Lack Land Navigation Skills at the Special Op’s Level? Level 1 Refresher

On yesterday’s post, we talked about the Army’s junior NCO’s (E-4 – E-6) are exhibiting a definitive lack of Land Navigation skills where nearly a third can’t pass a Skill Level 1 map, compass, and protractor exercise at the Ft. Benning, GA NCO Academy. We’ll go back to the Basics, much of this you’ll have […]

Photo of the Day, SOCOM Inducts Four Into Commando Hall of Honor

USSOCOM held a ceremony on April 18 at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida and inducted four very deserving people into SOCOM’s Commando Hall of Honor. Leading the way was OSS and CIA trailblazer Virginia Hall. Hall will be the subject of a motion picture starring Star Wars’ Daisy Ridley in the near future. Virginia Hall, […]

Too Many Junior Army Leaders Can’t Navigate, A Bad Sign

A recent piece in MilitaryTimes stated that many of the young sergeants in most infantry and close-combat units don’t know how to maneuver their squads or do basic land navigation. For “soft skill” MOS’ that isn’t necessarily a show stopper, but for the infantry and combat arms types, that is a very bad sign that […]

The Last of the Original Frogmen, Bill Dawson Celebrates 94th Birthday

The very last of the original “frogmen”, the forerunners of the Navy SEAL teams was honored on the date of his 94th birthday amid his family, friends, and family members. Bill Dawson, who grew up in Washington D.C. was working at the D.C. Shipyard in 1943 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy when he was […]

Forty Dollars and a Trip to Paradise

This is a submitted story by Heath Hanson who served in Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne. The story he tells is one of the, if not the first of the green-on-blue attacks by ANA soldiers on Americans. The Taliban offered them the equivalent of $40 dollars and a trip to paradise for attacking our troops […]

Ned the Navigator Lives! Don’t be the Guy They Have to Look For

I was reading the news yesterday and saw a piece in Army Times by Meghann Myers about a poor soldier who was at Ft. Carson, Colorado who was attempting to earn his EFMB (Expert Field Medical Badge) on Monday when this poor troop (the Army refused to say if it was a male or female) […]

US Keeping “All Options” Open in Venezuela, Blasts Chinese, Russian Influence

The prospects for the removal of Venezuelan embattled President Nicolás Maduro peacefully are growing bleaker by the day. The United States has been putting plans in place for the Pentagon to undermine the growing influence of Chinese, Russian and Cuban militaries with the Maduro regime, short of an invasion. The Joint Staff and the Southern […]

Remembering Adm. John Thach, Naval Aviator, Died on This Day 1981

In the annals of Naval Aviation for the U.S. Navy, one of the pioneers for combat tactics was John “Jimmy” Thach who, during World War II not only came up with one successful tactic but two. He was credited with the “Thatch Weave” where U.S. fighters could successfully counter the better maneuverability and climbing ability […]

AFSOC Commando Awarded Silver Star For Danger Close Air Support Mission

An AFSOC combat controller was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his bravery during a raid with the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan in 2018. Tech Sgt Cam Kelsch, of the 17th Special Tactics Squadron, Hunter Army Airfield, was honored on Tuesday during a ceremony at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in […]

MARSOC Needs To Stay, Says Next Marine Corps Commandant

Just a couple of months ago, the Marine Corps’ Special Operations Command (MARSOC) celebrated its 13th anniversary. Then a think tank pushed an idea that the Marines would be better off, disestablishing the Marine SOF and return to their roots which is their forced amphibious capability. But now the next commandant of the Marine Corps […]

Three U.S. Marines Killed in IED Suicide Bombing Identified

On Monday, a suicide bomber set off an IED that killed three U.S. Marines and wounded several others. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. Those Marines killed in the attack have now been identified. The Taliban suicide bombing of the U.S. convoy just outside of Bagram airbase killed Staff Sgt. Christopher Slutman, 43, of […]

Mail Call – Prepping for SFAS Means Proper Fitting Boots, Socks

Your feet along with your brain are the two most indispensable parts of your body in Special Operations Forces. I’ve said many times what my mentors who trained me long ago have said over and over. Your feet are your lifeline in Special Operations. Take care of them and they’ll take care of you. Having […]