south. Much of those forces were protecting oil reserves located between Kirkuk and Mosul. Saddam Hussein was worried about losing Kirkuk and Mosul and he had two Republican Guard divisions along with other divisions to protect the region. Part of Task Force Viking’s mission was to prevent the Republican Guard divisions from deploying south of Baghdad.

The presentation includes important aspects of the detailed planning that took place prior to the invasion, the insertion of a pilot team prior to the invasion, working with the Central Intelligence Agency, coordination with the Kurdish resistance, Turkey’s role, Romania’s role, the “Ugly Baby” infiltration, and more. A lot of the coordination that took place prior to the invasion saw a lot of twists and turns – and Grdovic presents an entertaining version of these events.

Mark Grdovic’s presentation took place at the Special Forces Association Convention held in the Colorado Springs area near Fort Carson in October 2022. The convention was held to honor, remember, and recognize Green Berets and enablers with multiple special events, panels of speakers, and Special Forces Medal of Honor guests.

*********

Special Forces Association Convention 2022 Task Force Viking LTC (Ret) Grdovic, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), DVIDS, posted October 28, 2022, one hour and 15 minutes.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/862289/special-forces-association-convention-2022-task-force-viking-ltc-ret-grdovic

Story by Pfc. Rue Emrich, 10th SFG(A).

Soldiers trudged up and down muddy slopes in windy and rainy conditions while looking for their points on the land navigation course, one event of many testing the competitors vying to call themselves the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Best Warrior.

The 24 competitors also participated in a stress shoot, warrior task drills, obstacle course, physical fitness tests, written essays and oral boards between the 17-28th of May.

The Best Warrior Competition is an annual event across the Army with Soldiers competing at each echelon. 10th Group’s Staff Sgt. Alex Berger is the reigning Army wide winner, and the desire to remain “The Best” propels the candidates. When they are rucking twelve miles or doing a stress shoot in the mud, they navigate the challenges with this goal in mind.

“When you reach a moment of tiredness and your body wants to give out, your mind has this weird state of peace of whether you’ll let this situation break you, or if you’ll break it.”

Spc. Muder of the Battalion Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 10th SFG(A) – Muder was the junior enlisted winner.

Photo: U.S. Army 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Soldier zeroes his M-4 for the stress shoot event during the Best Warrior Competition at Fort Carson, Colorado on May 18, 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Private 1st Class Rue Emrich)

Throughout the competition, a bond grew between Green Berets and Paratroopers while competing and learning things from each other to advance themselves. Learning how to solve adverse problems with creative solutions is a hallmark of Special Forces operations.

“The whole reason the Army has this event is because we are a tight knit group of warriors.”

Command Sergeant Major Larry White, 10th Group’s senior Non-Commissioned Officer

Quoting Teddy Roosevelt, White added, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause.”

Photo: U.S. Army 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) winning Soldier practices rendering first aid, stopping blood loss during the Best Warrior Competition on May 19, 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Private 1st Class Rue Emrich)

Staff Sgt. Finn and Spc. Muder, the 10th Group winners, will go on to compete against the winners from the other Special Forces Groups throughout the Army in the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) level. This competition will be held on Fort Bragg, North Carolina starting on the 21st of June. If The Originals’ competitors are victorious, they will then move up to the United States Army Special Operations Command Best Warrior competition.

“10th Special Forces Group creates leaders, and the Soldiers participating in this competition are the ones we’re going to see in my shoes down the line, because they’re the ones that want to step inside of the arena and test their mettle. That’s why it’s important the Army does events like this. To help Soldiers navigate the transition from a Soldier to a leader.”

Command Sergeant Major Larry White, 10th Group’s senior Non-Commissioned Officer

**********

Video: 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Best Warrior Competition (2020). A member of the 10th SFG and finalist for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Best Warrior Competition (2020) completes the ACFT, foot march, and rifle qualification. Video by USASOC, Sep 2020, 4 mins.

Story: This article, “Better Than the Rest” by Pfc. Rue Emrich of the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), was originally published on June 17, 2021 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: U.S. Army 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) winning Soldier assembles a radio and passes the communication portion of the warrior tasks and drills event of the Best Warrior Competition on May 19, 2021. (U.S. Army Photo by Private 1st Class Rue Emrich)

Story by Staff Sgt. Travis Fontane, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

Green Beret divers from the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Latvian Special Operation Forces (SOF) divers conducted a maritime beach landing and exercise in Latvia on May 27-28, 2021. The event was the culmination of ten weeks of training as the teams shared tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to enhance military readiness, teamwork and joint confidence while promoting peace and stability in Europe.

