Remembering When Special Forces Looked Like Substitute Teachers

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 23 hours ago in wow

"I used to know a Green Beret, and he always said you never mess with the guys on base that are allowed to wear jeans on missions."

That's what one commenter wrote under a photo of US Delta Force operatives protecting General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War while looking more like substitute teachers than commandos. One of those men was Mike Vining, the face of an iconic military meme, proving that it's not about what you look like, it's about what you can do.

Here are 20 pics of special forces around the world, who didn't feel the need to dress up for the job.

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USA Delta Force in casual attire protecting General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War, 1991. Mike Vining leads the way.
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Delta Force (above) and KGB's Alpha Group (below) operators in civilian clothing, 1980s.
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Undercover Spetsnaz in civilian clothes.
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A British SAS soldier, undercover in civilian clothing, poses for a photo behind the wheel of a SUV in Iraq.
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Canadian Armed Forces JTF-2 operators in business casual attire providing PSD.
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JTF-2 commandos in sunglasses and business suits accompanied then-prime minister Jean Chrétien as he visited Canadian troops at Camp Julien Kabul, Afghanistan. 2003
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JTF-2 Assaulters rocking the business casual look in Afghanistan during the early GWOT.
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Dutch 'DSI' operators walking around in their casual jeans and shoes.
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Two US Army Delta Force soldiers (right) with French SAS during the January 2016 terrorist attack in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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US special forces in Columbia.
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Ground Branch Paramilitary Specialist Billy Waugh had an Army and CIA career spanning 60 years and 64 Countries, his last known mission was to Libya at 82 years old during its 2011 revolution.

1.
USA Delta Force in casual attire protecting General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War, 1991. Mike Vining leads the way.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Delta Force (above) and KGB's Alpha Group (below) operators in civilian clothing, 1980s.
9.
Undercover Spetsnaz in civilian clothes.
10.
A British SAS soldier, undercover in civilian clothing, poses for a photo behind the wheel of a SUV in Iraq.
11.
Canadian Armed Forces JTF-2 operators in business casual attire providing PSD.
12.
JTF-2 commandos in sunglasses and business suits accompanied then-prime minister Jean Chrétien as he visited Canadian troops at Camp Julien Kabul, Afghanistan. 2003
13.
14.
15.
JTF-2 Assaulters rocking the business casual look in Afghanistan during the early GWOT.
16.
17.
Dutch 'DSI' operators walking around in their casual jeans and shoes.
18.
Two US Army Delta Force soldiers (right) with French SAS during the January 2016 terrorist attack in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
19.
US special forces in Columbia.
20.
Ground Branch Paramilitary Specialist Billy Waugh had an Army and CIA career spanning 60 years and 64 Countries, his last known mission was to Libya at 82 years old during its 2011 revolution.

USA Delta Force in casual attire protecting General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War, 1991. Mike Vining leads the way.

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USA Delta Force in casual attire protecting General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War, 1991. Mike Vining leads the way.

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1. USA Delta Force in casual attire protecting General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War, 1991. Mike Vining leads the way.

2.

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4.

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8. Delta Force (above) and KGB's Alpha Group (below) operators in civilian clothing, 1980s.

9. Undercover Spetsnaz in civilian clothes.

10. A British SAS soldier, undercover in civilian clothing, poses for a photo behind the wheel of a SUV in Iraq.

11. Canadian Armed Forces JTF-2 operators in business casual attire providing PSD.

12. JTF-2 commandos in sunglasses and business suits accompanied then-prime minister Jean Chrétien as he visited Canadian troops at Camp Julien Kabul, Afghanistan. 2003

13.

14.

15. JTF-2 Assaulters rocking the business casual look in Afghanistan during the early GWOT.

16.

17. Dutch 'DSI' operators walking around in their casual jeans and shoes.

18. Two US Army Delta Force soldiers (right) with French SAS during the January 2016 terrorist attack in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

19. US special forces in Columbia.

20. Ground Branch Paramilitary Specialist Billy Waugh had an Army and CIA career spanning 60 years and 64 Countries, his last known mission was to Libya at 82 years old during its 2011 revolution.

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eBaum's Picks

1.
USA Delta Force in casual attire protecting General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Gulf War, 1991. Mike Vining leads the way.

8.
Delta Force (above) and KGB's Alpha Group (below) operators in civilian clothing, 1980s.

9.
Undercover Spetsnaz in civilian clothes.

10.
A British SAS soldier, undercover in civilian clothing, poses for a photo behind the wheel of a SUV in Iraq.

11.
Canadian Armed Forces JTF-2 operators in business casual attire providing PSD.

12.
JTF-2 commandos in sunglasses and business suits accompanied then-prime minister Jean Chrétien as he visited Canadian troops at Camp Julien Kabul, Afghanistan. 2003

15.
JTF-2 Assaulters rocking the business casual look in Afghanistan during the early GWOT.

17.
Dutch 'DSI' operators walking around in their casual jeans and shoes.

18.
Two US Army Delta Force soldiers (right) with French SAS during the January 2016 terrorist attack in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

19.
US special forces in Columbia.

20.
Ground Branch Paramilitary Specialist Billy Waugh had an Army and CIA career spanning 60 years and 64 Countries, his last known mission was to Libya at 82 years old during its 2011 revolution.