President Ashraf Ghani

New Peace Initiative by Afghan Government

March 4, 2018 SOF News 0

A new Afghan peace initiative could be the start of movement towards the negotiation table that could possibly be the start of a peace process for Afghanistan. The Taliban recently provided an ‘open letter’ to the American people saying they […]

1st SOS crew member looks out over the crash site of STRAY 59 - a MC-130E that crashed 37 years ago. (photo SSgt Matthew Fredericks, 18th Wing Public Affairs, Feb 26, 2018).

Special Operations News Update 20180302

March 2, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180302 – New rifle for the Army, 1st SFAB, Stan McChrystal on Afghanistan and CT, Operation Gunnerside, Afghan GCPSU growing, book reviews, lasers for AC-130, Gary Rose, expeditionary advising, Gov Greitens in hot water, GB Gazette, SOF’s […]

surgical strike

Special Operations News Update 20170301

March 1, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20170301 – NVA Commandos in Vietnam War, SOLIC Symposium, Russia’s Delta Force, strategic CT failure, movie about Green Beret Bo Gritz, USMC’s new sniper rifle, National Geographic’s “Chain of Command” – 3rd SFGA in Niger, and SOF […]

Holiday Break

December 11, 2017 SOF News 0

The Staff at SOF News will be taking a break in posting articles on its website and sending out the weekly newsletter. Holiday activities, vacations, and other work and writing projects will be putting a crunch in the schedule. SOF […]

SOF operators assigned to Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) conduct parachute training in Europe. (SOCEUR photo 16 October 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171211

December 11, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171211 – Taliban Special Force Unit, mission in Niger, SF THOR3 program, Irish Army Ranger Wing, MARSOC’s ‘robot dogs’, Syria troop levels, SF general now book author, Silver Star for combat controller, Army Sniper School, STS in […]

Afghan Territorial Army (ATA)

Afghan Territorial Army (ATA)

December 8, 2017 SOF News 0

The Afghan Territorial Army (ATA) is a new program that recently made the headlines in the international media in late 2017. The intent of the Afghan government, with support from NATO’s Resolute Support Mission, is to establish a local defense […]

Shoulder patch of the Afghan National Army Mountain Warfare Training Center in Herat, Afghanistan.

Afghanistan War News Update 20171205

December 5, 2017 SOF News 0

Afghan War News Update 20171205 – video ANA mtn warfare training, Operation Maiwand, humanitarian needs report, Heart of Asia Conference, NII equipment at border crossings unused, stalemate in Afghanistan, ‘turning the corner’, NATO stuck in Afghanistan, Commando Force 333, ASSF […]

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 […]

Army CoS Reading List

Army Chief of Staff’s Reading List

December 2, 2017 SOF News 0

CoS Reading List – General Mark Milley, the Army’s Chief of Staff, has a selection of favorite books and publications for professional development. The books are suitable for readers of any rank or position. The CoS reading list is divided […]

Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division conduct Combat Rubber Raiding Craft Training in Hawaii. (Photo by SSG Armando Limon, DoD, 29 Nov 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171201

December 1, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171201 – Standards at SFQC slipping, Jaded Thunder exercise, former Navy SEAL running for Congress, abandoning the Kurds, STS in Faryab province, innish Winter War anniversary, U.S. advisors to accompany lower level Afghan units, UAE in Yemen, […]

Video Air Force Dive School in Florida trains up Airmen and other military personnel to become combat divers. (Photo Airman 1st Class Tybee Hurst, 30 Nov 2017).

Video – Air Force Dive School

December 1, 2017 SOF News 0

The United States Air Force runs a combat diving course for Airmen and members of other services. It operates similar (but different) to the U.S. Army’s Combat Diver School at Key West, Florida and the Navy SEALs/UDT dive course in […]