Kelly Johnson: An American military aviation hero

This article was written by Alex Hollings and originally published on Sandboxx. Kelly Johnson wasn’t the first man to build an airplane. Nor was he the first to push the limits of what an airplane could do. But few men have played a more vital role than Johnson in shaping mankind’s ascent into the skies. […]

Five personality traits of a Special Operator

People are always asking, “What do I need to do to become a Navy SEAL?” Or they say, “Those Rangers are all psychos and mindless killing machines; that’s not for me.” Or, perhaps someone thinks they have what it takes, physically, to be a Special Forces soldier, but they don’t know if they have the […]

US Intelligence believes Iran paid bounties to Taliban to kill Americans

The story of foreign intelligence networks paying bounties for the killing of American troops in Afghanistan has gotten new life with a revelation that Iran paid Taliban troops to kill U.S. and coalition troops.  CNN has reported that they have identified payments linked to at least six attacks carried out by the Taliban in the […]

Islamic State and al-Qaeda terrorists fight it out in the Sahel

This article was written by Ana Maria Baloi and originally published on Grey Dynamics.  Why Does This Matter The Islamic State’s (IS) newspaper al-Naba reported that heavy fighting between the IS-affiliated Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) and al-Qaeda-aligned Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has been ongoing since 17 April 2020. ISGS blames JNIM for […]

CJNG: Mexico’s emerging drug cartel

In the changing landscape of Mexico’s cartels, the CJNG has established itself as a burgeoning power center with a cunning mix of violence and local aid.

American strategy in North Africa

This article was written by Louis Tayler and originally published on Grey Dynamics.  Key Judgements AFRICOM’s mission in North Africa is to limit the instability caused by the second Libyan Civil War. This mission has achieved some measure of success. AFRICOM, and by extension, the United States, has a de-facto neutrality policy regarding the second Libyan […]

Ranger School: How to physically prepare

This article was written by Luke Ryan and originally published on Sandboxx. Ranger School is one of the most demanding courses the U.S. Army has to offer. It’s a rite of passage for Army Rangers as they progress in their careers, and it’s a proving ground for other soldiers from other units. The school is […]

Close Quarters Battle: The After Fire actions (Graphic Content)

What you’re about to read concerns “After Fire,” a certain procedure that takes place after an engagement of a threat in short proximity. I am well aware that no plan or idea stays intact in contact with reality as many unseen variables lurk into the background. That is why we teach “After Fire” as a […]

China & India: The world’s fastest growing economies

The world’s two fastest-growing major economies are China and India. In 2019, China’s per capita GDP growth was 6.1 percent, and India’s 5 percent based on World Bank data. The two countries also have the most rapid rates of growth of household and total consumption. Both China and India are growing far more rapidly than […]

AFRICOM: The battle for Central Africa

This article was written by Jesutimilehin Akamo and originally published on Grey Dynamics.  Key Judgements It is almost certain that most of central Africa is unstable. While Sao Tome and Principe has remained peaceful in the last decade, other countries in the region are either at the brink of conflict or have active conflicts. Oil, […]

The Middle Eastern influence on the world oil market

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is an intergovernmental organization founded by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, and Venezuela. OPEC is considered to possess majority control of the world’s crude oil production and the most considerable influence on oil pricing. OPEC also sets production targets for each member country in an attempt to […]