173rd Parachute Jump in Italy on March 12, 2018

Special Operations News Update 20180507

May 7, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180507 – Syria, intelligence, PLDs, SEALs and drugs, Jade Helm, PR in Yemen, life transitions, Morell on intel, Wagner Group, 2nd Fleet re-established, BPC seminar in Australia, Somalia build up by US, how much is an AK-47 […]

Chinook CH-47 Helicopter

Special Operations News Update 20180502

May 2, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180502 – CJFLCC deactivated, map of African militant groups, Western Balkans, NATO and the High Seas, USMC’s M38 rifle, Lake Chad and ISWA, NATO air power strategy, Niger investigation, Navy SEAL mini-sub, Allied Spirit VIII, Jade Helm, […]

Two man sniper team at Basic Sniper Course of International Special Training Center, Hohenfels, Germany.

Special Operations News Update 20180430

April 30, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180430 – ARSOUTH’s DISE, CANSOF on violent subcultures, OSS sabotage brew, French SOF in Syria, Green Beret dies in Papua New Guinea, SOCOM’s WMD mission, OSS coffee, Horse Soldier bourbon, Derna Bridge, INSCOM, IGAD CT Centre, G5 […]

SOFWERX Virtual Symposium

Special Operations News Update 20180427

April 27, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180427 – SOCNORTH 101, USSOCOM and real-time data fusion, SOFWERX Virtual Symposium, GBs smartest of the elite, new CANSOFCOM Cdr, WVNG Ridge Runner program, SOF beard envy, White Flags of northern Iraq, SEALs and NCATs, DoD Niger […]

Navy Special Warfare

Special Operations News Update 20180425

April 25, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180425 – WPS in Western Africa, CT mission in Yemen, Norwegian detained in Russia for espionage, Boko Haram, Somali army discord, Navy SEAL podcasts, JFQ – “By, With, and Through”, defense of the Baltic States, U.S. military […]

Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service CTS

Special Operations News Update 20180420

April 20, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180420 – Aussie SAS now Chief of the Defence Force, Niger suspect detained, 7th SFGA Soldier arrested for murder, Adm James Stavridis on Syria, CSOR in Africa, Jamaica’s CSTC, COL (Ret) Dnny McKnight, Eager Lion 2018, SF […]

The Nigerien and American flags are raised at the opening ceremony of Flintlock 2018 at Agadez, Niger. (photo Capt Eric Smith, AFRICOM, April 11, 2018).

Special Operations News Update – 20180416

April 16, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180416 – Flintlock 2018, Green Beret director of GWOTMF, Best Ranger Competition, political warfare, shifting approach for SOF in Africa, SEALs and legal cases, video Recon Marine jump, morale after two decades of fighting, Missouri governor (ex-SEAL) […]

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 […]

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, […]

10th Special Forces Group Soldiers riding a snowmobile during Winter Warfare training. (Photo from video by SSG William Reinier, 10th SFGA, Oct 25, 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171030

October 30, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171030 – USASFC honors JFK, JIDO fighting drones, Operation Barkhane (France), inside story on death of SEAL in Somalia, militant groups in Niger region, SOFWERX drone rodeo, Kurds vs. ISF, Bowe Bergdahl, hybrid war in Ukraine, Kenya’s […]

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, […]

Spooky 43 AC-130U Crew recognized for most meritorious flight of the year by Air Force (AFSOC, Aug 7, 2017

Special Operations News Update 20170810

August 10, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20170810 – U.S. troops in Eastern Europe, “Spooky 43” crew (AC-130U) awarded for valor, Turkey and Syrian Kurdish fighters, fight for the districts in Afghanistan, Boba Fett SOF helmet, USMC Recon and JPADS, former Navy SEAL nominated […]

2016 - The Year in Review

SOF in 2016 – The Year That Was . . .

December 31, 2016 SOF News 0

2016 – “The Year That Was”. A collection of articles that look back at 2016 in terms of national security, defense, Middle East, Afghanistan, India, Africa, books, war, conflict, and . . . of course . . . special operations. […]

A New Zealand trainer from Task Force Taji provides instruction to Iraqi soldiers. (U.S. Army Photo by SPC Craig Jensen, 1 Dec 2016).

Middle East News Update

December 22, 2016 SOF News 0

Middle East News Update – Obama’s Syrian legacy, seige of Aleppo, using hybrid warfare against Russia, research into Arab politics, U.S. support to Kurds could be better, and more. Obama’s Syrian Legacy. A former NATO supreme allied commander – retired […]