Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world.
Photo / Image: Navy explosive ordnance disposal technicians practice free fall techniques during a vertical wind training exercise in Virginia Beach, Va., Dec. 15, 2023. The maneuvers help train jumpers to respond to midair malfunctions. Photo by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jackson Adkins.
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SOF News
160th SOAR Helicopter Crash. Four members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment were on board a MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that crashed in Washington state on Wednesday night, September 17, 2025. Authorities were not able to reach the scene immediately. All four crew members have been declared as deceased.
Polish SOF. According to a Tweet by NATO Alliek SOF Command (SOFCOM) @NATO_SOF two Polish Special Operations Forces died on 19 September 2025 during a nighttime parachute jump. NFI.
New SEL for AFRICOM. U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Garric M. Banfield has been selected to replace U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Michael Woods as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Africa Command. CSM Banfield currently serves as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for the Joint Special Operations University and previously served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Special Operations Command Africa.
The Last MC-12W. Long a source for intelligence-gathering, the Liberty turboprop surveillance aircraft used by U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command are now retired. The MC-12W will be replaced by the new OA-1K Skyraider II light attack aircraft. There is some concern that there may be a capability gap in ISR and SIGINT with this transition. “Last Special Operations MC-12W Surveillance Planes Retired”, The War Zone, September 15, 2025.
Seeking an SF Identity. Over the past year one of the topics of discussion near and dear to the Special Forces community is the “SF Identity”. Several members of the SF community have wrote essays exploring the direction that Special Forces is going . . . or should be going when it comes to mission and purpose. Lt. Col. Gordon Richmond, an SF officer, provides a summation of the discourse as well a review on the literature on the topic. “Who We Are, What We Do: Framing the Special Forces Identity Debate”, Special Warfare Magazine, September 18, 2025.
AFSOC in the Caribbean. A recent special-operations exercise in the Caribbean showcased an Air Force operating concept designed to counter near-peer militaries—and, experts said, might be a message to unfriendly governments and criminal groups in the Americas. “AFSOC exercise brings concept created for great-power conflict to the Caribbean”, by Thomas Novelly, Defense One, September 18, 2025.
352d SOW Trains in Finland. Air Commandos from the 352 Special Operations Wing conducted training with NATO partners with CV-22B Ospreys and MC-130J Commando IIs. The other NATO partners participating in Exercise Southern Griffin 25 included units from Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Estonia, and the United Kingdom.
SF and Strategic Competition. The DOD’s fixation on large-scale combat operations may soon put Special Forces on the sidelines. However, our adversaries – including those that are our peer competitors – are using irregular warfare as their strategy of choice. The Special Forces community (and leadership) will need to articulate how SF can bridge IW and conventional warfare. Read more in “Army Special Forces in Strategic Competition”, The Old and Bold, September 18, 2025.
SOF History
On Sept. 24, 1943, the 7th Amphibious Force Special Service Unit #1, a top-secret scout unit in the Pacific made up of American and Australian military and natives from Papua New Guinea and other Pacific islands, began the reconnaissance of Cape Gloucester.
On September 23, 1961, Special Forces Operational Detachment – Korea was formed. “Det-K” began with a series of TDY assignments from 1st SFG(A) in Okinawa. By November 1961 they became “FA 40th Detachment”, under the operational control of the Korea Military Assistance Group. It was redesignated on October 16, 2005 as the 39th Special forces Operational Detachment (Airborne).
On September 25, 1961, Department of Army Message 578636 designated the Green Beret as the official and exclusive headgear of the Army Special Forces.
On September 26, 1972, GSG 9 of the German Federal Police was founded.
On September 28, 2018, Maj. Gen. (Ret) Sidney Shachnow died at age 83. He served 39 years in the U.S. Army; much of it in Special Forces.
https://www.specialforceshistory.info/bios/sidney-shachnow.html
National Security and Commentary
Former Green Beret Now US Ambassador to UN. The Senate confirmed Mike Waltz as the United States ambassador to the United Nations on Friday, September 19, 2025. He was confirmed by a 47-43 vote. He will sit at the United Nations among 193 other representatives. Waltz had been the President’s National Security Advisor but suffered from fallout from “Signal Gate” this past spring.
Resistance Networks. The Resistance Operating Concept (ROC), published by the United States Special Operations Command Joint Special Operations University (USSOCOM JSOU) and the Swedish Defense University in 2020, advanced resistance planning discourse. However, there is still some flushing out of the concept that should be done with the concepts of network development. “Beyond Resilience: A Nuanced Framework for Conceptualizing Resistance Networks”, Small Wars Journal, September 19, 2025.
Intelligence, Information Operations, and Cyber
“Commander’s Intelligence Program”. Two long-time (and now retired) Army intelligence officers provide their thoughts on how J2s, G2s, S2s, N2s, etc. can successfully provide the intelligence that their commander needs at all levels. “How to Take Command of the “Commander’s Intelligence Program””, War on the Rocks, September 16, 2025.
77th IW Activated. The 77th Intelligence Wing has been activated on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington, D.C., to support the Defense Intelligence Agency. DOD, July 31, 2025.
On Sept 20 1982: Smiley’s People, a six-part broadcast, aired on the BBC. George Smiley, played by Alec Guinness, returned from retirement. One of the best spy shows ever.
CIA and Mexico. Working with special Mexican army and navy units, the CIA for years has been running covert operations to hunt down Mexico’s most-wanted narcos. “Inside the CIA’s secret fight against Mexico’s drug cartels”, Reuters, September 10, 2025.
