: Special Operations units deployed to Afghanistan have already reported some "lessons learned" (mostly in the form of complaints):

@ They need more time on the firing range and in training for intense small arms combat. More than once, Green Beret teams (intended to look for information and provide support to local units) found themselves in desperate combat holding off a numerically-superior enemy infantry force.

@ They need some kind of small all-terrain vehicle, as the foot mobility is too slow to react to the developing situation. Preferably, they want two or three kinds of vehicles and training in all of them so that they can take whichever type suits the mission.

@ They need more language training, so that two or three members of each team know any language they are likely to need in their assigned area of responsibility.

@ They want their own very small recon drone aircraft (or the ability to downlink from larger aircraft operated by higher headquarters) in order to detect the enemy first (giving them the option to attack or avoid contact).

@ They want more radios, preferably one tactical radio for each member of the team, plus two or three long-range radios that weigh less and use less power. --Stephen V Cole