Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world.
Photo / Image: U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard performs tire drills during an early morning physical training session with the military personnel assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Carson, Colo., Sept. 23, 2025. Tire drills, such as sledgehammer tire slams, are commonly used in military training to build strength, endurance and explosive power through full-body, functional movements. Drawing on her own military service, Gabbard joined the training session to better understand the physical and tactical demands faced by today’s service members. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Shelby Jones)
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SOF News
Members of 160th Crew Identified. The four Soldiers who perished in a September 17th aircraft mishap while conducting routine flight training have been identified by the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment included two CW3s and two SGTs. “USASOC Identifies Soldiers Who Perished in Aviation Mishap”, DVIDS, September 22, 2025.
AFSOC Ready for Caribbean Missions. Elements of Air Force Special Operations Command held a long-planned exercise on St. Croix just days before the first U.S. strike on an alleged drug boat. “We need to be ready to go’: AFSOC preps for potential Caribbean missions”, Defense One, September 24, 2025.
MV Ocean Trader. Numerous social media accounts are reporting that the MV Ocean Trader, a converted commercial vessel commonly referred to as a staging platform for special operations forces is now operating in the Caribbean. The vessel is described as a floating barracks, helicopter base, and command center for SOF. Air Force, Naval, and other military assets have moved to bases in the Caribbean over the past month. The U.S. has begun conducting air strikes on suspected narcotic smuggling vessels traveling from Venezuela. In addition, the U.S. government rhetoric on Venezuela has dramatically increased. Read more in “The elusive ship built to carry US special operators is in the Caribbean”, by Jeff Schogol and Patty Nieberg, Task and Purpose, September 25, 2025.
SF Core Competencies. This article focuses on how Special Forces can restore the human edge that has always been its hallmark. The author argues that the SF Regiment needs to reinvigorate language and culture training. “Rebuilding the Human Edge”, The Old and Bold, September 27, 2025.
Future JCETs to Tunisia? Tunisian Army Senior Col. Wajdi Zorgani, the Commander of the 2nd Special Forces Training Center (Tunisia), visited USASOC headquarters at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in September to discuss ongoing cooperation between U.S. and Tunisian special operations forces. One of the topics discussed was future Joint Combined Exchange Training opportunities.
USASOC CSM Moves On. U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major JoAnn Naumann has been selected to replace U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Major Howard Kreamer as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader, U.S. Strategic Command. CSM Naumann currently serves as the Command Sergeant Major for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and previously served as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Special Operations Command, Korea.
Navy SEAL Training – SOAS. Since its inception in 2014, SEAL Officer Assessment and Selection (SOAS) has served as an important step in screening potential candidates for Navy SEAL training. Conducted in three classes each summer, this intense three-week course includes Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) officer candidates, Navy ROTC midshipmen, Officer Candidate School (OCS) recruits and current active-duty members. “Navy SEAL Timeline: From Acceptance to Training”, Military.com, September 17, 2025.
SOF Advising Overseas. So which is the better model for SOF advising and training partner forces? Sending a large team (like 12 individuals) for six months or less or embedding a smaller group of individuals with a partner force over a much longer period? “Maximizing the Indigenous Approach: Using Secondment to Enable Our Partners and Constrain Our Adversaries”, by Wyatt Thielen, Irregular Warfare Initiative, September 25, 2025.
SOF Operations in the Future. Kevin D. Stringer and Marius Kristiansen write on how special operations forces will need to transform to prevail in the space domain and polar regions. They call for two enhanced roles for SOF – a Space Joint Terminal Attack Controller (SJTAC) and an emphasis on security force assistance (SFA). “Space and Ice: Envisioning Special Operations Forces’ Role in Future Operational Environments”, Small Wars Journals, September 24, 2025.
AFSOC Has Confidence in Ospreys. The head of Air Force Special Operations Command says he has “complete confidence” in the safety of the CV-22 Osprey. The aircraft has had some issues and critics say that it is time to retire the Osprey. AFSOC has 51 Osprey air frames. Air and Space Forces, September 24, 2025.
SOF History
On October 3, 1943, the 5307 Composite Group – Merrill’s Marauders was established.
On October 6, 1964, Project DELTA (B52) was formed. The program was initially known as Project LEAPING LENA which was established on May 15, 1964. LEAPING LENA was a program for the Green Berets to train LLDB teams for missions into Laos. Project DELTA was the first of the three special reconnaissance units with a Greek letter formed by U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV).
Project DELTA
On October 1, 1974, the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment was established. On October 3, 1984, the 75th Ranger Regiment and 3/75th was established.
