Islamic State Showcase Captured ID Card & Equipment. It appears that (somehow) the Islamic State have managed to come into the possession of some U.S. combat equipment (rucksack, bullets, radio, etc.) and two I.D. cards belonging to a U.S. Army SP4. They are making lots of press with the reports. Read more in “ISIL claims to confiscate sensitive U.S. military gear”, USA Today, August 6, 2016.
New Top NCO for NATO SOF. A former Pope Air Force Base (NC) airman will take the top enlisted position for special operations troops at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters for Allied Powers Europe. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Eric D. Neilsen has been selected for the position. Read more in a news story by the Fayetteville Observer.
Purple Heart Day. On August 7, 1782 General George Washington established a series of medals – one of which was the Purple Heart. Read the history.
New Jason Bourne Movie. The latest Bourne movie is out . . . but not without some critics. Read “Mission Impossible: The Ridiculous Tech of Jason Bourne”, Fast Company, August 2, 2016.
Paper – “Attritional War”. A Vietnam Vet writes about modern war and counterinsurgency in “Attitional War: the Neglected Phase of Modern Warfare”, Army Press, August 7, 2016.
Rikers Island and Spec Ops Training. “One of the biggest jails in the US hired a special-ops contractor to train its guards – and it’s set off a debate on prison violence.”. Story on Business Insider, August 7, 2016.
Modern Day Rorke’s Drift. The story of how 88 British paratroopers held off 500 Taliban for two months in Afghanistan. Read the story here on Daily Mail, August 6, 2016.