Idema with his Special Forces Mountain Team- “Rear Base Radio Operators” don’t do this- they sit in a radio room copying code. Idema is the first Green Beret on the lower left. On the right is Francis McCabe, a highly regarded SF hero in Vietnam.
The naysayers are saying that all the evidence and the old pictures including the redacted diplomas like this one, were “manufacturered” and the reason you can’t see the signatures and so on is that they’re frauds. Have you ever seen a photoshop of an old picture? Doesn’t work out very well. So…GIVE ME A BREAK.
Idema’s Special Forces Force Qualification Diploma awarded to him By Colonel Charlie Beckwith and General Robert Kingston. Bergen wasn’t the only journalist that had this. It is highly redacted to prevent real wannabes from copying a real diploma.
Colonel Charlie Beckwith passed away in 1985, but he and Jack remained close friends until his death.
If a guy wants to wear the green beret of the Green Berets, it takes more than the ability to do hundreds of push-ups. To make it in the special forces of any branch of the U.S. military, you need intelligence, an outstanding record of prior military service (at least three years), and high motivation — very high.
Idema has broken so many records, in Special Forces, that’s just one of the many things which makes him a virtual legend in these circles.
Each SF volunteer will receive extensive training in a specialty that prepares him for his future assignment in an SF unit. SF units are designed to operate either unilaterally or in support of and combined with native military and paramilitary forces. Levels of employment for Special Operations forces include advising and assisting host governments, involvement in continental United States-based training, and direct participation in combat operations.
The Special Forces Qualification Course teaches and develops the skills necessary for effective utilization of the SF solider. Duties in CMF 18 primarily involve participation in Special Operations interrelated fields of unconventional warfare. These include foreign internal defense and direct action missions as part of a small operations team or detachment. Duties at other levels involve command, control, and support functions. Frequently, duties require regional orientation to include foreign language training and in-country experience. SF places emphasis not only on unconventional tactics, but also on knowledge of nations in waterborne, desert, jungle, mountain, or arctic operations (see picture above).
How many more insults does this man have to endure from lying cretins who are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to destroy people? Already, they’ve not only threatened, but they’ve been digging for things not only on me, but on others to “expose” them. Expose what? And excuse me, but what does this have to do with the Jack Idema story?
On Unmotivated and Unprofessional:
A. Jack Idema was an Honor Graduate in his 1975 Special Forces Communications Course- and received a letter of commendation from the commander (Idema’s final score was a perfect 100).
B. He was the Distinguished Graduate in Phase I of his Special Forces Course. He was one of only 16 to graduate out of a class of 1250 Airborne and Ranger qualified soldiers to start selection. He set eleven records Light Weapons Records in his Phase II Special Forces Light & Heavy Weapons Course. According to the Chief of the SF Weapons office at least three records still stood in 2004 (just shy of 30 years later).
C. In 1976, according to official records at JFKSWC (JFKCENMA/JFKSWCS) he was chosen to participate in the most elite course in the Army; the Special Weapons and Hand to Hand Combat Instructor School.
D. Within six months Idema was qualified as the youngest instructor ever, and one of only 11 (there were 44 total in all service branches and combined Special Ops units)
E. In November 1976 he was chosen to go to USAJFKSWC-SFUWOC, the Army’s “Navy SEAL” Course. He broke two swimming records - You can call the school HQs to confirm this- We heard this from a former commander there.
F. Over the next five years he went to various NATO schools, including German Mountain Climbing, Ski School, City Warfare School, and was on the Special Forces Pistol Team where he competed at the Camp Perry National Matches, ranking 6th in all combined services on his first attempt. Thousands of the best shooters in the world compete. He also competed at the Secret Service matches and shot a “possible” (a perfect 100) at the NA Day FBI matches at Camp Peekskill (a “possible” means your target is sent to Quantico to placed in the running for the FBI’s highest score/champion for the year, NA means National Academy). Most FBI agents dream of doing that– very few ever do in their entire career.
G. He went to the top secret SWC (different from Special Warfare Center above- it stands for Special Weapons Course- and we can’t even hint at what that was on this website).
H. In 1985 he graduated the US Army Special Forces Jumpmaster Course. But according to the press he wasn’t even in the Army then.
