Editor's Note: As we roll up on the anniversary of the most despicable act of terrorism on American soil, I figured we would revisit some international organizations dedicated to taking on these bad actors. When it comes to counterterrorism, France has their act together, as evidenced by the relatively incident-free Paris Olympics. -- GDM In the United States, when … [Read more...] about Delta Force Operator Discusses French Counterterrorism: BRI, RAID, and GIGN
George E. Hand IV Articles
Geo Hand on Veteran Suicide; What’s It Like To Be That Guy?
God and I have an understanding: he hates my guts, and I don’t much believe in him. (dark wordplay) On more than just a couple of occasions, I have been requested to comment on my mind state since my attempted suicide several years back. As I explained in my original essay, once a sincere and valid attempt is made, one that fails, the fact that the act is really a thing … [Read more...] about Geo Hand on Veteran Suicide; What’s It Like To Be That Guy?
Delta Force Operator Simplifies Bomb Yield Comparisons: Bigger Isn’t Always Better
The USA Today Bomb Comparison: A Comedy of Errors That’s right, ladies and gentlemen… which would you rather have: this six-inch stack of money on my left or this 12-inch stack of money on my right??? “Oh, me… me, I’ll take the taller stack of money, the 12-inch stack, me!” Wise choice, my friend with an almost zero red blood cell (RBC) count. For your demonstration of … [Read more...] about Delta Force Operator Simplifies Bomb Yield Comparisons: Bigger Isn’t Always Better
My Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Training As a Green Beret
The Calm Before Captivity While taking part in a training course for a special mission, I understood that I would be attending SERE school at some point during the six-month course, though I didn’t really know when. Our SERE training was split into an administrative phase of classroom training, followed by a no-notice internment phase in a prisoner-of-war camp…but when? Of … [Read more...] about My Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Training As a Green Beret
Delta Force Operator Geo Hand Takes On Half a Dozen Foreign Languages Successfully
Read Part One HERE. Embracing Language Skills in the Green Berets In the two years I spent with the regular army, I knew there was no interest in whitey who spoke Chinese, so I kept it fully to myself. The men of the regular army culture were not the sort to understand why, or otherwise appreciate a brother who spoke Chinese. I never breathed a word of it. Coming into the … [Read more...] about Delta Force Operator Geo Hand Takes On Half a Dozen Foreign Languages Successfully
Geo Hand Remembers: From Chinese Restaurant Busboy to Special Forces – Learning Languages the Hard Way
The Unexpected Obsession I’m what they call a Polyglot, me, so I fancy… meaning I have a lot of glots. Poly means ‘many’, and glot means ‘tongue’; a man of many tongues. And you know what they say about a man who has many tongues… he can tell many more lies. I became obsessed with the Chinese language as a young boy. I couldn’t possibly explain the feeling. It was just so … [Read more...] about Geo Hand Remembers: From Chinese Restaurant Busboy to Special Forces – Learning Languages the Hard Way
Former Delta Operator on the Truth About Suicide (Part Four: Sunrise)
Living in the Shadows of Depression Since I have been living with my daughter Cynthia Gale, I admit that I felt for the longest time like a displaced person, but her motivation and sterling intentions have energized me to slowly overcome my self-destructive intent. We have plans for ourselves and for my other two children, Cynthia’s little sister Regan, and her little brother, … [Read more...] about Former Delta Operator on the Truth About Suicide (Part Four: Sunrise)
Former Delta Force Operator on the Truth About Suicide: The Trough
(In memory of Ms. Gloria Jean Smart) Life in the Psych Ward I remained hospitalized for 16 days, most of which was in the psych ward, held by the State of Nevada as a suicide risk. In the mornings, we awoke to the blood pressure cuff, for vital signs were foremost in the program. We marched to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We played percussion instruments for about one … [Read more...] about Former Delta Force Operator on the Truth About Suicide: The Trough
Former Delta Force Operator on the Truth About Suicide: An Illusion of Choice
The Decision to Let Go I smoothly hooked my bag with my arm and turned to the cabinet by the front door. My keys would be there. They would always be there because that is their designated place to be. They would be there because I am methodical and precise. They would be there because I am organized and accurate. My keys would always be there because I am a Taurus... and … [Read more...] about Former Delta Force Operator on the Truth About Suicide: An Illusion of Choice
Former Delta Force Operator on the Truth About Suicide: Been There, Done That
A note from US Army Master Sergeant (ret) George E. Hand IV - Admonishment: This essay will NOT be what many people want to ‘hear.’ Understanding the Clichés About Suicide "Suicide is a coward's way out." "When you commit suicide, you are only hurting the loved ones you leave behind." "Suicide is for the weak-minded and selfish." “Suicide is taking the easy way … [Read more...] about Former Delta Force Operator on the Truth About Suicide: Been There, Done That
In Memoriam: Delta Force’s Gaetano “Guy” Cutino
Preparation and Planning for Mogadishu Deployment Our sister squadron was deployed and fully engaged in Mogadishu, Somalia. My own squadron was in full-bore planning to replace or reinforce should the need arise. Armed with accurate and up-to-date intelligence from the in-country squadron, we developed courses of action to better deploy against and neutralize the Muhammad … [Read more...] about In Memoriam: Delta Force’s Gaetano “Guy” Cutino
Life After Delta Force: My Days of Rocket Powered Supersonic Drones
(Name changes in effect for identity security) They call me Braithwaite. I’m a special operations man by trade, or at least I fancy myself one. I left Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and the Army in January of 2001 to work a job in Las Vegas as a contractor for the Department of Energy (DOE), executing high-risk projects at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). Due to my background, all … [Read more...] about Life After Delta Force: My Days of Rocket Powered Supersonic Drones