Map Middle East North Africa

Special Operations News Update – 20160812

August 12, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update. The fracturing of the Arab world, US asks India for military assistance in Afghanistan, the grinding fight against ISIS in Libya, and more. How the Arab World Came Apart. Scott Anderson has provided us with a very […]

43 Commando training in exercise someplace in Germany

Video – Royal Marines on Exercise Deutsche Dagger

August 11, 2016 SOF News 0

The men of O Squadron, 43 Commando usually are patrolling the grounds, buildings and jetties of either Faslane Naval Base or nearby Coulport depot. Their mission is to guard the United Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent submarines and the Trident missiles they […]

Leapfest 2016. Photo by SSG Quentin Davis, Army NG

Special Operations News Update – 20160811

August 11, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update: Kidnappings in Kabul, DoDIG report on SOCAfrica, new Intel manual, Afghanistan, Libya, and . . . of course, SEALs. Two Westerners Kidnapped in Kabul. Two American University of Afghanistan faculty members were kidnapped at gunpoint. The American and […]

Map of Afghanistan (CIA) - Afghanistan News

Afghanistan’s National Unity Government (NUG)

August 10, 2016 SOF News 0

The National Unity Government (NUG) of Afghanistan is the outcome of the miss-managed and corrupt Afghan presidential elections held in 2014. A negotiated settlement between the two major contenders resulted in Ashraf Ghani becoming President and Abdullah Abdullah becoming Chief […]

CIA's 'Elephant Counter' Used in Vietnam War

SOF News Update for 20160810

August 10, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update Topics: We like football, they like soccer; airborne & SOF books, CIA’s ‘Elephant Counter’, Paratrooper Leapfest competition, endgame in Libya, SAS in Syria, DoD IG report on JIDA, TV documentary on India’s paratroopers, CENTCOM ‘cooked the books’ […]

Task Force South West - Helmand Province Afghanistan

Helmand Province Under Siege

August 9, 2016 SOF News 0

Problems in Helmand. The Afghan government forces have their hands full in Helmand province. It appears that most of the province has been lost to the Taliban and the provincial capital – Lashkar Gar – is now threatened. Despite glowing […]

Fastroping by SOCEUR Aug 2016

SOF News Update for 20160809

August 9, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update: RAND report on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Marine Combatant Divers, book review, importance of language & cultural training in military, interview with cdr of NSW, and obesity in the military services. Marine Combatant Diver School. The Marines […]

SOF News Update – 20160808

August 8, 2016 SOF News 0

Islamic State Showcase Captured ID Card & Equipment. It appears that (somehow) the Islamic State have managed to come into the possession of some U.S. combat equipment (rucksack, bullets, radio, etc.) and two I.D. cards belonging to a U.S. Army SP4. […]

SOF Soldier in Afghanistan

SOF News Update – 20160807

August 7, 2016 SOF News 0

Top Ten Special Forces Groups in World. The SpecOps website has rated the “Top 10 Most Dangerous Special Forces Around the World”. In the mix are the Irish Army Ranger Wing, SAS, Delta, MJK, and six others. View the list […]

Special Forces Reference Handbook Oct 2001

SF Handbook Labels Marines as ‘Elitists’

August 6, 2016 SOF News 0

A handbook on advising published for the Special Forces Command in October 2001 by Research Planning, Inc. has a section on service culture (Army, Navy, Marines, etc.).  The handbook, Special Forces Advisor’s Reference Book, is designed to help Special Forces (Green Berets) […]

101st Airborne Division

SOF News Update for 20160806

August 6, 2016 SOF News 0

101st Deploying. The 2nd Brigade Combat Team (BCT) (Strike) of 101st Airborne Division is heading out on a deployment to Iraq. The Army has announced that 400 Solders from the 101st Airborne Division will deploy to Iraq this summer in support […]

U.S. Military Force Structure

Military Force Structure: A Primer by CBO

August 5, 2016 SOF News 0

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) of the United States Congress has produced a 146-page publication on entitled The U.S. Military’s Force Structure: A Primer dated July 2016. The size and complexity of the U.S military can make it difficult to determine how […]