HALO Jumpers Prepare for Jump From CH-47

SOF Weekly Brief – Sep 28, 2026

September 28, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update covers emerging special operations technology, expanded U.S. military access in Greenland, Ukraine’s evolving battlefield, Cuba contingency planning, the Iran conflict, Houthi ambitions, renewed fighting in Ethiopia, critical minerals competition, and other national security developments worldwide.

Helocast 20th SFG Sep 2026

SOF Weekly Brief – Sep 21, 2026

September 21, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF Weekly Brief covers Ukraine’s drone campaign and counteroffensive operations, growing Houthi pressure on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping, a new Greenland security agreement, major defense sales, U.S.-China diplomacy, and developments affecting special operations forces worldwide.

Polaris Razor (MRZR)

SOF Weekly Brief – Sep 14, 2026

September 14, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF Weekly Brief covers Arctic special operations, Army Civil Affairs changes, emerging drone capabilities, Russian information warfare, and escalating conflicts involving Iran, Yemen, and Ukraine. Additional reporting examines strategic oil chokepoints, intelligence restructuring, veterans’ programs, military publications, and forthcoming special operations community events.

Narrative Strategy Symposium 2026

Narrative Strategy Symposium – Sep 30, 2026

September 11, 2026 John Friberg 0

Homeland Security Today and Narrative Strategies are hosting the first-ever Narrative Strategy Symposium on Wednesday, September 30, in Arlington, Virginia. The participants and attendees will explore how narratives shape security, public trust, decision-making, and national resilience.

USMC UH-1Y Crew Chief Fires Minigun

SOF Weekly Brief – Sep 8, 2026

September 8, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly brief examines major developments in special operations, irregular warfare, national security, and global conflicts, including SOF education and sustainment, Turkish counter-piracy operations, Army leadership changes, renewed U.S.-Iran fighting, Russian jet-powered drones, emerging technologies, and Kurdish reconciliation efforts.

GAX500-3D and EDDA Laptop

Monthly Drone Report – August 2026

September 1, 2026 John Friberg 0

This monthly report examines major drone developments from August 2026, including JIATF-401’s counter-UAS efforts, Army directed-energy defenses, Ukraine’s horizontal kill-web architecture, expanding Russian capabilities, drone warfare in Myanmar, and new systems designed to detect and defeat small unmanned aircraft threats.

MARSOC Training Raven

SOF Weekly Brief – August 31, 2026

August 31, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News brief covers U.S. Special Forces in Ecuador, multinational training developments, special operations technology, and recognition for the Indiana Rangers. Additional coverage examines Iran and Ukraine, CIA engagement with Russia, China’s regional ambitions, Afghan allies, veterans’ issues, and selected books, podcasts, and videos on national security affairs.

NSW SPIES CH-47

SOF Weekly Brief – August 24, 2026

August 24, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly brief examines significant developments affecting special operations, irregular warfare, intelligence, and national security. Key topics include the expanding military applications of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, proposed changes to U.S. aircraft carriers, rising American casualties in the Iran War, leadership developments in Ukraine, and lessons emerging from modern conflicts.

5th SFG Green Beret Fires Anti-Tank Weapon

SOF Weekly Brief – August 18, 2026

August 18, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update examines new USASOC leadership, expanded American special operations activity in the Philippines and Alaska, Iran-war MQ-9 losses, shifting security relationships with Oman and South Korea, the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani defense pact, Ukraine’s battlefield innovation, irregular warfare, intelligence, veterans, history, and upcoming events.

Video Dark Dune 18. AFSOC aircraft conduct aerial refueling of French helicopters during Exercise Dark Dune May 2018. DoD

SOF Weekly Brief – August 10, 2026

August 10, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News update covers leadership changes in Ukraine security assistance, proposed protections for special operations personnel, international exercises, SOF history, conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, emerging technology, Afghanistan, veterans’ issues, and selected reports, commentary, podcasts, and videos from across the national security community.

Jungle Tab Now Authorized for Wear Army-Wide

August 4, 2026 John Friberg 0

The U.S. Army has authorized permanent, service-wide wear of the Jungle tab for graduates of recognized jungle training courses. The new policy includes retroactive eligibility for qualifying personnel who trained in Hawaii or Panama, including former students at Fort Sherman’s historic Jungle Operations Training Center.

10th Dive Training July 2026

SOF Weekly Brief – August 3, 2026

August 3, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update covers senior U.S. defense and intelligence appointments, special operations developments, the Iran and Ukraine conflicts, emerging military technology, strategic competition, and global security affairs. It also marks the Extortion 17 anniversary and highlights SOF history, veterans, commentary, and upcoming events.

CV-22 from the 8th Special Operations Squadron flies over the Emerald Coast outside Hurlburt Field. (AFSOC photo).

SOF Weekly Brief – July 27, 2026

July 27, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly briefing summarizes the most significant events affecting SOF, IW, intelligence, and national security during the past week. Some stories in this update include a new PSYOP unit for Africa, an essay on SOF in 2040, testosterone treatments for SOF members, how technology is shaping the future of SOF in the Pacific, and SOCKOR CoC.

Critical Minerals

Conference on Critical Minerals

July 20, 2026 John Friberg 0

The “Strategic Resources in Competion: Critical Minerals & Rare Earth Elements” conference is taking place in Reston, Virginia this week. The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) and the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) are hosting the two-day conference. The gathering will be focused on the role of critical minerals and rare earth elements in strategic competition.