“It was definitely a positive experience,” said the 10th Group dive team commander. “We built off each other, they used some of our techniques and we use some of theirs helping us all come together.”

The teams focused on a range of unconventional warfare maritime tasks such as: beach landings, maritime medivac techniques and vessel boarding search and seizure (VBSS). The bilateral SOF training included practicing weapon skills at different ranges, close-quarters battle (CQB) during day and night conditions and also conducting open and closed circuit dive training.

Photo: 10th SFG and Latvian dive teams conduct a casualty evacuation drill during maritime operations training in Latvia. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Travis Fontane, 10th SFG, May 27, 2021)

“Each country has its own standard operating procedures (SOP),” said the 10th Group dive team member. “The Latvian tier one asset is able to do CQB their way, our way, or integrate into a team and do it together.”

The training went beyond just tactical skills. On May 25, the two teams worked out together in a physical training (PT) session dedicated to fallen 10th Group Soldiers as part of wider Memorial Day commemorations.

“Both sides have sustained casualties, so we respect and honor each other’s fallen,” said the dive team commander. “Both units have comradery and enjoy friendly competition – the memorial PT was a rewarding and competitive event.”

The day before the mission both the U.S. and Latvian dive teams ran rehearsals and the 10th Group dive team member explained his opinion about the importance of rehearsing before a mission.

“It was beaten into my head a long time ago by my old team sergeants that rehearsals are where you make your money,” he said. “You can have the best plan in the world but if you don’t rehearse it, something is always going to go wrong. Rehearsals help soldiers be more prepared and leaders to control the chaos.”

The teams combined this training into a final exercise that would push the team’s planning, thinking and resilience to their limits. The 20-man element carried out their mission for more than 24 hours while wet, hungry and tired. The scenario included a beach landing and a 4km movement through a dense swampy wooded area.

Photo: A U.S. Army Green Beret dive team assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) along with a Latvian Special Operation Forces (SOF) dive team move 4 km through dense swampy woodland areas to an objective rally point (ORP) in Latvia on May 27-28, 2021. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Travis Fontane)

The teams then formed an objective rally point while waiting for nightfall. Under the cover of darkness, team Alpha went to their designated position providing overwatch and placing simulation explosives on a mock SA21, which is a Russian made surface-to-air missile system. At the same time, team Bravo consisting of both Green Berets and Latvian SOF, raided a simulated urban building. After exploding the door they engaged the opposition forces with simulation rounds, and captured a high-value individual.

After regrouping, the teams patrolled back through the woods to a vehicle linkup point where they were ambushed and took a mock casualty. The teams loaded the casualty and themselves into the vehicle and drove 70km back towards the beach.

After the teams were dropped off, they continued through the woods towards the beach with their casualty on litter. While waiting to be picked-up by the boats, the teams took turns pulling security and changing into dry-suits. They then loaded onto the boats where the dive team medics stabilized the casualty as they returned to base.

The simulated mission achieved the key tasks of NATO interoperability and developing skills at the tactical level. The executed mission’s strategic effect would allow follow-on NATO forces to more safely carry out their operations.

The 10th Group dive team commander explained why Latvia was a good place to train. “Any time we get a chance to train with our Latvian partners it’s a great opportunity,” said the 10th Group dive team commander. “This is a great place for a 10th Special Forces Group dive team to come and train.”

*********

Photo: A U.S. Army Green Beret dive team assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) along with a Latvian Special Operation Forces (SOF) team conduct a maritime beach landing and raid scenario over a 24-hour period in Latvia on May 27-28, 2021. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Travis Fontane)

Story: Story by Staff Sgt. Travis Fontane, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). This article was originally published on June 10, 2021 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS media content is within the public domain.

This video is a ‘visual poem’ depicting scenes of Special Forces soldiers while training. A soldier explains why he isn’t suited for a 9-5 job in an office environment. He prefers challenges and different experiences and environments over a familiar and comfortable life.

“And that is why I became a Green Beret”.

The Why
Posted on YouTube by “The Originals”
April 17, 2021, 2 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CVZ9evMn2o

The new National Defense Strategy has special operations forces spending less time on GWOT and more time on great power competition (GPC). SOF has to be prepared to meet the GPC challenge in many parts of the world. With climate change, the Arctic region is presenting opportunities for new sea lanes for shipping, access to gas and oil reserves, and mineral resources. It also offers a platform for power projection. Russia and China are moving aggressively to gain greater access and influence in the Arctic – often counter to the interests of the United States.

