Ukrainian Special Operations units hold competition

Ukrainian Special Operations units hold competition

Earlier in July, the Ukrainian Special Operations Command held an intense competition between its Special Operations units. The competition was broken down into five days of intensive tests that aimed to test the resolve, morale, endurance, capabilities, and professionalism of the teams. There were 11 stages that put the commandos through obstacle courses, adverse weather […]

Risk aversion in Special Operations: When aid workers have more freedom in a combat zone

Risk aversion in Special Operations: When aid workers have more freedom in a combat zone

Who has more freedom of movement in a combat zone: a highly trained and well-resourced Special Operations fighter, or an untrained volunteer working for a cash-strapped religious non-governmental organization (NGO)? In the author’s opinion and experience, the answer is the NGO worker — and by a long shot. The reason for this predominantly boils down […]

The other side: A review of ethical misconduct in the military legal system

The other side: A review of ethical misconduct in the military legal system

Military commanders are responsible for maintaining discipline in their unit. Bestowed absolute power over their subordinates, by the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), they have the final say during criminal cases, even if they have no legal experience. By the mid-twentieth century, Americans who served in the armed forces protested against an unfair military […]

Leadership failures & lack of attention to detail caused the death of Combat Controller

Leadership failures & lack of attention to detail caused the death of Combat Controller

On November 5, 2019, Staff Sergeant Cole Condiff, a Combat Controller (CCT) assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron out of Hurlburt Field, Florida, was accidentally pulled out of an MC-130 aircraft during a static-line parachute jump over the Gulf of Mexico. As he was dragged out of the aircraft, the Combat Controller hit the […]

SEAL Teams are getting a new and improved delivery vehicle

SEAL Teams are getting a new and improved delivery vehicle

Naval Special Warfare is in the process of taking delivery of the new Mark 11 SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. According to SOCOM’s maritime program executive officer, Captain Kate Dolloff, two of these Mark 11s have already arrived, allowing SEAL SDV operators to begin the familiarization process. The Mark 11 will replace […]

Thank you for your suicide: The ugly consequences of purposeless wars

Thank you for your suicide: The ugly consequences of purposeless wars

Linda, an Army veteran, went into the bathroom late one night to shoot herself in the head. Her family and the world would be better off without her, she thought to herself. Plus, she wanted to finally put an end to the bad dreams. Her convoy was struck by a roadside bomb in 2010 taking […]

22 a day, we have to work together to end Veteran suicides

22 a day, we have to work together to end Veteran suicides

It seems that scarcely a week goes by without hearing of another Special Operations soldier that has committed suicide. This week was no different and as always it follows an all-too-familiar pattern.  A SOF soldier that has seen too many combat deployments and has resultantly suffered both physical and mental injuries, commits suicide after seemingly […]

The next Chinese jet fighter & the stolen F-35 plans

The next Chinese jet fighter & the stolen F-35 plans

This article was written by Alex Hollings and originally published on Sandboxx. China’s growing fleet of aircraft carriers may promise to grant the nation more power projection capabilities than ever before, but first, they’ll need a competent carrier-based fighter. That’s where a Chinese national named Su Bin comes in–he is currently serving a prison sentence […]

Western spies are failing against Russia and China: time for a spycraft revolution

Western spies are failing against Russia and China: time for a spycraft revolution

Western models of spycraft are failing. Traditional models of spycraft seek to inform decision-making based on predictive analysis, but this is no longer effective in today’s environment. By nature, closed and authoritarian regimes, such as Russia and China, have an easier job of spying on their more progressive and open adversaries — the United States […]

Strategic mindfulness for operational success

Strategic mindfulness for operational success

Mindfulness is all the rage right now. Yet, the idea of being mindful — the ability to be fully present — is not a new concept in the warrior culture. As Togo Shigekata, who was a samurai from the Satsuma domain, noted, “One finds life through conquering the fear of death within one’s mind. Empty […]