User:Blowingwhistlesagain/sandbox

SOFT & SOFTCHEM

SOFT (Special Operations Foreign Tasks) is a division of the UK Military division of SBS (Special Boat Services) which focuses on foreign operations. The SBS is the lesser known, sister faction of the UK SAS special forces. They are the British equivalent of the US Navy SEALS. The operational capabilities of the SBS and the SAS are broadly similar. However, the SBS (being the principal Royal Navy contribution to UKSF) has the additional training and equipment required to lead in the maritime, amphibious and riverine environments. Both units come under the operational command of HQ Directorate of Special Forces (DSF) and undergo an identical selection process. They enjoy significant interoperability in training and on operations.

The principal roles of the SBS are Surveillance and Reconnaissance (SR), including information reporting and target acquisition; Offensive Action (OA), including the direction of air strikes, artillery and naval gunfire, designation for precision guided munitions, use of integral weapons and demolitions; and Support and Influence (SI), including overseas training tasks. The SBS also provide immediate response Military Counter Terrorism (CT) and Maritime Counter Terrorism (MCT) teams.

SOFT leads several sub branches such as SOFTSR (Special Operations Foreign Tasks Surveillance and Reconnaissance), SOFTOA (Special Operations Foreign Tasks Offensive Action), SOFTSI (Special Operations Foreign Tasks Support and Influence), SOFTCT (Special Operations Foreign Tasks Counter Terrorism), SOFTCHEM (Special Operations Foreign Tasks Covert-operations Hostage-rescue Emergency-response Military-education), and SOFTMCT (Special Operations Foreign Tasks Maritime Counter Terrorism).

The selection process is by far the most grueling and arduous of all the different branches. Candidates are chosen either from a common wealth country (often selected at a young age), or from the ranks of the SAS, SBS and Mi6. Of all the SOFT divisions, SOFTCHEM is the do-all, be-all division. SOFTCHEM is considered to be the elite of the elite in the UKSF.

SOFTCHEM operates with exceptional discretion. They are so specialized and secretive, that most of the UKSF aren't even aware of their existence. The appropriate description of them in American terms would be, 'Black book' operatives.

Each individual is specialized in all aspects of the UKSF, unlike the specific specialization often displayed by other specific divisions. These individuals are expected to be able to take command at a moments notice, over any given rank lower than Lieutenant Commander (or equivalent in other branches) in the UKSF, or over any rank lower than Commodore (or equivalent 1-star Officer in other branches) in the UK Military.

Due to their exceptional training, they are capable of the utmost immersion. The coffee guy at Starbucks that looks a bit too serious about the job; that's probably not a SOFTCHEM unit. SOFTCHEM units are so well trained in covert operations, that they are capable of blending in to society, becoming one with their chosen identity, to such extent, that they are incapable of being discovered. They may not, and will not ever discuss their role in SOFT.

[If you have more info on SOFT, please feel free to contact, or edit this page.]