Village Stability Operations

Village Stability Operations (VSO) in Afghanistan

August 21, 2016 John Friberg 0

Village Stability Operations (VSO) was an attempt by United States special operations forces to establish security, governance, and development in key critical districts in remote areas of Afghanistan. Typically, these districts were in regions of Afghanistan where the Coalition conventional […]

Map of Somalia (CIA map)

SOF News Weekly Update – 20160821

August 21, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update: US SOF raid in Somalia, interesting facts on the WWII British SOE, IPB in the “Gray Zone”, and SOF in the ground war against ISIS in northern Iraq. U.S. SOF in Raid in Somalia. United States special […]

NATO training partner nations

Video – NATO Helping Partners in Ukraine and Afghanistan

August 20, 2016 SOF News 0

Video NATO Helping Partners – The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has recently published a video entitled Funding: Helping Partners Build Their Own Security, August 16, 2016. A short 1-minute long clip about the current situations and conflicts in Crimea, Eastern Ukraine, […]

Map of Middle East - Middle East News Update

Middle East News Update – SOF News

August 20, 2016 SOF News 0

Middle East News Update. A combination of news reports over the past week about the Middle East, Syria, Libya, Yemen, State Department failure in Iraq, Russia bombing Syria from Iranian air bases, and (not so smart) recruits for the Islamic […]

Map of Afghanistan (CIA) - Afghanistan News

Afghanistan News Update – SOF News

August 19, 2016 SOF News 0

Afghanistan news – Topics include SOF burning the candle at both ends, contractors in Afghanistan, National ID card, Afghan documentary on Helmand province, and Afghan mental health issues. US SOF Burning Both Ends of Candle in Afghanistan. Phillip Lohaus, a […]

MQ-9 Reaper, drone

Drones – A Strategic Weapon for the United States

August 18, 2016 SOF News 0

At first the use of drones, referred to by the military as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs), was limited to aerial reconnaissance and surveillance. However, it wasn’t long before the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) put a […]

Combat Pistol Shooting at ISTC Range (Photo ISTC Flickr).

Special Operations Update for 20160817

August 17, 2016 SOF News 0

Change in Newsletter Frequency. The “SOF News” update will no longer be emailed out each day. After today the newsletter will only be sent out on Sunday mornings. This change is the result of a few factors; but primarily other […]

Afghan Air Force A-29 Super Tucano flying over Kabul - Afghanistan Conflict

AAF – More Planes and Pilots Needed

August 16, 2016 SOF News 0

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is struggling to perform its mission of supporting the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP).  It’s mission of aerial reconnaissance, movement of troops and supplies, and aerial fire support is vital […]

Special Operations Command (SOCPAC). Photo from 2016 USSOCOM Factbook

SOF News Update for 20160816

August 16, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update for August 16, 2016: India’s special forces, WWII female spy passes away, Taliban gaining ground in northern Afghanistan, and more. Info on India’s Special Forces. India has a number of elite forces – one of which is […]

Operation CARPETBAGGER. Photo from National Museum of US Air Force

Operation CARPETBAGGER – Supporting OSS in WWII

August 15, 2016 SOF News 0

During World War II the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and U.S. Army Special Forces, used the U.S. Army Air Forces to fly secret missions into Europe. The aircraft would drop supplies, […]