U.S. SOF, Albanian SOF, and Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces (KASP) conduct combined operations during Allied Spirit VIII at Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. (photo by SGT Karen Sampson, SOCEUR, Jan 20, 2018).

Special Operations News Update 20180309

March 9, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180309 – DoD and Hollywood, Germany in Afghanistan, Niger incident, new Army sniper rifle, US SOF in Panamanian JCET, expanding SOF, “Gallant Phoenix”, EUCOM commander testimony, RAND paper on deployments, new cdr for 24th SOW, history of […]

Special Forces soldiers conducts HALO Jump during ExerciseEmerald Warrior 2018 from back of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft (photo USAF Tech Sgt Ryan Labadens, March 2, 2018)

Special Operations News Update 20180308

March 8, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180308 – Emerald Warrior exercise, Niger investigation, PSYOP in urban warfare, 4K calories a day for SOF, German captured with Taliban’s SF unit, “Altered Carbon” movie review, AFRICOM cdr’s testimony, SOF in Afghanistan – facts and figures […]

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 […]

Sailors exit a Chinook during HALO parachute jump. (DoD photo July 20, 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171128

November 28, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171128 – SOCOM sniper rifle, WWII naval gray zone activities, Ralph Peters on Africa, SWCS student dies, armed UN Little Birds in Mali, air opns in Afghanistan, 26,000 troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, MARSOC recruiting video, AFSOC’s […]

10th Special Forces Group Soldiers riding a snowmobile during Winter Warfare training. (Photo from video by SSG William Reinier, 10th SFGA, Oct 25, 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171030

October 30, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171030 – USASFC honors JFK, JIDO fighting drones, Operation Barkhane (France), inside story on death of SEAL in Somalia, militant groups in Niger region, SOFWERX drone rodeo, Kurds vs. ISF, Bowe Bergdahl, hybrid war in Ukraine, Kenya’s […]

Soldiers from GSB 10th SFGA Conduct Sling Load Training during battalion field training exercise at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. (Photo by CPT Benjamin F. Moe, Oct 20, 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171026

October 26, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update – McChrystal interview, Bolduc on SOF in Niger, US Navy SEAL rape case unjust, SOF tests new airborne navigation system, AAF gets more A-29s, Extortion 17, Afghan commandos doubling in size, countering Russian disinformation, Marine and SOCOM […]

20171023 - MG Bismellah Waziri, Afghan National Army Special Operations Command commander,, congratulates the Commando Qualification Course student company commander on his mission brief to ANASOC and NATO Resolute Support leadership at Camp Commando, Kabul on Oct. 21, 2017. (Photo Jacob Krone, NSOCC-A).

Special Operations News Update 20171023

October 23, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171023 – Hyping Niger, Tempest Wind 2017, Afghan Commandos, fake SEAL on Fox News, CIA and Omega program, SAS history, MoH to be awarded Monday, and more. Afghan Commandos. The latest class of Afghan commandos graduated from […]

Marines with Hotel Company, 2nd Raider Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, carry a Zodiac Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat into the surf at Onslow Beach on base, March 28, 2017. (Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki, U.S Coast Guard).

Defense News Update 20171021

October 21, 2017 SOF News 0

News Update on Defense 20171021 – France’s strategic security review, expansion of CT fight in Africa, SFABs, FORSCOM’s ‘Frontline’, AWOL Afghan trainees, Raqqa liberated, Iraq and Kurdish forces clash, CTC Sentinel (Oct issue), and more. France and Defense. The geopolitical […]

SF deaths in Niger

SF Deaths in Niger – The Aftermath

October 20, 2017 John Friberg 0

A lot of second-guessing is taking place about the SF deaths in Niger where four members of the 3rd Special Forces Group were killed by militants on October 4, 2017. The media has taken an unfortunate event and politicized it. […]

3rd SFGA Training Botswana Troops (Photo U.S. Africa Command, September 21, 2017)

Special Operations News Update 20171010

October 10, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171010 – Military – media interaction, NATO in the Black Sea, podcast on drones and JSOC, U.S. military in Lake Chad Basin area, Erik Prince entering politics, CANSOF in Iraq, Russia and the disinformation war in the Baltic […]