On October 3, 1993 – Operation Gothic Serpent, Battle of Mogadishu took place. It would end on October 4th. https://sof.news/history/operation-gothic-serpent/ At the end of the battle a U.S. helicopter pilot was missing which would prompt a days-long search for him until he was released by Somali insurgents. https://sof.news/conflicts/gothic-serpent-super-64/
On October 1, 2012, the Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) was activated at Fort Bragg.
On October 4, 2017, four soldiers of the 3rd Special Forces Group died in an ambush in Niger.
National Security and Commentary
Gathering of Generals. Over 800 generals and admirals from all the branchs of military service have been summoned by the Secretary of Defense for a meeting this week – possibly on Tuesday at Quantico, Va. The summons is short-notice and there is no stated reason (available to the public) for the gathering. President Trump intends to make a presence at the unusual gathering.
Apparently a few of the topics will be about the “warrior ethos” and “military standards”. However, there is lots of speculation on the meeting – what could be so important that all of the high-ranking generals need to be called in together. Seems a Zoom session or an email just wouldn’t be good enough. Some of the rumors about the meeting include the re-focus of the DoD on defense of the Western Hemisphere, a massive reduction in general officer ranks, or the institution of some type of ‘loyalty oath’. The rumors are certainly making the rounds on social media!
TRADOC Goes Away. For better or worse – opinions differ- the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command was officially deactivated during a ceremony at Fort Eustis on September 26, 2025. Taking its place, and incorporating other departments of the Army, will be the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command (T2COM – how do you pronounce that acronym? I guess it will be referred to as “T-Two-COM”). This new command will activate on October 2nd with a ceremony at the new headquarters in Austin, Texas. TRADOC has existed for 52 years and was instrumental in shaping and modernizing the Army through training, doctrine, and leader development. “Turning the Page: TRADOC inactivation marks new chapter in Army transformation”, U.S. Army, September 26, 2025.
Irregular Warfare. “Innovations in five areas are transforming the character and nature of irregular warfare (IW).” These enablers or “vehicles” are space, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), unconventional maritime operations, and global supply chains. “The Five Vehicles of Irregular Warfare”, Small Wars Journal, September 25, 2025.
Confronting the Cartels. Brian Michael Jenkins has authored an essay about the challenges of possible U.S. military action against Mexico’s drug cartels. It is a complicated situation and the U.S. must be prepared for possible counteractions. “Confronting the Cartels: Military Considerations South of the Border”, CTC Sentinel, Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, September 2025.
U.S. Buildup in Caribbean. The U.S. military presence in the Caribbean has increased significantly in the past several weeks. A lot of this activity are exercises and events that have been on the calendar for months. However, some of it is ‘unscheduled’. The rhetoric on Venezuela has increased significantly. But keep your eye on Haiti, the rule of the armed gangs in Port-au-Prince has gone on long enough, perhaps there is some thought in the Trump administration to try to put that house in order.
IW in the Indo-Pacific. The author of this article explores how the U.S. and its partners can use irregular warfare to strengthen security cooperation, build trust, and enhance resilience among Indo-Pacific nations – especially those with limited conventional military capacity. “Applying the Alaska Territorial Guard Concept to Modern Indo-Pacific Irregular Warfare”, Irregular Warfare Initiative, September 25, 2025.
Another Intel Function Cut. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of National Intelligence, has cut an periodic strategic intelligence report that predicts the challenges the United States and the world will face in the coming decades. However, this valuable resource, published every four years, has been eliminated by the ODNI. The report, produced by the National Intelligence Council’s Strategic Futures Group, is yet one more step in the dismantling of the national security community by Gabbard. Last month the National Intelligence University was eliminated and there were sharp cutbacks in numerous intelligence agencies – as has been the case almost every month this year. “Gabbard Ends Intelligence Report on Future Threats to U.S.”, The New York Times, September 26, 2025.
Ukraine Conflict
Trump Shift on Ukraine? One never knows what President Trump is going to say or do next. This is especially true about the war in Ukraine. In the past week it appears his stance on Russia has hardened and that he seems to be more supportive of Ukraine. We shall see how long this lasts. In the meantime Ukrainians, who have been fighting the invaders the past three years, see a glimmer of hope in the recent Trump statements about the conflict. Rhetoric is one thing, but policy and actions are what count.
The Ukraine war has turned into a stalemate. Armored vehicles and equipment are destroyed before it even gets to the front lines. Drones are everywhere and the ‘no man’s land’ is more than 30 kilometers wide in some areas. Any attacks by the Russians are made by small groups, usually at night, and they are most times unsuccessful or yield little gain at great cost.
