SFA capability is rooted in Individual Talent (part 1)

[Stan]

It's not a rank or MOS thing and never was.

Some folks just do better than others despite the best training available.

Would have to agree with Tom; cultural arrogance not cultural awareness. If it's so simple then why do we have so many failures?

I hated the people I was forced to work with but yet learned their language and culture and used it (literally) to our advantage. Similarly I learned to certify HAZMAT and load pallets for the AF and hated that as well

Bob,

Two SF Majors went home one after the other for very similar behavior in Rwanda. Basic cultural arrogance toward senior Rwandan officers for one and stupidity in front of a Rwandan-US formation for the other.

The ODB Sergeant Major gave me a group coin in appreciation. He was tired of being embarrassed.

The 2 ODAs left behind under their Captains performed wonderfully and were soon joined by the group XO as a temporary fill. Smooth sailing was the norm afterward.

And to show I am not picking on SF Majors for cultural ineptitude, a 48J fellow DATT got sent home from Goma for similar reasons about a year earlier.

Best

Tom