What happens when a Delta operator collects too much equipment?

Every military unit, fire station, or police department has “that guy;” the man who has a marked propensity to collecting and stockpiling the newest and latest instance of operational equipment. In some cases, that guy might just hoard the gear and never really put it to sensible use.

In our case, we had our brother “Cos”, who was a spirited collector of new gear, though he made solid good use of it all on every conducive occasion. If it was new and a piece of gear, Cos immediately dispatched himself to the Central Equipment Issue Facility to acquire the new equipment. Cos had it all – even if he really didn’t need it or warrant possession of it; he just had it!

It had come to the attention of a couple of us, that, in team photos, Cos seemed to be wearing just a little bit more “stuff” than the rest of us. Amidst our the constant struggle to taper down the amount and volume of essential gear deemed necessary to perform our mission, Cos was actually stepping up his inventory of kit. It was OK though… as long as he could keep up with the rest of the assault team, there was no harm, no foul. Cos was worth his passion for gear.

In fact, Cos really and truly did not have the slightest problem keeping up with us; rather, he was one to set the standard and we tried to keep up with him. He was a super operator bar none! Still, we couldn’t waste such a fine opportunity to bust his balls – especially as one of my cartoon subjects.

And he made a fine subject, constantly providing me with more and more material to immortalize him with in my Squadron Cartoon Book.

A cartoon ribbing Cos’s affinity for the latest in operator’s kit. (Cartoon courtesy of author)

Cos, if I may just add, was an interesting guy in my mind. I first met him when I was a Green Beret at Ft. Lewis in Washington State. He was in the same Special Forces unit as me, but not as an operator; rather, he was a radio operator in the Signal Company.

I first attended the Special Forces Underwater Operations (SFUWO) course to become an infiltration diver on a combat dive team.

A year later, when I went back to the same school for some additional training, there was young Cos attending the basic SCUBA course that I had gone through as he had managed to rise to the ranks of A-Team Green Beret in the meantime.

When I went to the Delta Force, there was Cos already assigned to the Unit and working once again as a radio operator in the Signal Squadron. Approximately one year later, he passed the Assessment and Selection course successfully, and became a full-caliber Delta Operator like me. And his first assignment was… in my own five-man assault team!

So, Cos and I have been together for a good many years, rising up solidly through the ranks of special operators to achieve the highest levels of our potential. I can say unequivocally that I am quite proud of and have great respect for my brother Cos.

Below is another cartoon featuring Cos, as he has been the subject of many a page in our own Squadron Cartoon Book – long live Cos!

This is how we perceived Cos’s central nervous system working with regard to new equipment. Not even having a shotgun to carry them on, he still insisted on having not one but two of the new shotgun grips – that was just our Cos. (Cartoon courtesy of author)

And yet it happened!

By Almighty God and with Honor,
geo sends

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in March 2026.

Feature Image: Equipment of a Delta Force operator. (Photo courtesy of author)

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