Embed with US special forces in Afghanistan?

Dude, that sort of embed takes months and months to arrange. American SOF is very difficult to get in with. But yeah that sort of request is submitted like any other. Good luck.

Thank you for information. I’m going to Afghanistan next year on Maj, June so I have some time. Anyway I better start now.
Thanks

It’s possible, but you won’t be able to photograph faces. If it’s just access you’re looking for you may be able to swing it but i haven’t seen any interesting SF pics yet…

You can take faces but no rank no last name and mos def no units or job identifiers. Its a tough go. A lot of them don’t like media. Good luck, mate.

Pete, I just sent you a PM.

yeah mate. im a regular with Delta and seals. not mentioning marine recon and USAF pararescues. you gotta make sure to strap them 1D bodies really well when jumping out of jet liners though. realistically, if you want to do an embed in afghanistan i would start with infantry units in the south and see how that goes. i dont know what you mean when you mention SF but i can imagine that you re talking about the above and not ANA trainers.

Technically, US Army Rangers are ‘SF’ also and it might be a lot easier gaining access to them compared to Green Beret ODA’s or SEAL’s. I’ve heard when SF units do allow embed’s it’s usually for a 3 day maximum compared to the month(s) you can spend with Infantry units. Hope that help’s a little..

Hi. Many thanks for your help. I’m thinking about Delta or Seals.One of this unit is cooperate with polish Grom, which I’m interested in. It’s difficult to find any information on a web about them, because Poland making a huge deal about this unit. Last picture of Grom has been taken in Iraq and there was a lots of troubles because of it.
Anyway it’s a good news. If Grom will not take me I will try to embed with Delta or Seals.
Many Thanks

You may benefit from speaking with LSer Chad Hunt, who recently embedded in Afghanistan. http://www.lightstalkers.org/chad_hunt

On most (but not all) embeds it is not permitted to photograph the faces of special forces and with some countries you have forms you sign agreeing to that.

hahahaha dude, I don’t mean to laugh but there’s no way in Hell you’re embedding with Delta or SEALs over there. If you really really want to get some bang bang go with a “conventional” infantry unit down along the Afghan-Paki border.

Blazej, not to discourage you but I have to agree with Bill P. especially when it comes to Delta. I’ve never heard of any press ever ‘embedding’ with them as they are usualy a ‘black ops’ unit. As far as the SEAL’s go I can only speak from my one exposure to them. When I was in Al Anbar there was a small SEAL contingent at our small combat base and a writer friend of mine i was bunking with was allowed to go out on a ‘traditional’ day Op with them and was even allowed to take photos. Afterwards he had to sit down with the team leader and go through the photos with him and delete certain shot’s that showed the faces of one or two certain team members who are regularly involved in clandestine missions. Of course he was also not allowed to publish there names or team # and I think even where they were. Long story short he was not embedded with them but was allowed a one time opportunity to go out with them. He didnt go through any proper channel’s to do this but just kinda right place right time. Embedding with them or Delta would be the equivalent of asking a Formula One driver if you can sit on the wing of his car during a race.

Blazej, only Chuck Norris can dare so far. Once he was on an embed during the afghanistan push with Navy seal team 6, taking pictures with 10 1D bodies mounting all the canon L serie lenses. 100 talibans showed up from behind a ridge outnumbering the seals and Chuck Norris ten to one. Chuck Norris instantly appeared behind them and round house kicked every single one of them while speaking on his sat phone with Time mag in NY and covering for them the entire op. He even recorded audio and produced the first holographic multimedia slideshow ever. As President Roosevelt said: “We have nothing to fear but fear itself. And Chuck Norris.”

Spot on, Bill T.
I hung out with an ODA in Mosul, Iraq, and that happened purely by chance; they were working with a conventional infantry company I was embedded with. They liked me, I liked them, all was grand. I even went out on some ops with them. Right time right place. Won’t happen again and to be honest I’m okay with that. Those shouldering the real load of this war in Afghan and Iraq - the grunts, tankers and cannon cockers - are whom I want to photograph.