#delta force

If you saw this man on the street, you’d probably think he was an accountant, a high school chemistry teacher, or an IT guy. You would never, in a million years, suspect that he is one of the most lethal men on the planet.

Meet Sergeant Major Mike Vining.

He didn't just serve in the U.S. military — he was one of the original, founding members of the elite 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force).

While Hollywood movies convince us that Tier-1 operators are always 6-foot-4, covered in tattoos, and bursting with muscles, the reality of black-ops is entirely different. The most dangerous men are often the ones you don't even notice. In the special operations community, this is known as being a "Grey Man."

Vining was a master of it. He was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) expert, a sniper, and a highly trained covert operator.

In this specific photo series, he was being deployed to Sudan by the CIA to train local forces in counter-terrorism. Because the local government wouldn't respect a standard Non-Commissioned Officer, the CIA simply issued him a diplomatic passport, slapped on a suit and those iconic glasses, and called him "Captain" Mike Vining.

He walked right through international airports and hostile territories looking exactly like this, hiding an unparalleled set of deadly skills behind a completely ordinary disguise.

Originally, I wanted to draw Carlos in a guerrilla-style uniform a loooong time ago.

During my research, I discovered that some fighters wore berets. When I also came across the Delta Force and saw their berets, I immediately thought of Jill.

I couldn't resist drawing Jill with a Delta Force green beret – a reference to her training with the Delta Force – and Carlos with a communist red guerrilla beret.

I had so much fun creating it and trying out new ideas and techniques. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.