The 10th Special Forces Group is focused on Europe to include the high north of the Arctic region. This requires special equipment, training, and new ways of operating in a cold weather environment. Capt. Barrett Martin, of 10th SFG, recently deployed his Special Forces detachment to the high north. He shares what his team learned during that experience while training with Norwegian and Swedish forces. The commander of the 10th SFG, Col. Brian Rauen, provides the big picture about operations in the high north.

The discussion is led by Dr. Ryan Burke – co-director of Project 6633, which is an effort to explore the topic of polar security. In addition, the panel discusses an essay contest that is inviting submissions that address the question of how American special operations forces can operate in the Arctic north.

Special Operations Forces in the High North
Modern War Institute at West Point
April 2, 2021, 36 minutes
https://mwi.usma.edu/mwi-podcast-special-operations-forces-in-the-high-north/

Photo: 10th Special Forces member on a snow machine during a four week long winter warfare training exercise in Sweden. (photo by SSG Matthew Britton, SOCEUR, February 28, 2018.

By Eliverto Larios, 10th SFGA, Feb 22, 2021.

A record-setting cold-weather front provided a prime training opportunity for Green Berets from the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) to dive through the sheet of ice covering Townsend Reservoir here at the Mountain Post.

The Green Berets set out to improve their maritime skills by diving under the ice-covered Reservoir on Fort Carson, Colorado on February 18, 2021. The ice diving training was the first of its kind performed by the 10th SFG (A) in more than five years. It allowed the team to familiarize themselves with specialized ice diving gear, and get a better grasp on the required skillset to thrive in an arctic dive.

With frigid temperatures and snow-covered mountains as a backdrop, the team laid out their equipment on the shoreline. With one member in a full dive suit and the others acting as safeties, the team went through pre dive checks, laying in the water to make sure all hoses were connected correctly and there were no leaks in the wet suit.

Once the checks were complete, it was time to dive. Each Green Beret took their turn disappearing under the ice sheet into the dark freezing water while tethered to a safety diver who stood a few feet into the reservoir. The submerged diver would swim out into the reservoir and punch through the ice, giving a thumbs-up to signal that everything was ok. After a few more minutes, each diver emerged from the water and removed their gear with the help of their teammates.

10th Group is already the home to the Special Operations Advanced Mountaineering School (SOAMS) and the Winter Warfare Detachment experts but are increasingly focused on how to fight and win in the unforgiving environment north of the Arctic Circle.

The arctic environment necessitates advanced training because it is an inherently deadly atmosphere where even routine mistakes can be fatal, explained a member of the 10th SFG(A). Losing a glove in the desert or the jungle is an inconvenience; in the arctic it can cost a Soldier their hand and their ability to survive, let alone thrive, in combat.

Diving in that environment adds an even greater level of risk and a requirement for absolute mastery of individual technical skills. With the help of several expert divers, some former Special Operations veterans, the team was able to emulate an environment similar to what they would find in an Artic Warfare environment and understand the importance of the training.

The focus on arctic warfare is part of a Department of Defense wide effort to train and fight in the far north. The arctic is of strategic interest for its untapped natural resources, shipping lanes, and proximity to world powers.

Last month, during an Association of the United States Army virtual event, The U.S. Army Chief of Staff, Gen. James McConville, emphasized the importance of having such capabilities in the Artic.

“Optimizing the employment of our forces and being able to demonstrate our capabilities through combined exercises and power projection are critical.”

The Army even recently upgraded the design of its Arctic Tab and issued new guidance for its wear – the redesigned tab is worn above the unit patch like the Ranger and Sapper tabs. The Arctic tab is earned by completing either the Cold Weather Leaders Course or the Cold Weather Orientation Course at the Northern Warfare Training Center located in Black Rapids, Alaska.

**********

Photo: A Green Beret from 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conducting an ice dive on Fort Carson, Colorado, 18th February, 2021. (U.S. Army photo by SSG Eliverto V Larios)

Story: This story by Staff Sgt. Eliverto Larios of the 10th Special Forces Group was originally published as “Green Berets learn to thrive in arctic”, DVIDS, February 22, 2021. The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service provides stories, videos, and photographs that are in the public domain.

Video Mountain Operations. This short 2-minute long video provides some classic views of Soldiers from the 10th Special Forces Group conducting Mountain Operations training using helicopters, climbing walls, mountain ATVs, and – of course – real mountains.

