Or is it?
This guy’s clearly wearing MultiCam and has all the high-speed identifiers that a US trooper would wear. I can’t seem to find a high-rez version of this photo, which itself is a mystery, but given the story that surrounds the photo and context of that area of Afghanistan, I’m leaning heavily toward an adoption by at least some groups of French military (their version of the PJs) of MulitCam uniforms.
In this photo released by the French Army, Nato French soldiers evacuate wounded from Tagab, Afghanistan, Monday Nov. 16, 2009. Insurgents fired two rockets Monday into a crowded market northeast of Kabul where the head of French forces in Afghanistan held a meeting with tribal elders. The attack killed at least twelve and wounded 20 other people, the French military said. (AP / HO / ADC Jean-Charles Thorel)
The only thing that makes me pause, is that I reported a while back that USAF PJs were wearing MultiCam combat uniforms in the AO. This guy could be a PJ but I can’t see enough of the helo and am skeptical that an AF bubba would be sporting Rock Star hair and a hillbilly beard. Wouldn’t look too good with the rest of his pals at the Bagram Links.
So help me with this dear readers…who is this guy?
– Christian
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
The stretcher bearers, or at least some of them are wearing regular French camo. Also French forces do not use Blackhawks irrc. It seems to me that he's a Yank after all and needs a shave.
he is indeed american. Thats an ODA operator
High-Speed gear and a civilian hairdo – Delta?
Don't be a dummy. Delta operators are not the only people who can have civilian hair do's in theater. In fact most special operators do.
Ok – I'll stop being dumb if you stop being an ass.
Matt grow a pair. He is obviously part of the SF community. Not SOF, but SF in particular. SFOD-Delta operators wouldnt allow a camera within miles of their AO.
Looks like he's wearing non-issue boots or even hiking shoes. Also, most conventional army aircrews wear a helmet.
Hard to tell as I’m looking at this grainy picture on m phone, but it looks like he might be wearing low-top shoes. Again hard for me to see, but his shoes look very similar to Salomon Speedcross 2 Trail-Running shoes.
http://www.rei.com/product/757243
WFS
I’ve heard of highspeed high tops but at least to me these could possibly be low-tops. If this holds true then it seems like an unnecessary risk, given the terrain and all. But hey what do I know about risk…
Hey guys,
At first this looks like an Italian AF camo uniform. Maybe this guy was MEDEVACed form the It AF Det out of KAIA.
But because of the low res pic, I started to doubt. I don't recall the Italians having a heli Det over there.
greetz.
T
I'm pretty sure that's Crye's multicam…if you look closely on your computer, you can see the distinctive knee pads…
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/world/asia/17af…
Its Multicam
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/17/world/asia/17af…
They look to me like wrestling shoes…
Looks like an American operator imbedded with the French.
We should just call the category "military fashionistas". I can only imagine military "Fashion Week" with people in the various uniforms of the world showing off the new digs that come out of the design labs every ten weeks or so.
My guess is that the boots are 'enhanced' with add on zippers, instead of laces.
I had them when I was on alert with the incident responce team (IRT) in Bosnia. When the alarm went I was out of my bed and in gear in about 20 secs.
But I don't know from what unit that man is, maybe a combat life saver from some spec ops unit?
This is Tech related how???
That's what I was thinking! They must not have much to write about these days.
So, what troops wear in combat and the technology that goes into that equipment isn't "tech-related"…? someone's tone deaf here.
It seems as though pictures of soldiers wearing cammo gets a lot of the posters here extremely excited.
I will leave the reason for this peculiar fashion and style interest /excitement up to the reader.
Dear Dan;
What exactly does an ODA operator do?
http://www.defense.gouv.fr/ema/operations_exterieures/afghanistan/breves_et_photos/afghanistan_tirs_de_roquettes_sur_le_marche_de_tagab_video
Un Cougar français a déposé une équipe médicale sur place pour procéder au triage et à l’évacuation des blessés. Avec trois hélicoptères américains MEDEVAC
So that’s 1 french Cougar and 3 US MEDEVAC; the cougar as you can see on the link photos is gray. SO it got to be one of the US Helicopter, hence the guy is american
If you click on the first link
16/11/09 – Afghanistan : tirs de roquettes sur le marché de Tagab (vidéo)
at the very end you will see the opposite angle of that photos and 2 BLackHawks taking off.
good spot Ndgt…thanks!
That's putting the definition of technology to the test. Recalling the original motto of defense tech: "The future of
the military, law enforcement, and national security."
So the future is in deciding our combat wardrobe? Even the ARES blog is keeping up with the tech tradition; as per the constant links to it.
Camouflage is one of the oldest forms of military technology in the history of conflict. After the sharpened rock was invented, dude probably thought to himself "if only I could throw this without being seen." Something doesn't have to take batteries and cost 6 figures to be called defense technology.
You know you only like things that are battery operated.
Yes, the uniform is part of the future. Do you think soldiers will be wearing the ACU forever?
Special Forces isn't the same thing as Delta?
The unit that is popularly referred to as Delta Force is a small part of US Army Special Forces, aka the Green Berets. The Green Berets are a part of US Army Special Operations Command. Army SOC is part of the joint US SOC. Read up in Wikipedia & GlobalSecurity.org
I hope wiki and globalsec aren't your only sources…
not true at all. delta takes from the rangers and sf but is a counter terrorism / hostage rescue team. the army special forces operators teach guerilla warfare to indigenous forces. two ery different groups
No Special Forces not the same as Delta Force. Delta Force mainly comprises of people with a background in SF or a Ranger Batt. Delta Force is designed as a Counter- Terrorist Unit.
