Operation Commando Wrath
By Brian Morris, SF MSG (Ret) On Monday, October 1, 2018 former Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II received the Medal of Honor for going above and beyond the call of duty on April 6, 2008 while assigned to Special […]
Advising
Cobra Strike Maneuver Course – ANASOC
The Cobra Strike Maneuver Course (CSMC) conducted at Camp Scorpion is the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command (ANASOC) School of Excellence (SOE) training venue for developing the fighting skills of entire Commando Special Operations Kandak’s (SOKs). The Commandos learn […]
Afghanistan Conflict Update 20180719
The Afghanistan conflict continues to be a stalemate. Taliban and other insurgent groups are attacking isolated outposts, threatening district centers, and conducting high-profile bombing attacks in city centers. The Afghan special operations forces are rapidly responding to the insurgent attacks […]
SFAB Video – Security Force Assistance Brigades of U.S. Army
SFAB Video. The Security Force Assistance Brigades of the U.S. Army are specialized conventional units built to train, advise, assist, accompany and enable our multinational partners. Watch this one-minute long video explaining the SFABs. (U.S. Army, March 11, 2018). www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlJdAzUxEL8
Video 1st SFAB – Security Force Assistance Brigade
Video 1st SFAB – the U.S. Army has published a 5-minute long video about the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade. The 1st SFAB was established in the summer of 2017, received intensive training in the advise and assist mission, and […]
Special Operations News Update 20180302
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 […]
Military Advisor Training Academy – MATA
MATA – The Military Advisor Training Academy is located at Fort Benning, Georgia. The purpose of the school is to prepare Soldiers for a future assignment as advisors to foreign military forces. MATA Course Scope. The academy will provide to […]
Special Operations Force (SOF) Logistics Advising in Afghanistan
A SOF logistics advisor for the Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan describes the challenges of advising in an Afghan culture where the Western model of logistics just doesn’t quite work. “The pull logistics system that has been taught […]
Task Force Southeast – SFA / TAA in Gardez, Afghanistan
Task Force Southeast is located at Advising Platform Lightning in Gardez, Afghanistan. Gardez is the name of one of the larger cities located in Gardez province – not far from the Pakistan border. Gardez is also home of the 203rd […]
SOF and the Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs)
The Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs) are in the process of coming on line. The first SFAB will be stood up at Fort Benning, Georgia in the fall of 2017. The Army’s new advisor academy is now being organized and […]
Task Force South West – Marines Return to Helmand Province
Task Force South West – The U.S. Marines, after a two-year absence, are returning to Helmand province, Afghanistan. Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force will arrive in Afghanistan in the spring of 2017. Some reports indicate the Marines will be […]
Expeditionary Advisory Package (EAP) Concept for Afghanistan
Expeditionary Advisory Package. For the past few years the U.S. military has been utilizing an Expeditionary Advisory Package (EAP) model to advise Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) elements at a few of the Afghan National Army (ANA) corps […]
SF Handbook Labels Marines as ‘Elitists’
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) […]