Special Forces Mountain Operations, Fort Carson, Colorado, 1 Aug 2017
www.dvidshub.net/video/565663/special-forces-mountain-operations

SOMAC Challenge – Soldiers from across the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) competed in the 2nd Annual Special Operations Maintainers Annual Challenge (SOMAC) at Fort Carson, Colorado. The event was hosted by the 10th Special Forces Group in November 2017. The SOMAC Challege is designed to test the tactical, physical, and technical abilities of maintenance teams across the Army’s SOF community. (Video by SGT Conor Mendez , U.S. Army, November 16, 2017).

www.dvidshub.net/video/566409/special-operations-maintainers-annual-challenge

CPT Andrew Byers was killed in action in Kunduz, Afghanistan on November 3, 2016 while conducting a ‘train, advise, and assist’ mission with Afghan special operations forces. He died of wounds sustained during a mission against Taliban forces. Andrew Byers was assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group based at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Byers, age 30, was from Rolesville, North Carolina. He joined the Army in May 2008. He had a previous deployment to Afghanistan and one to the Democratic Republic of Congo. A previous assignment was in Italy.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, three Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Overseas Service Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Parachutist and Military Free Fall Parachutist badges, the Ranger tab, and the Special Forces tab.

While attending Clarence High School he was a member of the high school swimming team, the student council, and sports editor of the yearbook. He graduated from High School in 2004.

He later attended West Point – the U.S. Army military academy – where he graduated 12th in his class of 972. Once he joined Special Forces he was assigned to a High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) team.

He leaves behind his wife – a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Also killed in the combat action was another member of the 10th Special Forces Group – SFC Ryan A. Gloyer. It is reported that four members of the Afghan SOF unit also were killed. Several Afghan SOF members were wounded. Kunduz has been the scene of heavy fighting over the past few weeks after an attack by the Taliban in October. The city of Kunduz was seized in the fall of 2015 by the Taliban for over two weeks.

Read More:

“Kunduz casualty release (Nov. 3, 2016)”, NATO Press News, November 3, 2016.
“DoD Identifies Army Casualties”, DoD News, November 4, 2016.
“SOF casualties identified”, Army.mil, November 4, 2016.
“DoD identifies two Green Berets killed in deadly Afghan battle”, Army Times, November 4, 2016.
“Army captain from Rolesville killed in Afghanistan”, The News & Observer, November 4, 2016.
“Special Forces captain from Clarence killed in Afghanistan”, The Buffalo News, November 4, 2016.

SSG Adam Thomas was killed in action in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan on October 4, 2016. He was taking part in a joint Afghan – U.S. counter-terrorism mission against the Islamic State – Khorasan when his dismounted patrol was struck by an improvised explosive device (IED). Thomas, age 31, of Tacoma Park, Maryland, was a Special Forces Medical Sergeant and a member of Company B, 2nd Battalions, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Fort Carson, Colorado.

SSG Thomas joined the Army in April of 2008. He had a previous deployment to Iraq in 2008-2009 and an Afghan deployment in 2011-2012.

During his service he earned a number of awards to include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Basic Military Free Fall Parachute Badge, Special Forces tab, Ranger tab, Parachutist Badge, and four Army Commendation Medals.

Thomas was a 2003 graduate of Larking High School in Elgin, Illinois. He was to elementary school in the St. Peter area of Minnesota. He attended college at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. His parents still live in Minnesota. His mother is the Executive Director of the nonprofit Literacy Volunteers of Southwest Minnesota. His father is a professor at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Read more:

“Nangarhar Casualty Release”, Resolute Support Press Release, Oct 4, 2016.
“DoD Identifies Army Casualty”, DOD News Release, October 5, 2016.
“Fort Carson-based Special Forces soldier killed by IED explosion in Afghanistan”, The Denver Channel, October 5, 2016.
“DoD identifies soldier killed in Afghanistan”, Army Times, October 5, 2016.
“Army Staff Sgt. Who Grew Up in Minnesota Killed in Afghanistan”,  CBS Minnesota, October 6, 2016.
“Larkin High School graduate killed on patrol in Afghanistan”, Chicago Tribune, October 7, 2016.
“Former Coach Remembers Minnesota Soldier Killed in Afghanistan”, CBS Local, October 8, 2016.

Websites Honoring SSG Adam Thomas

Fallen Heroes of Operation Enduring Freedom
www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oef/profiles/thomasadaml.html