You can bet that U.S. special operations teams will be ready when a disabled and out-of-control American spy satellite comes crashing to Earth.
According to the Associated Press, "A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power and could hit Earth in late February or early March, government officials said Saturday (Jan. 26)."
The AP also reported, "Such an uncontrolled re-entry could risk exposure of U.S. secrets, said John Pike, a defense and intelligence expert. Spy satellites typically are disposed of through a controlled re-entry into the ocean so that no one else can access the spacecraft, he said."
This kind of situation is one of many that U.S. special operations teams train for, and the kinds of scenarios books are written and movies are made about.
Like more conventional military search and rescue groups, advanced special ops personnel are trained for insertion into various environments and, and as in this case, recover or destroy a sensitive piece of technology or accomplish other unique tasks.
AP reports quoted Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council. "Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation," he said. "We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause," he was quoted as saying.
Army Special Forces (Green Berets), Navy SEALs (Sea-Air-Land capable), Air Force special operations and tactics groups and Marine Corps special ops teams could all be readied and in place around the world to respond to the crash of a sensitive intelligence satellite.
If it crashed into the ocean, SEALs would probably be fully capable of recovering or destroying it. If it falls on land, depending on the location, U.S. special operations teams would also be capable of appropriate actions.
In both cases, certain sensitive conditions might require diplomacy and communications with other nations.
A forceful diplomatic and military approach might be considered appropriate, depending on where it crashes, due to the importance of the U.S. recovering or neutralizing a sensitive satellite. U.S. special operations teams and supporting personnel and resources are fully capable in this kind of scenario too.
The AP reported, "At the Pentagon, Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Finn confirmed that Defense officials believe the satellite could hit Earth soon, but more analysis will be needed to determine exactly when and where, and in what condition, the satellite might strike. 'We are monitoring it,' Finn said. 'The NSC has been talking to us about this, and they confirm it is a de-orbiting satellite.'"
Odds are probably against the satellite falling on a populated area. However, the impact could be significant and hazardous materials could be released, according to published reports.
UNCONVENTIONAL AND SPECIAL MISSIONS
U.S. special operations teams, whether Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Air Force special ops groups or Marines are trained in rescuing downed pilots behind enemy lines, rescuing hostages, capturing known or suspected adversaries, conducting intelligence and reconnaissance activities, coordinating air strikes, neutralizing sensitive facilities or technologies and many other important missions.
They may operate in a joint-service capacity, that is, working closely together whether Army, Navy or Air Force or Marines. These groups obviously also work closely with our intelligence agencies and often share personnel and assets in many ways.
Insertion into the mission environment may occur by air, sea, land or any combination of these.
For air insertion, a variety of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft are used for special operations. Additional air assets might be deployed. Special ops personnel may parachute into the area of operations, including using "high altitude-low opening(HALO)" techniques, "high altitude-high opening(HAHO)" or other methods. Personnel can be rapidly extracted using air assets as well.
By sea, submarines and special ops underwater vehicles and devices are also available. Conventional surface ships and naval aircraft can also play key roles. Both insertion and extraction can occur by sea or other bodies of water.
The availability of special operations teams is crucial for many unexpected or unusual circumstances. Currently, many of these teams and assets are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Special operations personnel are obviously trained in a wide range of skills and prepared to respond to all kinds of unusual and unconventional scenarios.
An object coming into our atmosphere from space and crashing, such as the disabled intelligence satellite, is certainly a situation that special ops groups have trained for and probably accomplished many times in the past. These incidents most likely are often secret.
My own experience playing the role of a downed Air Force pilot behind enemy lines during Army Special Forces Reserve training activities was a learning experience for me.
During the time frame of my experience as an Army officer trainee in college Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), I was tasked with wearing an Air Force flight uniform, carrying Air Force documents and positioned where an Army Special Forces Reserve team was to locate, rescue, debrief/interrogate and extract me from behind enemy lines.
My observation of and participation in other Army Special Forces Reserve training activities were also enlightening.
We might wonder about the wide range of special and secret missions undertaken by U.S. special operations forces over the years. Many or most might be secret. We learn about some of them through the news, books, movies and on the Web.
For any unconventional or far-out situation you can imagine where these kinds of teams might be used, they have probably already done it more than once. And, they are always prepared to saddle up for a dangerous unconventional mission right now.
They sometimes must rely on our civilian government officials and decision-makers to some degree, which can be a problematic situation.
But higher special operations military officers come from the special ops environment and can help maximize chances for success, and survival, of these teams.
As this American spy satellite slowly and inevitably loses orbit and plunges to Earth, possibly in undesirable circumstances, let's say a prayer for our special operations forces, wish them God's speed and be grateful for their courage and professionalism.
NOTE TO READERS: By clicking the link in the author background box at right, readers can see Hammons' many articles on unconventional and conventional areas. Please visit his Joint Recon Study Group blog.
