Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama took place in December 1989. (graphic from USSOCOM Twitter feed Dec 20, 2016.

Operation JUST CAUSE – Panama December 1989

December 20, 2016 John Friberg 0

On this day – December 20, 1989 – Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama began. The operation arrested Maneul Noriega – the ruling dictator – and restored the government of Guillermo Endara. Special Operations Command South (SOCSouth) was stationed in the […]

SOF Operator fast-roping from CV 22 Osprey (photo from USSOCOM 2016 Factbook).

Special Operations News 20161220

December 20, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20161220 – Movie “American Sniper” barred from college campus, SFCT Dec 2016 newsletter, Secretary of Army designee, Russian ambassador to Turkey killed, SAS to guard UK streets, and more. “American Sniper” barred from Campus. The movie about […]

C17 bundle drop over a remote U.S. camp in Afghanistan. (Photo by Senior Airman Ricky J. Best, 2 Jan 2007).

Defense and National Security News

December 20, 2016 SOF News 0

Recent articles about Defense and National Security – Army’s dependence on air power, equipping infantrymen, the ‘Third Offset Strategy’, Russian jihad approaching, MREs to change in 2017, China’s ‘Little Blue Sailors”, and more. Airpower – Still Needed by the Army. […]

Social Media News and the Islamic State

Social Media News – Papers, Pubs, and More

December 20, 2016 SOF News 0

Social Media News – papers, publications, commentary, and analysis on how information operations is used to influence the population in support or against governments and their security forces. Islamic State and Social Media, the Kremlin’s IO machine, ‘disinformation’ (dezinformatsiya) is […]

Reflective Belts for Physical Training

ISIS Distributes RBs – “Belts of Invincibility”

December 20, 2016 SOF News 0

ISIS Outfitting Special Units with RBs. It appears that the capabilities of the Islamic State fighters will soon grow. Recent news reports indicate that ISIS is outfitting selected specialized units with yellow and orange reflective belts. It is believed that […]

1-75th Ranger jumps from a Chinook helicopter performing a water jump off coast of Georgia in July 2016 (DVIDS).

Special Operations News Update 20161219

December 19, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20161219 – Weapons and equipment upgrade for Indian SOF, North Korea SOF improving, 15 things only POGs will understand, Captain Extraodinary (Ivan Castro), historical account of British commandos fighting Nazis on British soil, and more. Indian SOF to […]

SOF Operator - Image from USSOCOM 2016 Factbook

Special Operations News Update 20161218

December 18, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update for 20161218 – Iraq’ Golden Division, OSS veterans honored by Congress, Navy SEALs in Serbia, Navy SEAL for Interior secretary, Fox News video on ‘shadow warriors’, Navy SEALs and what Hollywood gets wrong, SOCEUR re-enacts D-Day parachute […]

SOF Operators

Special Operations News Update 20161217

December 17, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update for 20161217 – Russian SOF key to Aleppo victory, large drug seizure by SOF / DEA in Afghanistan, MARSOC brother’s in arms, Russian mercenaries in Syria, JSOC’s CEOTF, dune buggies for CANSOF, and more. Russian SOF Plays […]

Navy SEALs (image from USSOCOM 2016 Fact Book)

Special Operations News Update 20161216

December 16, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20161216 – Australian Special Operations Command, US SOF in Iraq, De Oppresso Liber, sniper rifles for India, ratings for VA medical facilities, 6 differences b/t Delta and SEAL Team 6, CANSOF, USSOCOM and sensitive equipment accountability, and […]

ANA Commando

Afghan News Update 20161216

December 16, 2016 SOF News 0

Read news updates on Afghanistan – 20161216 – Fact sheet on the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan (Oct 2016), Heart of Asia Conference, Survey of the Afghan People, Saudis role in Afghanistan, U.S. Soldier dies of wounds suffered in Afghan suicide […]

Philippine National Police members train with U.S. Army Special Forces as part of OEF-P. (Photo by SSG Christopher Hubenthal).

Publication – SOF in the Philippines

December 15, 2016 SOF News 0

During OEF-P or Operation Enduring Freedom – Philippines Special Forces teams from the 1st Special Forces Group and 19th Special Forces Group had a long-term commitment in the Philippines in a ‘train, advise, and assist’ mission. The Special Operations Command […]

AC-130 Gunship

Special Operations News Update 20161215

December 15, 2016 SOF News 0

Photo Credit: AC-130 Gunship, Department of Defense Special Operations News for 20161215 – JSOM December issue, lasers for the AC-130, video of MC-130J at work, AFSOC training events, video of Russia’s elite KSO special operations unit, JSOC, SAS, formation of […]

National Corruption Survey Afghanistan 2016 by Integrity Watch Afghanistan. Published December 8, 2016.

Afghanistan Update – News, Papers, and Analysis

December 14, 2016 SOF News 0

Afghanistan Update 20161214 – Recent news, reports, analysis, commentary, papers and publications on security, legalizing opium in Afghanistan, Visas for Afghan interpreters, development, governance, Pakistan, Iran, Albanian armed forces, Dostum, corruption and more. National Corruption Report 2016. Integrity Watch Afghanistan has […]

SOF News Update

December 13, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20161213 – Lithuanian PYSOP Team, preparation tips for snipers, investigation reopened of Green Beret who killed an unarmed Taliban fighter, JTAC training, capture on Saddam Hussein Dec 13, 2003, SOF motorbike, Ukrainian SOF webpage, and more. Operation […]