My memorable experience as cast member of 12 Story

MANILA, Philippines — There were many heroes who emerged after the 9/11 tragedy. We know of the many stories of the first responders at the World Trade Center and the passengers who sacrificed their lives on board United Airlines Flight 93. The story less often told is of the first Green Beret soldiers who were the first American boots on the ground in Afghanistan around mid-October 2001. Their true story is now captured in the latest Hollywood film, 12 Strong, starring Chris Hemsworth and Michael Shannon. In his directorial debut, Nicolai Fuglsig brings to the screen the drama and grit of the New York Times best seller, Horse Soldiers, by Doug Stanton.

It is a very different Chris we see in this film, not at all like the demi-god we know as Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but rather “very human.” He is a father who leaves his wife, Jean and daughter behind with a promise of coming home. He is a captain who leads 12 Green Berets, known as U.S. Army Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 595 (ODA 595). They formed an alliance with Afghan rebels led by Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum, played by Numan Acar. The credits claim that General Dostum and Captain Mitch Nelson have remained friends in real life till today.

About the Author: Gene Yu is a former U.S. Army Special Forces officer and CEO of a top regional high-risk security agency, Blackpanda.
Blackpanda specializes in crisis response, risk management and security consulting. It is composed of individuals who have served at the highest levels of military special operations units from the Hong Kong, United States, Canada, New Zealand and the Philippines.

Fuglsig captures the heroism of 12 soldiers in 23 days on screen for 130 minutes and shows one of the earliest victories led by U.S. Army Special Forces. The film is limited in its ability to tell more of the stories of Green Berets in the early days of the Afghanistan War, alone with their CIA operative counterparts, courageously and innovatively using their limited resources to effectively implement an immediate and impactful response to the attack on American’s home soil.

Hints of history and culture find their thread throughout the film. Of course, war is cruel and brutal; any person who has ever read a single page of history understands the unfortunate necessity and commonality of war in all cultures, in all countries around the world. However, many may not always think about other challenges.

At home, it can be gut-wrenching to leave one’s family behind with so much uncertainty with heading into battle — this is the same trepidation and struggle that all heroic Filipino soldiers also face in places like Jolo, Basilan and Marawi as they depart their loved ones to face the unknown on the darkness of the battlefield. In the film, Captain Nelson refused to write a will before going into battle because he believed it may be bad luck. On the contrary, I would write a will to my family because of the need to say my last farewells as I am sure many of the Filipino special operations troopers that I deployed and stood with in Mindanao also did prior to departure. This is a time of reflection where we are able to truly distinguish who are the most important people in our hearts; while uncomfortable, I encourage all people to take the time to write out a will to help distill and figure out who and what is truly important to them.

Yes, horses played an important role in the movie, but more from the perspective and understanding that Green Berets are trained for the unexpected and to be adaptable and flexible in all scenarios. I personally do not know how to ride a horse, similar to many soldiers in the team (if they had earlier notice, they may have opted to attend horse-riding training courses in the States prior to deployment). However, I also know that we would have attempted to figure it out and make it work as best we could to accomplish the mission, just like the team in the film. The horses are symbolism for the unique adaptability that the Green Berets are especially renown for — operating with limited resources and figuring out always how to make a dollar out of 15 cents.

As a former U.S. Army Special Forces officer who served in Iraq, Korea, Okinawa and the Philippines, I consider 12 Strong as quite realistic and accurate in the portrayal of the work of Green Berets in carrying out their missions in the Middle East, particularly with team culture. The film captures the brutality of war and the tender moments of soldiers prior deployment. According to the film, based on recently declassified documents, 12 Strong reveals to the audience the victory of earned through the collaborative efforts of U.S. soldiers and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance. Attending the 12 Strong premiere in Taiwan last Jan. 12  made me realize that the fight against terrorism continues even 17 years since 9/11.

There is a continuing and evolving need for organizations and countries to put into place plans and programs against the many unforeseen risks like terrorism and war.

At the heart of the Blackpanda elite special risk consulting team are men identical in training and experience like the ones we see in the film 12 Strong, and are now taking these skills and applying them to help improve security conditions across the country in the Philippines, as well as pave the way for more accurate and better priced special risk insurance premiums and coverage with their partners at Lloyd’s of London.