SOF Adventure Van Gives Fans a View of Special Operations

By Walt SokalskiMarch 21, 2007

Ground Mobility Vehicle Trainer
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Special Forces Communications Equipment
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Army Adventure Van
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Special Forces & Army Driver
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Members of ODA 783, B Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) pause for a photograph with Army "01" car driver, Regan Smith. The team members are providing a Special Forces equipment demonstration at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Pi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
M47 40mm Gun
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ATLANTA (USASOC News Service, Mar. 18, 2007) - While most of the attention of the race fans at the NASCAR Nextel Kobalt Tools 500 was focused on the Special Operation Forces demonstration team, there was another group of SOF Soldiers working at the track.

These 10 Soldiers from the U.S. Special Operations Command sat outside the Special Operations Adventure Van with their tools of the trade.

"I think this is a good idea," said Sgt. John Wilson, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. Wilson explained that a lot of visitors to his area were not aware of the Psychological Operations specialty.

"I get the chance to inform them about PSYOPS," he said. "This shows people the different MOS's (military occupational specialties) they can join."

Next to Wilson's table, filled with portable loudspeakers and various recording and broadcast tools, is a group of tables exhibiting the tools and equipment of a Special Forces A-team.

There, members of Operational Detachment 783 of 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), also from Fort Bragg are popular stop inside the Army exhibit area.

"It's a good idea for us to be here and be able to show people what we do," said nine-year Army veteran and two-year Green Beret, Staff Sgt. Wiley MacCormack.

For MacCormack, the entire week has been a good experience and he especially enjoys the opportunity to explain to Americans what Special Operations is doing in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

After talking to the Army SOF veterans, race fans also have to opportunity to experience and practice SOF skills inside the SOF Adventure Van. Inside visitors can do a HALO parachute jump, fly an MH-6 Little Bird helicopter or drive in and fire from an SF Ground Mobility Vehicle.

The 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, Fort Bragg and the 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga., also has Soldiers participating in the three-day demonstrations outside the Atlanta Motor Speedway.