Military History

Special Warfare Boat Operators (SB) from Naval Special Warfare Boat Team (SBT) 12 make their way to a cargo ship to practice maritime visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations off the coast of San Diego. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kristopher Kirsop/Released

In recent years, the U.S. Navy has found itself in the precarious position of having to warn away Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard fast attack boats using warning shots in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.  U.S. ships regularly have to traverse this narrow seaway on their way into and out of the Persian Gulf, […]

On this day: October 4th Islamic Jihad announces execution of CIA Officer William Buckley —1985 William Buckley had been serving as the CIA Beirut station chief since 1983 when he was kidnapped by operatives with the terrorist group Islamic Jihad. He had volunteered for the assignment following the 1983 Beirut Embassy Bombing, which had killed […]

In 1991, one of the world’s most prolific drug traffickers fled Colombia to Bolivia where he went into hiding.  A team of Bolivian Leopardos with American advisors from the DEA and Navy SEALs raided the ranch house at the CIA’s request.  After making entry, they found cups of coffee on the table that were still warm.  The counter-narcotics team […]

Soldiers assigned to 1-10th Special Forces Group, maneuver through a shooting range during a weapons training exercise at the Panzer Range Complex, Boeblingen, Germany, Nov. 08, 2016. Army Photo by Spc. Jason Johnston

U.S. Special Operations Soldiers head toward their objective during Jackal Stone 2016 in Tblisi, Georgia. Jackal Stone 2016 is a bilateral Georgian, U.S. counter terrorism and crisis management exercise.   Army photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Fichtl

On this day: October 3rd. The Battle of Mogadishu — 1993 Perhaps the most infamous battle in modern special operations history, the Battle of Mogadishu struck the U.S. military and government off-balance as it still marveled at itself following the made-for-TV Persian Gulf War and the fall of the Soviet Union. As a single event, […]

Key West, Florida – A 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion critical skills operator surfaces from the ocean and advances up a beach during a combat dive exercise in Key West, Fla., Feb. 18, 2015. The operator’s team spent a week in Key West practicing various maritime operations skill sets, further solidifying the development of their […]

POLAND — U.S. Navy SEALs assigned to Special Operations Command Europe and Polish GROM operators prepare to board a ship off the coast of Poland during a recent U.S. – Polish exercise in the Baltic Sea. The training improved operational coordination, communication and cooperation between the two forces.   Department of Defense photo

Two Navy Seals get hoisted up into a CV-22 Osprey during a training mission June 28. The Osprey and aircrew are from the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla. U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Andy M. Kin

In a ceremony held last Wednesday aboard Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 1st Class Jeffrey Thomas was awarded the Silver Star for his heroism in the line of duty during a ten-hour firefight against militants from the Islamic State, on October 20th and 21st, 2016. “Today we recognize the heroic actions of individuals […]

U.S. Army Rangers from 75th Ranger Regiment run towards a mock insurgent building, July 25, as part of an assault on the structure on Fryar Drop Zone, Fort Benning, Ga., as part of the Regiment’s 2011 Ranger Rendezvous events. Photo Credit: Sgt. Marcus Butler, USASOC Public Affairs