Video – How to Become a Green Beret. “The U.S. Army Special Forces, commonly known at the Green Berets, are the military’s premier unconventional warfare experts, with an unmatched legacy of working through and with other nations to accomplish U.S. foreign policy objectives.” However, the training is tough, demanding, and very long. The rigorous training program can take up to two years. The physical, mental, and character challenges ensure that only the best pass the selection and qualification process. Watch a video on this topic in Road to Becoming a U.S. Army Green Beret, posted on YouTube.com by the U.S. Army on March 20, 2014.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoVG7V-TC4U
Interview with SEAL Book Author. Former Special Warfare Operator 1st Class (SEAL) Kevin Lacz worked as a technical advisor on the movie “American Sniper”. He has now wrote a book on his Iraq War experiences. Read an interview of Lacz in “Former SEAL Kevin Lacz pens ‘raw’ account of Iraq and Chris Kyle”, Navy Times, July 29, 2016.
Navy Dumping Its Really Stupid Uniform. The Navy’s notorious camouflage uniform is going away. The only useful purpose the uniform would do is keep a Sailor hidden from observation if he fell overboard. Common sense is finally prevailing and the stupidest uniform ever will eventually go to the trash heap. The blue-and-gray cammies, despite the fielding cost of millions of dollars, will be phased out over a three year period.
The replacement uniform will be the digital woodland pattern cammies or NWU Type III. This will be the standard shore duty uniform across the Navy. Read more in “The U.S. military is dumping the dumbest uniform ever”, Navy Times, August 4, 2016.
Unsung Heroes. A Special Forces A-team is inserted into a dangerous remote mountain valley in Afghanistan. They just barely escaped with their lives – many wounded and ten awarded Silver Stars. Read more about a Special Forces gun fight during the Afghan conflict in “UNSUNG HEROES: 12 Green Berets Who Took On Hundreds in this Epic Afghan Battle”, Task & Purpose, July 28, 2016.
Aussie SAS Misconduct Problems. It appears that an investigation is underway on possible misconduct by Australian SAS members. Something about missing hands . . . Read more in “Police probe SAS Misconduct”, The West Australian, August 5, 2016.
SRB Suspended by Army. The Selective Retention Bonus program to ensure that highly-skilled Army members stay in the Army (via cash bonus) is now being curtailed. Seems retention is doing well. This affects Soldiers in critical MOSs such as Special Forces, Cyber, Civil Affairs, etc. Read more in “Army suspends SRB for the first time in 10 years”, Army Times, August 4, 2016.
Info on Army Special Forces. “Army Special Forces trace their unit lineage back to the Office of Strategic Services in World War II, served with distinction as both warriors and spies in the Cold War, and snuck into Afghanistan to hunt the Taliban before anyone else”. Learn more in “7 Lesser-Known Facts About Army Special Forces”, Warrior – Scout.com, August 2, 2016.
Chris Kyle’s Wife Now on Fox News. The wife of late U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle – on who the movie “American Sniper” is based – is now a Fox News contributor. Learn more in a story by The Hollywood Reporter, August 1, 2016.
SEALs Transitioning to Civilian Life. The Honor Foundation assists Navy Special Operators in their transition to civilian life. Read more in “Transition program for Navy’s special operators graduates first East Coast class”, The Virginian Pilot, August 4, 2016.
“The Real Black Hawk Down”. A new six-episode series about an intense battle involving U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force in Mogadishu, Somalia in October 1992 is running on the National Geographic Channel. Read more in a story by the Strait Times, August 3, 2016.
“The Endless War”. Andrew J. Bacevich has penned an opinion piece on how the two presidential candidates are ignoring the Afghan War – neither spoke about Afghanistan during their convention speech. Read more in “Afghanistan: The campaign’s forgotten war”, Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2016.
“Defeating ISIS”. Anthony H. Cordesman, a member of the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), has penned a tract explaining the ISIS. Read Defeating ISIS: The Real Threats and Challenges, CSIS, August 4, 2016.
58th SOW Says “Goodbye” to the Last Talon II. The MC-130H Talon II will no longer be based at Kirtland AFB. The last one flew to Hurlburt Field where it has its new home. Read more in “58th SOW says goodbye to last Talon II”, Areotech News, August 2, 2016.
First ‘Up-Gunned’ AC-130J Arrives. The first ‘up-punched’ AC-130J Ghostrider has arrived at Hurlburt Field in Florida armed with a 105-mm cannon. Read more in a news report by Aerospace Daily, August 3, 2016.
Story on Founder of British SAS. Major David Stirling is known as the man who started up the Special Air Service during World War II. Read the story of this rogue British officer in War History Online, July 27, 2016.
