Holiday Break

December 11, 2017 SOF News 0

The Staff at SOF News will be taking a break in posting articles on its website and sending out the weekly newsletter. Holiday activities, vacations, and other work and writing projects will be putting a crunch in the schedule. SOF […]

SOF operators assigned to Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) conduct parachute training in Europe. (SOCEUR photo 16 October 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171211

December 11, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171211 – Taliban Special Force Unit, mission in Niger, SF THOR3 program, Irish Army Ranger Wing, MARSOC’s ‘robot dogs’, Syria troop levels, SF general now book author, Silver Star for combat controller, Army Sniper School, STS in […]

MATA - 1st SFAB member undergoing advisor training. (photo by SPC Noelle E. Wiehe, 50th PAD, 23 Oct 2017).

Military Advisor Training Academy – MATA

December 9, 2017 John Friberg 0

MATA – The Military Advisor Training Academy is located at Fort Benning, Georgia. The purpose of the school is to prepare Soldiers for a future assignment as advisors to foreign military forces. MATA Course Scope. The academy will provide to […]

Afghan Territorial Army (ATA)

Afghan Territorial Army (ATA)

December 8, 2017 SOF News 0

The Afghan Territorial Army (ATA) is a new program that recently made the headlines in the international media in late 2017. The intent of the Afghan government, with support from NATO’s Resolute Support Mission, is to establish a local defense […]

Tip of the Spear October 2017

USSOCOM’s “Tip of the Spear”, Oct 2017

December 6, 2017 John Friberg 0

Tip of the Spear October 2017 – The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) based at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida has published its October 2017 issue of Tip of the Spear. This 40-page pub has articles and pictures about United […]

Shoulder patch of the Afghan National Army Mountain Warfare Training Center in Herat, Afghanistan.

Afghanistan War News Update 20171205

December 5, 2017 SOF News 0

Afghan War News Update 20171205 – video ANA mtn warfare training, Operation Maiwand, humanitarian needs report, Heart of Asia Conference, NII equipment at border crossings unused, stalemate in Afghanistan, ‘turning the corner’, NATO stuck in Afghanistan, Commando Force 333, ASSF […]

CV-22 Ospreys of the 352nd Special Operations Wing (SOW) flying over England in August 2017. (Photo by AFSOC).

Special Operations News Update 20171204

December 4, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171204 – USSOCOM 2018 Fact Book, Metz on the demise of COIN, book review No Front Line, award for “Spooky 43” aircrew, more to do in Iraq, armed drones over Niger, SOCSouth cdr promoted, USASOC birthday, Mattis […]

Map of Somalia (CIA map)

Somalia – A Short History of a Failed State

December 3, 2017 SOF News 0

Somalia – A short history. The country of Somalia located in the ‘Horn of Africa’ has been a troubled nation for decades. It has been caught up in the events of the Cold War, suffered through famines, experienced anarchy, dealt […]

Army CoS Reading List

Army Chief of Staff’s Reading List

December 2, 2017 SOF News 0

CoS Reading List – General Mark Milley, the Army’s Chief of Staff, has a selection of favorite books and publications for professional development. The books are suitable for readers of any rank or position. The CoS reading list is divided […]

Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division conduct Combat Rubber Raiding Craft Training in Hawaii. (Photo by SSG Armando Limon, DoD, 29 Nov 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171201

December 1, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171201 – Standards at SFQC slipping, Jaded Thunder exercise, former Navy SEAL running for Congress, abandoning the Kurds, STS in Faryab province, innish Winter War anniversary, U.S. advisors to accompany lower level Afghan units, UAE in Yemen, […]

Video Air Force Dive School in Florida trains up Airmen and other military personnel to become combat divers. (Photo Airman 1st Class Tybee Hurst, 30 Nov 2017).

Video – Air Force Dive School

December 1, 2017 SOF News 0

The United States Air Force runs a combat diving course for Airmen and members of other services. It operates similar (but different) to the U.S. Army’s Combat Diver School at Key West, Florida and the Navy SEALs/UDT dive course in […]