Support Veteran Journalism →

Try 4 weeks free
Follow Us

Jamie Read

Jamie Read

I am a former UK infantry reconnaissance specialist serving worldwide, military advisor to Ukrainian special operations, a former volunteer with the YPG in Syria. Worked many years as a private security contractor in the Middle East and Africa and currently working as an executive protection officer on the UK circuit. Also, I am the owner of the Mercs Corner podcast.

    Breaking down the British elite forces: The Royal Marine Commandos (RM)

    Breaking down the British elite forces: The Royal Marine Commandos (RM)

    Coalition SOF May 03
    Disbanded but not forgotten: The Czech Special Operations Group

    Disbanded but not forgotten: The Czech Special Operations Group

    Coalition SOF Mar 24
    MoD.

    A Shieldmaiden Among Us: Female becomes the first to pass Parachute Regiment selection

    Coalition SOF Feb 23
    Ukrainian forces under heavy assault from Russian-backed separatists

    Ukrainian forces under heavy assault from Russian-backed separatists

    World Feb 20
    UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Air Service (SAS)

    UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Air Service (SAS)

    Coalition SOF Jan 16
    U.S. Marines with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines (2/8), Afghan Territorial Force 444 (ATF-444) and British soldiers exit a CH-53E Super Stallion assigned to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 462 (HMH-462) at Camp Bastion, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Aug. 31, 2013. HMH-462 transported 2/8, ATF-444 and British soldiers during a joint interdiction operation. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Gabriela Garcia/Released)

    UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG)

    Coalition SOF Jan 15
    Special Boat Service (SBS) operators in Inflatable Raiding Craft (IRC). Photo from Zatoichi1564/Wikimedia Commons.

    UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Boat Service (SBS)

    Military Jan 14
    UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)

    UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)

    Coalition SOF Jan 13
    UK Special Forces breakdown: 18 (UKSF) Signals Regiment

    UK Special Forces breakdown: 18 (UKSF) Signals Regiment

    Military History Jan 12
    Photo of United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF), likely to be either SAS (Task Force Black / Knight) or support troops from 1 PARA SFSG (Task Force Maroon). riding on the side benches of a US MH-6j 'Little Bird' helicopter during operations in Iraq.

    The Increment: The UK’s most clandestine special operations unit

    Military Apr 06
    Photo by Senior Airman Christopher Reel/ Released

    Breaking down the British elite forces: Honorable mentions

    Military Apr 06
    Photo: Cpl Obi Igbo/Ministry of Defence

    Breaking down the British elite forces: The Pathfinder Platoon

    Military Apr 02
    Breaking down the British elite forces: The Parachute Regiment (Paras)

    Breaking down the British elite forces: The Parachute Regiment (Paras)

    Military Apr 01
    4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery

    Breaking down the British elite forces: 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery Royal Artillery

    Expert Analysis Mar 30
    5 members of the UK’s Special Boat Service wounded fighting Britain’s secret war in Yemen

    5 members of the UK’s Special Boat Service wounded fighting Britain’s secret war in Yemen

    News + Intel Mar 28
    Breaking down the British elite forces: 148 (Meiktila) Battery Royal Artillery

    Breaking down the British elite forces: 148 (Meiktila) Battery Royal Artillery

    Military Mar 25
    Operation Sickle and Hammer: Ukraine prepares to take back Donbass from Russia

    Operation Sickle and Hammer: Ukraine prepares to take back Donbass from Russia

    Foreign Policy Mar 10
    The art of plausible deniability: Russian mercenaries supporting Libyan National Army

    The art of plausible deniability: Russian mercenaries supporting Libyan National Army

    Foreign Policy Mar 09
    Did the Islamic State just kill one of its own leaders?

    Did the Islamic State just kill one of its own leaders?

    Expert Analysis Mar 07
    Photo by Alexander Koerner/Getty Images

    Analysis: Booby-trapped corpse in Mali kills 17, injures others

    Expert Analysis Mar 05