Short Pause for SOF News
The editor of SOF News will be on an extended break for a few months so the posting of articles and sending of the newsletter will be suspended for a while. We will resume posting in late-summer.
What Does the Future of U.S. SOF Look Like Within Great Power Competition?
By Christian P. Martin. The Global War on Terror (GWOT) saw the U.S. military engaged in combat operations the likes of which had not been witnessed since the Vietnam War. American military personnel serving during the GWOT were deployed around […]
Mental Health Challenges for SOF Veterans
By Shannon Campbell. What makes special operations unique cannot be fully described by words. This is due to the difficulty of depicting the actions of special operators involved in secret operations while experiencing insurmountable risks unfathomable to the civilian population. […]
How the US Military Can Counter the Fentanyl Epidemic at its Source
By Nicholas DeMasters. Will Deploying the U.S. Military Stop the Mexican Cartels Fentanyl Enterprise: Exploring Strategies and Evaluating Options In recent polling, 25% of Americans report that either themselves or a family member have been addicted to opioids. [i] Unfortunately, […]
Medal of Honor Day Observed by Maine SF Veterans
Every year, a group of Special Forces veterans who live in Maine gather together to pay tribute to two Special Forces soldiers who were recipients of the Medal of Honor. This occasion takes place on Medal of Honor Day – […]
Special Operations News – March 25, 2024
Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world. Photo / Image: U.S. Air Force pararescuemen assigned to the 57th Rescue Squadron drop near Aviano Air Base, Italy, March 13, 2024. The 57th RQS […]
Operation Ugly Baby and 10th Special Forces (Iraq 2003)
By Steven Alger, 10th SFG(A). In early 2003, planning between the United States and coalition partners was underway to eliminate Saddam Hussein and his influence throughout Iraq. This operation would later be known as Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). This initial […]
SOF Leaders Testify Before Congress (March 2024)
Leaders of the U.S. special operations community testified in Washington, D.C. before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in open and classified sessions. Chris Maier, (SOF News, 24 Apr 2021) the […]
Special Ops Builds on Strengths as it Charts Future
Story by Jim Garamone, DOD News. The strengths of the U.S. special operations community have always been agility, adaptability and innovation its service members demonstrated as they approached a mission. Special ops leaders are working to continue this process as […]
Special Operations News – March 18, 2024
Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world. Photo / Image: Two U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II aircrafts, operated by the 67th Special Operations Squadron, fly in formation prior to conducting static […]
Afghan SIV Program Needs Congressional Action
The Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program requires regular reauthorization and additional visas from Congress. There will soon be a SIV application backlog that exceeds the number of remaining visas which, at current processing rates, will be exhausted by the […]
Allied, Joint Special Operations Forces Secure the Arctic
Story by Lt. J.G. Martin L. Carey, NSWG-2. ARCTIC CIRCLE — Recognizing the importance of the Arctic region to defense of the homeland from potential adversarial threats, elite special operations forces from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, Canada, […]
“Tip of the Spear” – February 2024
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has posted online its February 2024 issue of Tip of the Spear. This is a news rollup of the major SOF component commands and the Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs). Some interesting reading in the […]
Special Operations News – March 11, 2024
Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world. Photo / Image: UK Special Reconnaissance Squadron snipers taking part in Exercise STEADFAST DEFENDER in Norway. (Photo by AS1 Daniel Smither, UK MOD, Feb 1, […]
Registration Open for SOF Week 2024 in Tampa, Florida
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Global Special Operations Forces (SOF) Foundation (GSOF) will co-host SOF Week in Tampa, FL, 6-10 May 2024. SOF Week is an annual conference for the international SOF […]