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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated
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To: unclewest who wrote (128974)8/5/2005 2:09:58 PM
From: TimF  Read Replies (1) of 793838
 
As an official military term Special Forces refers only to the group that are sometimes unofficially called "the Green Berets".

But as a matter of common English usage (and dictionary definitions derive from usage) it refers to any type of special operations force.

Perhaps whether the term is capitalized or not could serve as a marker if the military term of art is being used or the wider term. SAS and SEALs are "special forces", but they are not "Special Forces".

Anyone operating within the framework of the US military, probably should use the official US military terminology in this area but the military doesn't control wider English usage. For example an M-16 is indeed a gun, no matter what a drill sergeant might say. (OTOH I don't recommend that new recruits try arguing about it).
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