It’s absolutely amazing! I have watched several Taliban videos of their successful attack on the Wanat base. Their soldiers had like anti-camouflage. They were so conspicuous in their white tennis boots and other high visibility clothing it was absolutely incredible! They seemed to break every logical rule in the book regarding concealment. They were even sitting on top of ridgelines less than 1.2km from the base in broad daylight.
Even their truck was painted in clown colors. It seems to me that the coalition forces think that this so called ‘Global War on Terror’ is going to be decided on who has the latest camouflage fashion. Sexy clothing a great policy for going out night clubbing to impress the girls, but as the Taliban proved, courage and determination is more important in a soldier than how he is dressed. It’s meant to be war gentlemen, not a fashion parade.
Correct me if I'm wrong. The taliban were wearing camo as well. They were enemy militia disguised as civilian population. That is how they blend in to their surroundings. As far as sitting atop a ridge, why should they hide if our ROE prevent us from engaging them before being attacked.
Christian you can't see you enough of the helo ? Would it help if Sikorsky was painted on the side its pretty obvious that its a Blackhawk . Knowing this stuff is how you supposedly how you make your living ? You might want to work on improving your aircraft identification skills.
Alex, what a GIANT help you are! Thank you so much not only for so graciously holding my hand on the helicopter ID but also being an insulting boob to top it off! Now, here's my question…can YOU ID every Soviet-era, NATO, ASEAN and US helicopter operational in the AO with merely a partial side panel in a low rez shot? I'm sure you can since it's probably how you make your living as a video game tester. Have fun in your airsoft league.
More about the story behind this picture
"A French captain, identified only as Michel, said that three of the dead were children. Three American Black Hawks and a French Caracal helicopter evacuated the most seriously wounded to a military hospital at Bagram airbase."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/Afgha…
Christian, You're kind of an idiot when it come to this stuff. Please stick with the tech side of things.
i dont know if he is a idiot, but he looooves to talk tacticool.
…oh boogyman, you're so BTDT…
I don't understand what you're saying Pete…please explain yourself to this "idiot"…do you know where this guy is from based on his equipment and uniform?
an Operational Detachment Alpha.. or Special Forces A team. i.e. Green Berets. Im saying that he probably is part of one or as some of you say Delta.
Dear Dan;
Thank you for the clarification.
Dan is correct.
The bearded guy doesn't look like a 100 % U.S. American, even bearing in mind what awful mixtures result from the Melting Pot…
Thats a US Blackhawk, so I thinking US Military responding to the French in contact.
Being that the ISAF(euro) has very limited air assets and make us of US' my guess is he's an american. COuld even be a contractor(GASP!!)
I myself am a (gasp) contractor here in A-Stan.
Have these French personel left Afghanistan yet after the rocket attack against them? I'm genuinly curious and not flaming!
Part I :
"To that end, French NATO forces, steeped in counterinsurgency, say they are treating sick children rather than bombing Taliban positions and focusing on intelligence-gathering rather than major ground offensives.
…
The French example could serve as a test case for that strategy.
'Let's not gloat about a so-called 'French touch,' ' said Col. Benoit Durieux, the commander of the elite Foreign Legion battalion overseeing the Surobi area east of Kabul, where nearly a third of the 3.000 French troops in Afghanistan are stationed.
Success can be fleeting in counterinsurgency warfare, and if the French leave, the Taliban could return.
…
(Continued)
Part II :
Still, there are signs of progress. A year ago, the Uzbeen Valley, about 30 miles northeast of Kabul, was entirely in Taliban hands.
Now the Foreign Legion holds two-thirds of the valley, overseeing about half of Uzbeen's population of 25.000. Rocco, the outpost they established in August, has been directly attacked only once.
…
The French estimate they've killed or wounded at least a dozen insurgents during the small-scale clashes they've had in recent weeks. But killing the Taliban isn't as important as sidelining them, Durieux says. His goal in the months ahead is to peel off local, part-time fighters from the hard-line Taliban.
…
'It's all a question of social pressure, we're there until villagers get the insurgents to quit or leave', said Durieux, adding his troops are willing to offer amnesty and protection to small-timers who renounce violence."
http://www.montereyherald.com/news/ci_13753086?nc…
In Afghanistan helo medivacs the flight medic is required to be a battalion surgeon or a 18D (special forces medic). A SFOD medic falls under this specification as i am sure PJ medics go throught the same SF training program. As for the his gear those are asolo boots. As for Multi-Cam the only U.S. army soldiers wearing them right now are SFOD, Regular SF, Ranger Batt has a variant of multicam, and the one regular army battalion that is stationed in Northern Afghanistan has been issued some.
As for the helocopter post a comparison of a side view of a blackhawk. Notice the wheel placement is toward the rear of the photo. Toward the front of the photo is the sliding door opening away from the wheels. The gunners window is closed. Also Blackhawk tell tell sign is the U-shaped bar the protrudes form side of helicopter next to gunners window. It is my belief this is a blackhawk.
Now Secret Squirrel, THIS is a comment I appreciate…thanks for the ID and insight!
The french are IN the Fight and doing a great Job!
Thouhg in very small numbers and making no difference to the conficts overall outcome, a token gesture you might say… (like most of the Euro nations there)
I'll take them seriously when they buck their numbers up though that'll obviously never happen.
The “protruding bars” are HF antanas.
U.S. Special Forces and some others who are not SpecOps are authorized to wear beards and grow longer hair somewhat depending on AOR. Can be helpful. I was authorized to, but never felt the need. The reasons for that are obvious. To look less like an American. The guy was probably assisting.