I. Idema graduated the Special Forces Instructor Course in 1986 and was then qualified to teach at the Special Forces Schools, where he was assigned as a Senior Instructor in a variety of positions (but according to journalists Idema was thrown out of the Army in 1978).
J. His MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) was NOT that of “rear base radio operator” but was 11B4S-W9– the designation of a Special Forces Senior Weapons Sergeant SCUBA qualified sniper. His secondary MOS was 11C4S-W7 designating Heavy weapons sergeant, and his “additional” MOS was 05B3S-W7 which was for cross-trained commo sergeant (Special Forces Morse Code radio operator). He was later re-designated 18 series when the Army changed Green Berets to their own branch (18). He was also cross-trained in demolitions and combat medicine.
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The entire press corps has been promoting a wide range of vicious lies- as an example, one journalist, Tod Robbeson, quoting an “un-named source,” claimed that Idema stole food from his classmates in the Special Forces Course– if this wasn’t so viciously slanderous we’d be rolling on the floor– (the only time you lack food in the SF course is during Phase I- the portion where you do land navigation, survival, and E&E ops. During that portion of the course in 75-76 you WERE COMPLETELY ALONE ! You walked for about 14-16 days ALONE- so exactly who would have been there for Idema to steal this food from? Was Tod Robbeson counting the chipmunks in the forest?)
Apparently the press feels free to make up whatever they want because they don’t think this guy is ever coming back; that would be a stupid assumption if anyone really knew Idema. The press needs to portray this guy as a lousy soldier, otherwise their myth of torture and conning coalition troops starts to evaporate. Here are some quotes the press MISSED, but we know that Rolling Stone, Columbia Journalism Review, and others were given copies of the original letters:
“Keith Idema may be one of the last individuals for whom the phrase ‘I give you my word’ still has meaning. To Keith honor is everything…. Keith will do what he has pledged to do, no matter how difficult…” “I have relied on him in the past, and never been disappointed.”
(Signed; [The Honorable] Timothy Connolly, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict) on official US DOD stationary (the top Pentagon civilian over all US Special Operations units in the world).
“In fact, I was assigned to teach surveillance operations to a British SAS commando force during which time Idema was their principal instructor in hostage rescue and close quarter battle. He [Jack] was the consummate professional with only two goals in mind; saving lives and combating terrorism for the red, white and blue.”
(Letter written by Peter D. Montfort, former Special Forces operative and Senior Detective with the Dutchess County New York Sheriff’s Office. The letter is dated May 25, 1994)
“SGT Idema possesses a strong personality and a highly developed individualism…He is sure to abrade an occasional superior. Such occasional abrasion is a scant price to pay for his often demonstrated abilities; and besides, some superiors can use a little scraping now and then…Idema is definitely a person, and I prefer a thoroughbred that on occasion needs the bridle, but never the whip, to a plodding cart horse. SGT Idema is the man I want around when the going is rough and in times of stress and crisis. He is a tough and hard driver when you need him. I think the Army needs him and that he belongs in the Army for as long as we can keep him.”
(Excerpt from a 1978 efficiency report contained in a letter of support for Idema written by his former commanding officer, Special Forces Captain Ray Carney. The letter is dated April 30, 1994)
“Idema is a stand-up kind of person. He is what we call a self starter. He is a leader of men and not a follower. He speaks his mind in a true and honest manner and is not a bureaucrat. Although some may not agree with his tact in which he uses to get his point across he is true to his word and is dependable in the highest caliber. I would stand side by side with Idema in the toughest situations in both military and civilian life.” (Letter of support for Idema written by Special Forces operative and counter-terrorism expert, Master Sergeant Peter L. Conners (later Command Sergeant Major). The letter is dated May 18, 1994 on Department of the Army stationary from a classified unit)
I have known few people as loyal and dedicated to their Country as Keith Idema.”
(Letter of support for Idema written by John M. Comparetto, New York City Police Detective and Executive Director of the Rockland County Child Abuse Agency, and later Chief of State of New Jersey Corrections). The letter is dated June 1, 1994)
“Idema goes in locked and loaded and never quits.” “But he’s not afraid of pain, and he’s not sweating death. It’s never occurred to the guy to yield; never crossed his mind…. No doubt about it, Keith is a hardass, but a true patriot, a man of courage and inviolable honor.”
