INTRODUCTION.

The article focuses on the importance of elite forces in the U.S. armed forces. These special units are the first to engage on reconnaissance missions into denied territory for conventional forces or in direct action, surgical operations, preemptive strikes, retaliatory action, and hostage rescues. Most units are regionally oriented, acclimated to the culture and conversant in the languages of the areas where they operate. Training for these elite units has proven to be hazardous.