SF trainer in Panama explains ranger procedures to Panamanian counterterrorism security forces in Panama. (photo by SSG Osvaldo Equite SOCSouth, Jan 20, 2018).

Special Operations News Update 20180312

March 12, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180312 – 2003 JSOC raid into Iraq, intel in corporate world, some great SF photos, USSOCOM and ‘hard problems’, Britain’s WWII GW, conflict in Mali, Kurds shifting focus to invading Turkish forces, MQ-1 Predator to retire, 10th […]

U.S. SOF, Albanian SOF, and Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces (KASP) conduct combined operations during Allied Spirit VIII at Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Germany. (photo by SGT Karen Sampson, SOCEUR, Jan 20, 2018).

Special Operations News Update 20180309

March 9, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180309 – DoD and Hollywood, Germany in Afghanistan, Niger incident, new Army sniper rifle, US SOF in Panamanian JCET, expanding SOF, “Gallant Phoenix”, EUCOM commander testimony, RAND paper on deployments, new cdr for 24th SOW, history of […]

Special Forces soldiers conducts HALO Jump during ExerciseEmerald Warrior 2018 from back of a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft (photo USAF Tech Sgt Ryan Labadens, March 2, 2018)

Special Operations News Update 20180308

March 8, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180308 – Emerald Warrior exercise, Niger investigation, PSYOP in urban warfare, 4K calories a day for SOF, German captured with Taliban’s SF unit, “Altered Carbon” movie review, AFRICOM cdr’s testimony, SOF in Afghanistan – facts and figures […]

1st Special Operation Squadron (SOS) Airman Airman on a MC-130H Combat Talon II prepares for a jump with US Navy SEAL and Royal Thai Navy Special Warfare Operators (photo USSOCOM)

Special Operations News Update 20180306

March 6, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180306 – Niger helmet cam video, Russian undersea cable warfare, Afghan update, MARSOC 2030, Soldier’s Medal for 3rd SFG troop, DoD IG report on disposition of bomb sniffing dogs, review of The Terminal List, SOCOM’s Dash-8s, Emerald Warrior, AFRICOM […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Sailors exit a Chinook during HALO parachute jump. (DoD photo July 20, 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171128

November 28, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171128 – SOCOM sniper rifle, WWII naval gray zone activities, Ralph Peters on Africa, SWCS student dies, armed UN Little Birds in Mali, air opns in Afghanistan, 26,000 troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, MARSOC recruiting video, AFSOC’s […]

Italian Special Operations Forces (SOF) mentor Afghan security forces while conducting an EAP mission to Farah province (RS HQs photo August 11, 2017).

Afghan War News Update 20171123

November 23, 2017 SOF News 0

Afghan War News Update 20171123 – UK’s role in the Afghan counter narcotics campaign, proposed formation of ANATF, new ANDSF (and RS) offensive against opium production in Helmand, RS Cdr’s weekly presser, gender equality in ANDSF, ICC and war crimes, ALP in […]

Soldier from the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado prepares for a night static line parachute jump from a C-130 aircraft. (Photo by SGT Connor Mendez, U.S. Army, October 24, 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171115

November 15, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171115 – Cdr of SOD-Central profiled, TV military dramas reviewed, death of Tom Hudner, achieve Green Beret fitness, more details on Niger attack on SF team, UK’s “Special Forces Club”, four U.S. soldiers wounded in Afghanistan, and more. […]

Afghan soldier undergoing Commando training at Camp Morehead, Kabul, Afghanistan. (Photo by RS HQs, Nov 11, 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171113

November 13, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171113 – Language and culture training for the Army, medical care for 19th SFGA redeploying from Afghanistan is lacking, CANSOF and mental health challenges, Special Operations Policy Forum 2017, Drone Warriors, video on Afghan Special Service Forces, […]