(statements of Major James Morris, recipient of FOUR PURPLE HEARTS, and FOUR BRONZE STAR Medals for valor in Vietnam. Major Morris served three combat tours in Vietnam and has covered eight wars and conflicts as a combat correspondent. He is the author of the best-selling book WAR STORY.
“Idema’s word can be taken as gospel.. I would want him with me in any battle…”
Command Sergeant Major Alex Schwarcbher, US Army Special Forces, and the Senior enlisted man for the United States Army Special Warfare School at Fort Bragg — the school that trains and qualifies Green Berets. Schwarcbher’s medals include the purple heart, several bronze stars, the silver star, several MSMs, several AMs with V device, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.
Jack Idema is “a man who has walked the moral high ground, and has lived according to the creed ‘Duty, honor, Country’…”
Lt Colonel Rick Lester, Classified Special Operations unit (TF-160).
“Idema is the best Special Forces Weapons Sergeant I have ever known, and one was one the most valued team members in my command.”
And, in a letter of commendation,
“…his ability to train indigenous foreign armies is unsurpassed.”
Written by Colonel Gary Rohen (MACV-SOG Vietnam Team Leader) who is currently the Deputy Director of the FBI’s Counter-Terrorist Watch Command in Washington, DC.
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But lets sum it all up- take ALL the unnamed unidentified alleged sources about what a lousy soldier Idema was and how he barely made it in Special Forces School, and then read what the Commandant of the SPECIAL FORCES SCHOOL said about Keith “Jack” Idema.
In an official letter dated January 7, 1976, Colonel Charlie A. Beckwith, School Commandant, who became famous as the First Commander of Delta Force, commended Jack on his “perseverance, motivation, and professionalism” in Special Forces:
“During that selection course you excelled by meeting every requirement set upon you, whether it be arriving at your objective on schedule, navigating across hazardous terrain, evading detection or leading an ambush. The initiative you took and the motivation you showed in attaining every objective of a course that was designed to be impossible to complete reflects greatly upon yourself and Special Forces.”
[Signed,] Charlie A. Beckwith
Colonel, Infantry
Director, Special Forces School
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Jack Idema (on the left) Graduation day, in 1975 outside USAIMA (aka United States Army Institute For Military Assistance, as it was called then) Student Barracks on Smoke Bomb Hill at Fort Bragg.
The average Green Beret has six years in the Army before he makes it to the course. The age average is between 27 and 35. Idema was 18. Is it no wonder he got shit from his peers??? Most of them were still living with mom and dad at the age that Idema was a fully qualified Green Beret. He was roughly seven years younger than the average soldier in his Special Forces class. That says volumes to me.
Idema being awarded his Hwa Rang Do Instructor Qualification by the legendary Michael Echanis. You had to be a Sergeant on your second enlistment to be selected into the course. Idema was only an E-4 (corporal) with less than two years in the army. Only 11 men ever graduated- ever.
Idema’s Hwa Rang Do Hand to Hand Combat and Special Weapons and Tactics Course Instructor Diploma.
Jack Idema at the Special Forces U/W Ops School- he is wearing an Emerson Closed Circuit Rebreather system for covert infiltration of enemy coastlines and clandestine Submarine lockouts- this was ONLY available to Special Forces and Navy SEAL Teams. Idema was only 20 at the time, making him one of the youngest graduates ever of what is known as the hardest course in Special Forces. He later went to the Navy SEAL /UDT Orientation Course at Little Creek, VA. (the actual BUDS Qualification Course is at Coronado). This picture has never been released before. (Picture courtesy of the SF Schools archives.)
Idema as a principle Senior Instructor the the British 22 SAS Commandos. He is seen here placing a STABO extraction harness on Colonel Patty Baker- the British SAS Commando who became legendary during the battle of Oman. Colonel Baker later wrote of Idema as the finest young Green Beret he had ever worked with and invited Idema to SAS Headquarters in Hereford in the mid-80’s. The rope you see is attached to a hovering helicopter. In other words Colonel Baker was trusting Idema with his life.
Here you see SAS legend Paddy Baker with Idema on the range. This was a PRE- Iranian Embassy Raid and Idema is running a course on the HK MP-5SD3 Submachinegun for the SAS. His course was one of the key reasons the regiment changed from the L2A3 Sterling SMG to the HK MP-5 which would later be used so devastatingly by the SAS’ at 16 Princes Gate in a daring hostage rescue operation. Notice Idema holding a V-70 Pistol in his left hand behind Colonel Baker. He is about to hand him the pistol next (HK only had secret prototypes then). Idema was awed by Baker’s skill. He later said during the graduation that Baker should be teaching the course, not him. Idema called Baker “the British version of Charlie Beckwith– a true hero of extraordinary proportions.”
