U.S. Navy Admiral McRaven all-call

U.S. Navy Adm. William McRaven, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, answers a question during an all-call at the Commando Hangar on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Jan. 31, 2012. The admiral is the ninth commander of USSOCOM, headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo)(Released)

U.S. Navy Admiral McRaven all-call

U.S. Navy Adm. William McRaven, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, speaks to enlisted personnel during an all-call at the Commando Hangar on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Jan. 31, 2012. As the commander of USSOCOM, the admiral ensures the readiness of joint special operations forces and, if necessary, conducts operations worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo)(Released)

U.S. Navy Admiral McRaven all-call

U.S. Navy Adm. William McRaven, commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, listens to a question by a U.S. Air Force Airman at the Commando Hangar on Hurlburt Field, Fla., Jan., 31, 2012. The admiral answered questions by enlisted personnel pertaining to the preservation of the force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo)(Released)

USSOCOM: Versatility key to sustaining today's force

Published Feb. 2, 2012
By Senior Airman Joe McFadden
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- U.S. Navy Admiral William McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, addressed more than 1,000 Airmen from the 1st Special Operations Wing during an enlisted all-call at the Commando Hangar at Hurlburt Field Jan. 31.

In the same hangar where AC-130U gunships are prepared for battle, the admiral and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Faris, senior enlisted adviser of USSOCOM, shared their assessment of the state of the special operations forces.

"Our credibility as a force has never, ever been higher," McRaven said. "That is a result of the magnificent work you all do every single day. The nation continues to look to us to get the tough jobs done, and nothing about that is going to change."

McRaven's first resolution is to fight and win the current fight- be it in Afghanistan or wherever else special operations forces may be engaged. He also pointed out how USSOCOM's personnel surpassed 66,000 members under his command, compared to 33,000 when 9/11 occurred.

"We are probably the most versatile force the world has ever seen," the admiral said. "We've been fighting this war for 10-plus years now. There's been no more experienced force ever. The greatest generation that fought World War II- most of those guys spent 18 months total time in theater. Hard fighting, God bless them, and they were the greatest generation of the 20th century. You're about to earn the title of the greatest generation of the 21st century."