Cyber Mercenaries. The Ukraine conflict has led to further growth of commercial companies providing digital services that are applied to the Ukraine – Russia conflict. Read more by Dr. Joana de Deus Pereira in “From Drones to Data: Private Contractors and Cyber Mercenaries”, Royal United Services Institute, September 19, 2025.
Ex-CIA Officer Running for Senate. A month after the Trump administration revoked his security clearance, former CIA officer and veteran Joel Willett is running for one of Kentucky’s two U.S. Senate seats. “Ex-CIA officer Joel Willett announces Democratic bid for McConnell Senate seat”, Louisville Public Media, September 17, 2025.
SOF News welcomes the submission of articles for publication. If it is related to special operations, current conflicts, national security, or defense then we are interested.
Afghanistan, Middle East, and Africa
Trump Wants Bagram Airbase Back. Four years after the U.S. left Afghanistan (Aug 2021) President Trump is now talking about re-inserting American forces back onto Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan. Located a few hours drive north of Afghanistan’s capital city, Kabul, the airbase was the largest American installation in that country for almost twenty years. Apparently, according to Trump, the U.S. built the airbase – not the Soviets (1950s). He says that the Taliban should give up the base or ‘bad things are going to happen” (20 Sep 2025). The Taliban have thus far declined to hand the base over to the U.S. “Trump says US seeks control of Afghanistan’s Bagram air base given up in withdrawal”, Reuters, September 19, 2025.
UN Report on Afghanistan. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has published its quarterly report on the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security. (PDF, 15 pages, 17 Sep 2025)
https://unama.unmissions.org/secretary-general-reports
Trouble in Syria’s Northeast. Clashes are taking place between Syrian government troops and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The negotiations between the two sides that would integrate SDF forces in the the Syrian military and bring the Kurdish area under Syrian government control is at a standstill. “Renewed Fighting Between Kurds and Government Troops Threatens Syria’s Unity”, FDD, September 16, 2025.
SOCAFRICA Cdr Making the Rounds. The commander of Special Operations Command – Africa, Maj. Gen. Claude Tudor, is paying visits to several countries on the African continent. He recently visited Tanzania and Algeria where U.S. SOF are conducting training exercises.
Russia’s Long Game in Africa. Russia’s Africa Corps is deeply entrenched in some countries in the Sahel region of Africa. It is trying hard to replicated that along the west coast of Africa as well. Along with the Africa Corps, diplomatic and economic activities are taking place to solidify Russia’s presence and influence on the African continent. Hanna Notte provides the details in “Russia is Shrewdly Playing the Long Game in Africa”, War on the Rocks, September 17, 2025.
Books, Pubs, Podcasts, and Videos
Video – The Viking Battalion – Norwegian American Ski Troopers in WWII. Erik Brun is interviewed about how the 99th Infantry Battalion fought in World War II. The battalion was formed and trained at Camp Hale, Colorado, along with the 10th Mountain Division, with the original mission of liberating Norway. Some were subsequently recruited to serve with the First Special Service Force and a branch of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The unit would fight the Germans on Europe proper in France and Germany. At the end of the war they would find their way to Norway. https://www.youtube.com/live/tN2sXNrcFFU
Video – Who We Are. An entertaining video by 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) depicting some nice scenes of SF training. September 5, 2025, 1 minute. DVIDS.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/975752/who-we?sub_id=312210
Video – Secrets of Emerald Warrior. Take a look behind the scenes of Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) premier operational exercise. Posted by Hurlburt Field on YouTube, September 17, 2025, 5 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V02-paW7fkU
Podcast – Non-State Special Operations: Capabilities and Effects, The Trident Podcast, U.S. Naval War College. https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/the-trident/20/
Podcast – “MATA and SFABs”, Foreign Area Officer Podcast, September 12, 2025.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sa70PiuHdqMwQYTtIUmJz
Podcast – The Future of War Part I: Raiders at the Edge of Tomorrow. Marine Raiders are operating in a near-future environment saturated with proxy terrorism, relentless information warfare, and AI-enabled surveillance. This podcast story highlights how SOF teams will grapple with great-power adversaries who weaponize terrorist groups to justify intervention, forcing small units to fight not only for tactical advantage but also to control the strategic narrative. The podcast guest is Major General Peter Huntley, Commander of Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC). Irregular Warfare Initiative, September 19, 2025, 50 minutes.
https://irregularwarfare.org/podcasts/future-of-war-part-i-raiders-at-the-edge-of-tomorrow/
Book – “Spyder Hole” Book Trailer. Bob Nesoff is the author of a book that may soon be a movie. The fiction book “Spyder Hole” (Amazon) is about “Former American Green Beret Dan Halevi, now an Israeli Mossad officer, who had the key to stopping the 9-11 attack in his hands but never realized it. Now he has information that terrorists will detonate nuclear weapons in New York and London. This time he won’t let it happen.” Watch a trailer about the book.
PRISM. A superb publication formerly a journal of the National Defense University is now being provided by the Irregular Warfare Center. This peer-reviewed publication will provide a valuable resource to the irregular warfare and special operations community. The quarterly publication has been active for over a 13-year span. “Irregular Warfare Center Publishes Inaugural Edition of PRISM Journal”, IWC, September 18, 2025.
Military Review. The September-October 2025 issue of Military Review has been posted.
https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/English-Edition-Archives/September-October-2025/
CRS Report on SOF. The Congressional Research Service has updated its report on U.S Special Operations Forces. (PDF, 13 pages, 18 Sep 2025)
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/RS21048
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