From Rotty Pup in my comments section:
Can I just add that Patty Baker is a true British hero? Because we shouldn’t forget that the guy in that photograph isn’t some aging stiff who spent his career warming an office chair. In fact, Baker spent his active service in the SAS defending the world from commies and terrorists. Baker wrote the book on 20th century terrorism and showed us how to deal with it. This guy’s a true British LION.
True warriors like Patty Baker don’t do political suck-ups like a bunch of State Department/Whitehall fags at a cocktail party — When someone like Baker says Jack’s ‘the best’, you can damn well take it as red that Idema is, indeed, the best.
Looking at that photo of Jack and Baker, I can’t help but feel this is almost like the ‘father’ of counter-terrorism passing on the mantle to the ’son’.
It’s almost painful to imagine what someone like Patty Baker would feel about what’s been done to Idema. (Disclaimer: please bear in mind that I’m English — We only become this mushy about two things — War heroes and … um … football.)
With Ronald Reagan as the President from 1980 until 1988, clandestine and covert Ops, as was Special Forces, were at an all time high. Idema formed the Counter-Terrorist Group, and developed counter-terrorist and hostage rescue concepts and doctrine which would be followed by counter-terrorist units all over the world. He is seen here training the President’s son, Ronald Reagan, Jr., in combat pistol techniques.
Idema being awarded Royal Thai Commando Wings in 1985 by the Commander of the Thai Special Warfare Command in LopBuri Thailand. The man on the left is holding a Royal award device reserved for awards authorized by the King. The row of men standing are all Thai General Officers. This picture was taken in 1985 when there were supposed to be no Green Berets in South East Asia. Idema is alleged to have called the Thai Commander “Uncle George.”
 This is Idema with Colonel Gary Rohen on a Special Forces Counter-Terrorist Team. Both are carrying SFM16’s with 203 Grenade Launchers, PVS-5 Night Vision Goggles and Browning Fast Action pistols. Rohen is now the Deputy Director of the FBI’s Counter-Terrorist Watch and was in constant contact with Jack Idema during his latest mission in Afghanistan. Rohen was supposed to deploy with TASK FORCE SABER 7 to Afghanistan but was pulled from the mission for medical reasons.
Jack is a former member of the US Army Special Forces and is a Green Beret. He has operated for the US Government, and trained foreign counter-terrorist forces in Nicaragua against the Sandinistas, in El Salvador with the Ramon Bellosa Immediate Reaction Battalion against the FMLN terrorists, in East Germany and Europe against the Bader Meinhoff Gang, in Thailand with the Thai Special Warfare Command, in Haiti protecting the US Mission against dissidents, in the Middle East against Hezbollah, Hamas and Abu Nidal terrorists, in Lithuania against the OMON terrorists, and numerous other operational areas.
His Special Ops and SF background includes more than two dozen SF, Special Ops, police, counter-terrorist and classified courses and schools. He is an expert in counter-terrorism, intelligence asset development, and hostage-rescue, with more than 25 years’ experience in all of these. He’s currently employed by the Counter-Terrorist Group U.S. (CounTerr Group) as a CT Operator in a direct action capacity against international terrorism, specifically, Al Qaeda and related terrorist groups.
CounTerr, aka CounTerr Group, is an organization based in the US that leads counter-terrorism activites in support of US government initiatives. Counterr Group conducts training, organization, direct action, HUMINT, and advisory services to foreign and domestic agencies. Counterr Group has been in operation , in various forms, in various countries, for approximately 27 years. Counterr Group began deploying personnel to Afghanistan and other countries just weeks after 9/11 as part of the effort to combat Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda and other terrorist forces such as the Taliban. Counterr Group’s froeign operating group and CONUS personnel worked in conjunction with Commander Massoud’s Northern Alliance, which were primarily responsible for the liberation of Afghanistan with US Army Special Forces and Special Ops units.
The SuperPatriots and Jack images on this site are used by Cao’s Blog with written copyright permission and any use by any third party is subject to legal action by SuperPatriots.US
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