Russia’s Most Modern Tank – MIA. The T-14 Armata tank is the latest main battle tank has not had a major impact on the war in Ukraine. The T-14 made an appearance in 2023 in Ukraine – but it was likely for propaganda purposes. The Russians have likely determined that the new tank is too valuable to lose in a war where Russian tank losses number over 4,000. “Why is Russia Hiding the Armata Tank?”, by Maya Carlin, The National Interest, September 27, 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.
Asia, Europe, and Middle East
DoD Misses Out on Important ROK Conference. An important conference recently held in Washington, D.C. saw no attendees from the Department of Defense. The gathering “was timely and consequential given the ongoing process of alliance modernization between Washington and Seoul”. This is not the only conference that DoD is missing out on. A July 2025 DoD policy now prohibits both military and civilian personnel from attending external events and conferences that are defense related. This isolates senior DoD officials from the ‘think tank’ crowd where important defense issues and policies are discussed. “Defense Dept. misses strategic discussion on future of ROK-US alliance”, by David Maxwell, UPI, September 26, 2025.
Sweden and ‘Total Defense’. A new roadmap issued by the Swedish government is emphasizing whole-of-society preparedness. “Sweden’s total defense urges citizens to prepare for war”, NORDISKPOST, September 23, 2025.
NATO Air Defenses on Alert. A number of drone incursions by Russia has put Europe’s air defense system on edge. Recent incursions into Poland, Romania, and other nations by Russian drones have prompted calls for an upgrade to drone defensive systems.
New Civil War in Syria? Negotiations between the Syrian Democratic Front (SDF) located in the Kurdish region of northwest Syria and the newly installed Syrian government (as of December 2024) are deadlocked with no resolution of the way the SDF and region it controls will come under Syrian government control. The 120,000-man force of the SDF is robust enough to cause problems for Syrian forces should a conflict break out. The intervention of Turkey on the side of the Syrian government forces would be a game changer.
Africa
South Sudan’s Troubles. A civil war is brewing between two factions in South Sudan. President Salva Kiir’s health is in decline and there soon will be a successor. This is one of the factors that might bring about a renewal of war between factions (and ethnic groups) in a nation that has been independent for less than two decades. The economy is in trouble due to the restrictions on exporting oil by pipelines to the Red Sea ports of Sudan – the country to the north engaged in civil war. Read a comprehensive article on the volatile situation in “Succession Fever Deepens South Sudan’s Malaise”, International Crisis Group, September 1, 2025.
Turkish Advisors Will Train Niger Army. Ankara plans to send military advisors to Niamey – another step to deepen its relations with countries of the Sahel region. Niger’s military is in a fight to counter militant groups. Although Niger is receiving Russian assistance it is broadening its base of international supporters beyond Russia. Among the advisors will be commandos and special forces. Turkey has been providing advisory services to Burkina Faso and Mali. “Turkey to train Niger army in fight against militant groups”, Middle East Eye, September 22, 2025.
Mali Ends CT Cooperation with France. Mali’s ruling junta has expelled five French Embassy employees and has ceased CT cooperation. “Mali ends counterterror cooperation with France and expels embassy staff”, AP News, September 25, 2025.
Al-Shabab’s Shadow State. Representatives of humanitarian and development organizations often confide that the insurgent group would make a better partner for the distribution of humanitarian aid than the current Somali federal government. “Al-Shabab’s shadow state: Why Somalia’s militants are winning legitimacy”, by Robert Kluijver, The New Humanitarian, September 25, 2025.
Books, Podcasts, Videos, and Movies
CTC Sentinel. The September 2025 issue of CTC Sentinel by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point is now available online. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/september-2025/
Video – Resupply at Sea. CARIBBEAN SEA – USNS Joshua Humphreys (T-AO-188), Henry J. Kaiser- Class Replenishment Oiler, participates in a replenishment at sea with the U.S. Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), while underway in the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 3, 2025. U.S. military forces are deployed to the Caribbean in support of the U.S. Southern Command mission, Department of War-directed operations, and the president’s priorities. DVIDS, 1 minute, September 27, 2025.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/978492/resupply-sea
Video – The Untold Story of Operation Viking Hammer and Iraqi Kurdish Resistance. Mark Grdovic, a retired Special Forces officer (and master storyteller), is the guest in this interview about the 10th SFG(A) during the Iraq War. He talks about the planning, execution, and challenges faced during the invasion, including the establishment of relationships with local forces, communication, and military strategy. The Team House, YouTube, September 25, 2025, 2 hours. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=jsVRZgrS2R0
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