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] […]

Medical team members rush to an Afghan Mi-17 helicopter with wounded soldiers. The ANA 209th Corps abandoned Camp Gormach, Faryab province. Photo by SrA Nicholas Dutton, USAF, RS HQs.

Afghanistan Conflict Update 20180908

September 8, 2018 SOF News 0

There has been a lot of news about Afghanistan over the past week or more. Two more U.S. personnel died in Afghanistan, the Afghan October election is looming, U.S. policy towards Pakistan has stiffened, the Taliban seem resurgent, Erik Prince […]

SOF snipers take part in the International Special Training Centre's (ISTC) Basic Sniper Course. Photo by SOCEUR 2017.

Special Operations News Update 20180905

September 5, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update – Burn pits and Gen Petraeus, SOF footprint in Africa, 100-year old GB skydives, SOCOM’s drones, back story to Tom Clancy’s ‘Jack Ryan’, history of SOF at FBNC, SOF GO assignments, fixing generals, Soft skills needed in […]

Pararescuemen of 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron jump out of French SA 330 Puma helicopter during PR training in Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Djibouti on August 13,2 018. USAF photo by Senior Airman Haley D. Phillips.

Special Operations News Update 20180824

August 24, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180824 – Baloch separatist movement, new USASOAC commander, 1202 authority to conduct IW, South Asia Strategy, Medal of Honor ceremony, Green Berets in Ghazni fight, RS Cdr update brief, weapons of SOF, AFSOC officer promotion, Estonia in […]

Student in the Advance Operators Training Course (AOTC) clears a room in live fire shoot house in Baghdad, Iraq on December 19, 2019. Photo by SGT Brandon Franklin, 10th SFGA.

Special Operations News Update 20180819

August 19, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180819 – Book reviews, IMET, McRaven speaks out, preparing to be a SEAL, the secret ‘Rice Paddy Navy’ of WWII, ‘Outstanding Airman’, CST team member on adjusting to garrison life, cocaine smuggling (7th SFGA), SOF isn’t for everyone, […]