USAF pararescue jumpers train Ukrainian counterparts in western Ukraine as part of Clear Sky 2018. Photo by MSgt Joseph Prouse, USAF, Nov 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181116

November 16, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181116 – Exercise Clear Sky 2018 in Ukraine, making good coffee in bad places, Netflix’s Medal of Honor series, ELN in Venezuela, Kilcullen on war in the city (podcast), Zimmerman on Salafi-Jihadism, defense of Sweden, reduction of SOF […]

A combat medic assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., readies his equipment before embarking on his final evaluation lane while competing for the Expert Field Medical Badge Nov. 6, 2018, at Fort Bragg, N.C. The first week of testing introduces the candidates to all the tasks that they’ll be expected to complete to earn the coveted badge. The EFMB was established to showcase and recognize medical Soldiers for their exceptional skill level and competence in the medical field. The testing consists of a written exam, land navigation, three separate combat testing lanes and concludes with a 12-mile ruck march. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dustin Biven / 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Special Operations News Update 20181114

November 14, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181114 – Israel under attack, Norwegian warship sinks, Afghan presidential election, video of Special Operations Policy Forum 2018, elections in eastern Ukraine, movie “Chrome and Hot Leather”, video of OIR briefing by British general, Israeli SOF intel gathering, […]

Marine helicopter in Trident Juncture 2018 - November, 2018 Defense Media

Special Operations News Update 20181113

November 13, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181113 – Afghan Commandos take casualties, Afghan peace talks, 7th SFGA and Warfighter 19-02, drone warfare, “Yukon Journey”, Australia’s Victoria Cross and the SAS, forgetting COIN . . . again, SDF resumes operations against IS, and more. […]

CRS Report on Afghanistan November 2018

CRS Report on Afghanistan – November 2018

November 10, 2018 SOF News 0

An updated CRS report on Afghanistan has been posted. The 18-page report (R45122) published on November 1, 2018 provides an overview of the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and the US policy on Afghanistan. Entitled Afghanistan: Background and U.S. Policy: I Brief, the […]

Task Force Wagram conducts a fire mission from Firebase Saham, Iraq in support of Operation Roundup. Photo by Specialist Gyasi Thomasson, CJTF-OIR, October 21, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181109

November 9, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181109 – book reviews, CIA’s Vietnam-era quiet helicopter, Saudi policy to Iraq, SUAS suppression, stationing more US tanks in Europe, Afghan update, reprimands for Niger mission gone bad, IS in Jordan, the future of ISIS, the warrior […]

CRS Report on US Special Operations Forces October 2018

CRS Report on US SOF to Congress

November 6, 2018 SOF News 0

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has updated its U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress report. The latest pub is dated October 29, 2018, (CRS RS21048). This 13-page CRS report on US SOF covers a variety of topics […]

ANA Commando Graduation October 2018. Photo by MSG Felix Figueroa, NSOCC-A, October 16, 2018.

Afghan Commandos Complete Qualification Course

November 5, 2018 SOF News 0

There are 735 new Afghan Commandos as of October 2018. A graduation ceremony was recently conducted at the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command (ANASOC) at Camp Commando. The ANASOC School of Excellence is located near Kabul, Afghanistan. The Commandos, […]

NAVSCIATTS Patrol Boat Lght. Photo by Angela Fry, Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School, October 30, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181105

November 5, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181105 – Refining strategic intelligence, gender in combat arms, Danish SOF and new technologies, review of Hunter Killer, IDF SOF in Cyprus, strategic intelligence, Chinese influence in HOA, Turkey drifts to Iran and Russia, Saudi war in Yemen, UK […]

Special Warfare Combatant Craft (SWCC). Video by Austin Rooney, All Hands Magazine, Nov 1, 2018.

Video – Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewman

November 4, 2018 SOF News 0

Watch a two-minute long video about the Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen. The SWCC crewmen undergo a 37-week long training course to qualify to operate these high-speed boats and perform the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) mission around the world. Some great […]

U.S. Air Force PJs and combat rescue officers conduct a HALO military free fall jump working with a C-130J Super Hercules flown by the 774th EAS. Photo by Tech Sgt Gregory Brook, ARCENT Combat Camera, Afghanistan, March 12, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181101

November 1, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181101 – Social media, SF officer assignments, Saudi Arabia, Norway’s Marinejegers, integrating females into NORSOF, Afghan elections, social media training in the military, grey zone in a maritime environment, masculinity and close combat, best practices in the intelligence […]

1st SFGA conduct MAROPS training with US submarine off coast of Hawaii during exercise RIMPAC 18. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Daniel Hinton, USN, July 9, 2018.

Tip of the Spear – October 2018

October 30, 2018 SOF News 0

The latest issue of Tip of the Spear October 2018 – has been published by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The 40-page publication has a number of interesting articles about special operations around the world. Articles can be […]