Afghanistan Update January 2019

January 21, 2019 SOF News 0

“When I leave Afghanistan this time it will be my last time as a soldier…I would like to leave a country that is peaceful and unified. That is a tall order but that would be my hope.” General Scott Miller, […]

SFQC Candidate low crawls with M240B machine gun during in Robin Sage. Photo by Ken Kassens, SWCS, Dec 12, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20190117

January 17, 2019 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20190117 – Recent news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and current conflicts. Casualties in Syria Casualties in Syria. A suicide bomber exploded a bomb in a busy section of Manbij, Syria killing and wounding […]

DoD report on Afghanistan December 2018

DoD Report on Afghanistan – Dec 2018

December 21, 2018 SOF News 0

The Department of Defense has published its latest DoD report to Congress on Afghanistan. The 124-page report is available online (PDF) at defense.gov. Many sections of the report are: Strategy and objectives Threat assessment Overview of the Afghan National Defense […]

Afghanistan Update - Recent news, analysis, and commentary on the Afghan conflict.

Afghanistan Conflict Update – Dec 2018

December 18, 2018 SOF News 0

The month of December 2018 has brought news of significant events in Afghanistan. Significant in the sense that they are developments worth noting in the course of 30 days; but not so noteworthy when considered the conflict has been in […]

General Milley

General Milley – Next Chairman of JCS

December 8, 2018 John Friberg 0

President Trump announced on Saturday, December 8, 2018 that General Mark Milley will be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Milley will replace General Joe Dunford at some point in the fall of 2019.  General Milley […]

1st SFGA Helicast

Special Operations News Update 20181130

November 30, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181130 – 5 non-kinetic CT efforts, update on death of Ranger in Afghanistan, podcast – hunting OBL, analysis of national strategy for CT, Peace Stability Journal, books on COIN, Russia-Ukraine conflict, investigation of SOF team in Afghanistan, […]

Task Force Wagram conducts a fire mission from Firebase Saham, Iraq in support of Operation Roundup. Photo by Specialist Gyasi Thomasson, CJTF-OIR, October 21, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181109

November 9, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181109 – book reviews, CIA’s Vietnam-era quiet helicopter, Saudi policy to Iraq, SUAS suppression, stationing more US tanks in Europe, Afghan update, reprimands for Niger mission gone bad, IS in Jordan, the future of ISIS, the warrior […]

U.S. Air Force PJs and combat rescue officers conduct a HALO military free fall jump working with a C-130J Super Hercules flown by the 774th EAS. Photo by Tech Sgt Gregory Brook, ARCENT Combat Camera, Afghanistan, March 12, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181101

November 1, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181101 – Social media, SF officer assignments, Saudi Arabia, Norway’s Marinejegers, integrating females into NORSOF, Afghan elections, social media training in the military, grey zone in a maritime environment, masculinity and close combat, best practices in the intelligence […]

High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) jump from a C-130J over Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on March 23, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181019

October 19, 2018 SOF News 0

Topics Covered: Mercenary mission in Yemen, JFK wreath laying ceremony, Army National Guard’s SFAB, Australia’s SF medics, USSOCOM acquiring Russian-style weapons, damaged F-22s, airstrike in Somalia, Spanish SOF conduct sniper course for Afghan Commandos, refocusing SOCOM, SOCOM’s mini-drones, Niger drone […]

Maritime training by west coast NSW unit. Photo by Lt. NSW Group One, October 21, 2010.

Special Operations News Update 20181012

October 12, 2018 SOF News 0

Recent news, analysis, and commentary about current conflicts, national defense, and special operations from around the world. SOF News Training Battlefield Airmen.  The Air Force Battlefield Airmen Training Group is revamping how it trains prospective Air Force special operators. One […]

Jump Eloy DZ. Jumper prepares to exit airplane over Tunnel Drop Zone, Eloy, Arizona. Photo by Specialist Christopher Stevenson, 10th SFGA, September 17, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181008

October 8, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181008 – Miscellaneous papers and reports on national security, Army Futures Command, new NATO SOF aviation training center, fighting two wars at the same time, Kazakhstan combat divers, SF team in Nangarhar, Malaysia’s NSOF disbanded, AFSOC officer […]

Afghan Special Mission Wing Pilot

Afghan Conflict Update 20181004

October 4, 2018 SOF News 0

Afghan Conflict Update 20181004 – Taliban’s sanctuary, Afghan War Casualty Report, F-35B in Afghanistan, Prince’s plan for Afghanistan, ISKP update, commentary on Afghanistan, SOF shooting competition, MD-530’s in action, reconciliation is the way out, and more. US Fatality in Afghanistan – […]

British helicopter flight over Kabul. Sep 14, 2018 Resolute Support photo.

Afghanistan Conflict Update 20180920

September 20, 2018 SOF News 0

Afghan Conflict Update 20180920 – Elections coming up, Afghan police taking casualties, Special Mission Wing, negotiations with the Taliban – there is lot’s going on in Afghanistan – some good and some not so good. Security Helicopter Shot Down. The […]

Mitigating Insider Threats to Advisors in Afghanistan

September 16, 2018 SOF News 0

Photo caption: Through his interpreter, an American advisor converses with his Afghan Army counterpart on an ANA FOB. The U.S. soldier is wearing personal protective equipment while armed soldiers serve as ‘guardian angels’ prepared to deal with any aggressors. [1] […]