According to the Associated Press, "A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power and could hit Earth in late February or early March, government officials said Saturday (Jan. 26)."
The AP also reported, "Such an uncontrolled re-entry could risk exposure of U.S. secrets, said John Pike, a defense and intelligence expert. Spy satellites typically are disposed of through a controlled re-entry into the ocean so that no one else can access the spacecraft, he said."
This kind of situation is one of many that U.S. special operations teams train for, and the kinds of scenarios books are written and movies are made about.
Like more conventional military search and rescue groups, advanced special ops personnel are trained for insertion into various environments and, and as in this case, recover or destroy a sensitive piece of technology or accomplish other unique tasks.
AP reports quoted Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council. "Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation," he said. "We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause," he was quoted as saying.
Army Special Forces (Green Berets), Navy SEALs (Sea-Air-Land capable), Air Force special operations and tactics groups and Marine Corps special ops teams could all be readied and in place around the world to respond to the crash of a sensitive intelligence satellite.
If it crashed into the ocean, SEALs would probably be fully capable of recovering or destroying it. If it falls on land, depending on the location, U.S. special operations teams would also be capable of appropriate actions.
In both cases, certain sensitive conditions might require diplomacy and communications with other nations.
A forceful diplomatic and military approach might be considered appropriate, depending on where it crashes, due to the importance of the U.S. recovering or neutralizing a sensitive satellite. U.S. special operations teams and supporting personnel and resources are fully capable in this kind of scenario too.
The AP reported, "At the Pentagon, Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Finn confirmed that Defense officials believe the satellite could hit Earth soon, but more analysis will be needed to determine exactly when and where, and in what condition, the satellite might strike. 'We are monitoring it,' Finn said. 'The NSC has been talking to us about this, and they confirm it is a de-orbiting satellite.'"
Odds are probably against the satellite falling on a populated area. However, the impact could be significant and hazardous materials could be released, according to published reports.
UNCONVENTIONAL AND SPECIAL MISSIONS
U.S. special operations teams, whether Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Air Force special ops groups or Marines are trained in rescuing downed pilots behind enemy lines, rescuing hostages, capturing known or suspected adversaries, conducting intelligence and reconnaissance activities, coordinating air strikes, neutralizing sensitive facilities or technologies and many other important missions.
They may operate in a joint-service capacity, that is, working closely together whether Army, Navy or Air Force or Marines. These groups obviously also work closely with our intelligence agencies and often share personnel and assets in many ways.
Insertion into the mission environment may occur by air, sea, land or any combination of these.
For air insertion, a variety of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft are used for special operations. Additional air assets might be deployed. Special ops personnel may parachute into the area of operations, including using "high altitude-low opening(HALO)" techniques, "high altitude-high opening(HAHO)" or other methods. Personnel can be rapidly extracted using air assets as well.
By sea, submarines and special ops underwater vehicles and devices are also available. Conventional surface ships and naval aircraft can also play key roles. Both insertion and extraction can occur by sea or other bodies of water.
The availability of special operations teams is crucial for many unexpected or unusual circumstances. Currently, many of these teams and assets are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Special operations personnel are obviously trained in a wide range of skills and prepared to respond to all kinds of unusual and unconventional scenarios.
An object coming into our atmosphere from space and crashing, such as the disabled intelligence satellite, is certainly a situation that special ops groups have trained for and probably accomplished many times in the past. These incidents most likely are often secret.
My own experience playing the role of a downed Air Force pilot behind enemy lines during Army Special Forces Reserve training activities was a learning experience for me.
During the time frame of my experience as an Army officer trainee in college Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), I was tasked with wearing an Air Force flight uniform, carrying Air Force documents and positioned where an Army Special Forces Reserve team was to locate, rescue, debrief/interrogate and extract me from behind enemy lines.
My observation of and participation in other Army Special Forces Reserve training activities were also enlightening.
We might wonder about the wide range of special and secret missions undertaken by U.S. special operations forces over the years. Many or most might be secret. We learn about some of them through the news, books, movies and on the Web.
For any unconventional or far-out situation you can imagine where these kinds of teams might be used, they have probably already done it more than once. And, they are always prepared to saddle up for a dangerous unconventional mission right now.
They sometimes must rely on our civilian government officials and decision-makers to some degree, which can be a problematic situation.
But higher special operations military officers come from the special ops environment and can help maximize chances for success, and survival, of these teams.
As this American spy satellite slowly and inevitably loses orbit and plunges to Earth, possibly in undesirable circumstances, let's say a prayer for our special operations forces, wish them God's speed and be grateful for their courage and professionalism.
NOTE TO READERS: By clicking the link in the author background box at right, readers can see Hammons' many articles on unconventional and conventional areas. Please visit his Joint Recon Study Group blog.
