AMP BUEHRING, Kuwait (Oct. 17, 2017) – SFC Jonathan Newell, headquarters NCOIC for the 7th SFG, monitors jumpers during their descent. The air mission was a recertification jump monitored by members of the SOJTF and 1st TSC. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Jacqueline Whitt)

Special Operations News Update 20171025

October 25, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171025 – New uniform for Canada’s elite, US obesity affects recruiting, SOF’s MC-12S aircraft, French CT mission in Africa, Exercise Lightning Forge 2017, 12 Strong, SEAL Foundation relocates, OSS Award to BU professor, local businesses help out 7th […]

B-52 Strategic Bomber (USAF photo)

Defense Update – News, Analysis, and Commentary

October 24, 2017 SOF News 0

Defense Update – Revisiting FM 3-25, nation-building in Syria, South Asia strategy, Kilcullen on urban combat, Somalia’s 9/11, and more. Re-visiting FM 3-24. General Petraeus is famous for many things. He is credited with winning the Iraq War, he was […]

20171023 - MG Bismellah Waziri, Afghan National Army Special Operations Command commander,, congratulates the Commando Qualification Course student company commander on his mission brief to ANASOC and NATO Resolute Support leadership at Camp Commando, Kabul on Oct. 21, 2017. (Photo Jacob Krone, NSOCC-A).

Special Operations News Update 20171023

October 23, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171023 – Hyping Niger, Tempest Wind 2017, Afghan Commandos, fake SEAL on Fox News, CIA and Omega program, SAS history, MoH to be awarded Monday, and more. Afghan Commandos. The latest class of Afghan commandos graduated from […]

Map of Syria and Iraq (CJTF-OIR)

Middle East War News Update 20171022

October 22, 2017 SOF News 0

ME Update 20171022 – Russia helping the Kurds, Iranian proxies gain ground in northern Iraq, Syrian Kurds advance into oil fields, stabilizing Mosul, Raqqa and governance, Iranian influence in Yemen, Salafism in Gaza, British jihadists, and more. Iraq Iranian Proxies Advancing […]

Marines with Hotel Company, 2nd Raider Battalion, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, carry a Zodiac Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat into the surf at Onslow Beach on base, March 28, 2017. (Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Corinne Zilnicki, U.S Coast Guard).

Defense News Update 20171021

October 21, 2017 SOF News 0

News Update on Defense 20171021 – France’s strategic security review, expansion of CT fight in Africa, SFABs, FORSCOM’s ‘Frontline’, AWOL Afghan trainees, Raqqa liberated, Iraq and Kurdish forces clash, CTC Sentinel (Oct issue), and more. France and Defense. The geopolitical […]

Map of Jordan

Middle East War News Update – 20171019

October 19, 2017 SOF News 0

Middle East Update – ISIS downfall in Iraq and Syria, Iranian influence grows, Kurds lose out, easy victory for Baghdad, Raqqa cleared of ISIS (almost), Iraqi elections coming soon, and more. Hawija Offensive. The last urban stronghold of the Islamic […]

Special Operations High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) Parachutists Over the Middle East (DoD photo 2017)

Special Operations News Update 20171018

October 18, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171018 – Australian SF remembered, CANSOF in Kurdistan, strikes against ISIS in Yemen, upcoming movie about horse soldiers, Air Force Cross awarded to STS member, new digs for 19th SFGA, ISIS presence in Raqqa diminished (a lot), […]

20171016 - USSOCOM personnel brief SECDEF Jim Mattis at USSOCOM hqs on MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Barry Loo, October 12, 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171016

October 16, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171016 – NZ SAS mbr dies in training accident, ADF SF and Australian War Memorial, CBS’s SEAL Team, two IAF Garud Commandos killed, SOF support to conflict prevention, Trump visits AFSOC unit, female Marine to try again for […]

Paratroopers descending under canopy. (Photo source Fort Bragg, North Carolina, June 6, 2017)

Defense News Update – October 15, 2017

October 15, 2017 SOF News 0

Defense News Update 20171015 – U.S. in Yemen conflict, why Soviets lost in Afghanistan, conflict over Kirkuk, Gen Nicholson interview, American – Canadian family released from captivity, Afghanistan – and the lessons of Vietnam, more advisors for Afghanistan, a Soldier’s rucksack, […]

20171013 Chad Special Forces Soldiers receive marksmanship training on live fire range in Massaguet, Chad as part of the Flintlock 2017 exercise. Flintlock is an annual special operations exercise conducted by U.S. SOF. (Photo by SGT Derek Hamilton, US Africa Command, March 6, 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171013

October 13, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171013 – Kurdistan flash point, SF in Syria, Niger attack, Chad travel ban, SOF suicide drones, more advisors for Afghanistan, AFRICOM at 10 years, SFABs and advising, JFK and the Green Beret, and more. Chad Travel Ban […]

A ceremony was held in Kandahar in October 2017 celebrating the transfer of the initial Blackhawk UH-60 helicopters to the Afghan Air Force (AAF). (CENTCOM photo)

Afghanistan Update – October 11, 2017

October 11, 2017 SOF News 0

Afghanistan Update October – More troops, new Afghan strategy, UH-60 helicopters, ICRC cutting back operations, new political group, some commentary, advisors and MATA, RS HQs mission defined, photos of Afghanistan, and more bombing. Afghanistan is still in the news although […]

3rd SFGA Training Botswana Troops (Photo U.S. Africa Command, September 21, 2017)

Special Operations News Update 20171010

October 10, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171010 – Military – media interaction, NATO in the Black Sea, podcast on drones and JSOC, U.S. military in Lake Chad Basin area, Erik Prince entering politics, CANSOF in Iraq, Russia and the disinformation war in the Baltic […]