The Economic Times on Sunday The Economic Times on Sunday APRIL 10, 2011 16 newsmakers MAY 8, 2011 17 newsmakers 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1717 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Favourites among warrior fans, Team Six’s brand value has zoomed after their BRANDS & BUSINESS most famous scalp till date. Everyone wants a bit of SEAL on their wall The Book: Former The Game: Want to The Film: Watch SEAL Team VI only if The Man: WWF wrestler SEAL, Howard Wasdin’s feel like a SEAL? your fascination for warriors turned Minnesota governor ‘SEAL Team Six: Play Counter-Strike, supersedes your taste for good movies Jesse “The Body” Ventura also Memoirs of an Elite one of the most- needed some SEAL in his life. Navy Seal Sniper’ is due played first-person But the former petty officer in this month. Last heard, shooter games the the US Navy retracted his he is ready for a post- available across claim of being one launch success party platforms THE OPS FILE You never know where these men go—most of DevGru’s (or whatever they are called now) missions are classified. This limited list is based on tidbits fed or leaked to the public S E A L T E A M S I X 1989: Operation Just 2001: Operation 2010: Failed Cause, Panama: Anaconda, Afghanistan: mission to rescue Capturing strongman Attempting to aid worker Linda Manuel Antonio Noriega destroy Taliban Norgrove kid- MEN WHO SEALED after the US invasion and al-Qaeda napped by Taliban 1983: Operation 1993: Operation 2003: 2011: Urgent Fury, Gothic Serpent, Operation Operation Grenada: Protecting Somalia: Aiming Iraqi Freedom: Neptune’s Spear, Governor-General to capture Uprooting Pakistan: Paul Scoon Somali warlord Ba’athists and Killing Osama after a Mohamed fighting bin Laden OSAMA’S FATE insurgents military coup Farrah Aidid Their latest mission, Operation Neptune’s Spear, was over in 40 minutes. Their target, Osama bin Laden was dead, securing their place in history. It was a rare moment. For Team Six missions never THE SEAL WORKOUT make it to record books. Everything about the elite squad of the US Navy SEALs is secret: members, The best of the best Navy SEALs make it to Team Six. But the recruits are not one of ‘them’ till recruitment and operations. Much has been written about them since May 2. Here’s a definitive account they pass a brutal training session lasting months. Don’t ask if you have it in you ORIGINS IN DEFEAT In 1980, the US botched up the rescue of American hostages from their embassy in Iran. It was a wake-up call. The US realised they needed an exclusive counter-terrorism team. Richard Marcinko, former commanding officer (CO) of the Navy SEAL Team Two, was given the Exercising Swimming in Parachuting Firing 2,500- Free climbing, job. He built Team Six and became its first CO. Despite the elite task and nonstop for cold surf and from 30,000 3,000 rounds a offensive status, he went to jail—Marcinko defrauded the government in a deal of 132 hrs. Sleep rolling in the feet with week to hone driving, un- hand grenades. Later, ‘Demo Dick’ built a respectable career time: 4 hrs mud for hours oxygen masks marksmanship armed combat writing books, hosting talk shows and giving motivational speeches Richard Marcinko Is the Team Six in a league of its own? Legend PLAYING says so. But many countries have built exclusive counter-terrorism units from their Officially, this special unit doesn’t exist. Off the record, CATCH UP? navies. What’s with water heroes? CHANGING it has been renamed at least five times. Some say it is Team Six members are trained killer machines but a little help from these deliberate—adds to their legend. Even as you read this, the MEAN MACHINES fancy toys (and canines) saves time and increases accuracy Special Boat Service, UK: Around since World War II and renamed team’s sixth moniker may be ready IDENTITY thrice. Unfortunately the previous two titles were equally unimaginative: Special Boat Section and the Special Boat Squadron Shayetet 13, Israel: Formed in 1948, the unit is highly secretive Mob Six: The full SEAL Team Six: MARSEFAC: Short Naval Special DevGru: Bite-sized about their missions and members. Yet, its list of known operations name read Mobility They wanted to fool for Marine Warfare version of the above. Development is longest among its peers Six. Not known if a the Soviets. Rumour Research Facility. Don’t say it is similar Group: Said to be Hollywood script is, there were only No, the unit did not to Gru—the foreign Naval commandos, France: The unit comprises 500 odd sailors. the official one. writer thought it up two Navy SEAL study seals or oth- military intelligence Their 20-week training is one of the toughest. Imagine sleeping for Wait, the squad is M4 carbines: Standard MK 18: Carbine that works Hyperspectral imagers: MH-60 choppers: A variant of the Military dogs: One was part of the units at the time er marine animals directorate in Russia two hours a day and waking up to the sound of grenades not official, or is it? issue for the warriors. It as a complete weapon They can see in the dark Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. No one Abbottabad raid. German Shepherds can fire 700-950 rounds system loaded with with this one, so enemies knows what it is loaded with. The and Belgian Malinois are preferred MARCOS, India: Short for Marine Commandos, the special forces unit per minute accessories have nowhere to hide unit blows up the ones that fail for their sharp sense of smell was set up in 1987. Members have trained with the SEALs and the British Special Forces. Information on their operations is classified but the squad is known to despise pirates .