Myanmar versus Burma: what’s the difference?

Myanmar versus Burma: what’s the difference?

Burma and Myanmar are often referred to together, words used interchangeably to describe what sounds like the same country.  And that’s just it–it is the same country.  So why the two names? The government of Myanmar is known for the ongoing conflicts within its borders, dating all the way back to World War II.  It […]

On this day in history: The assassination of Empress Myeongseong

On this day in history: The assassination of Empress Myeongseong

On October 8, 1895, Empress Myeongseong was killed in her palace by assassins at the age of 43.  She was the empress to Emperor Gwangmu, ruler of the Kingdom of Joseon in modern-day Korea.  The empress had encouraged and fostered a relationship with the Russians, thereby stunting Japanese influence within Korea.  This was highly controversial, and […]

SOF Pic of the Day: The first day of Ranger School

SOF Pic of the Day: The first day of Ranger School

Students endure the first day of Ranger School during the Ranger Assessment Phase at Camp Darby, Fort Benning, Ga., July 25, 2016. RAP week begins with the Ranger Physical Assessment, which requires students to complete 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, a 5-mile run in 40:00 minutes, and six chin-ups. Following the RPA, students conduct the Combat […]

SOF pic of the day: Sniper at sundown

SOF pic of the day: Sniper at sundown

Special Operations Command sniper attached to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), walks along a ridgeline during a special reconnaissance mission, Feb. 17, 2016, while participating in training at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms, Calif. MCAGCC conducts relevant live-fire combined arms, urban operations and joint coalition level integration training promoting […]

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl expected to plead guilty to desertion, misbehavior

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl expected to plead guilty to desertion, misbehavior

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who voluntarily left his post in Afghanistan in 2009 before being taken captive by the Taliban, is expected to plead guilty to charges of desertion and misbehavior later this month.  He will potentially face a dishonorable discharge from the Army, as well as up to five years for desertion, and anything […]

Leave no man behind

Leave no man behind

Leave no  man behind.  The phrase rings through the minds of the armed forces, as one man stuck behind enemy lines seems to warrant the entire might and wrath of the United States military. It almost seems like too a high a risk–to potentially lose multiple lives just to save one, and that’s assuming the […]

SOF pic of the day: Scud hunters in Iraq

SOF pic of the day: Scud hunters in Iraq

Saddam Hussein was unable to battle in the air during Desert Storm because of coalition forces’ air superiority. He decided to use Scud missiles to attack Israel in January 1991. Tactically, the Scud would not have a major impact, but its strategic effect was felt Jan. 18 when seven Scuds hit several Israeli cities. The […]

On this day in SOF history—October 6th: First MARSOC individual training course begins

On this day in SOF history—October 6th: First MARSOC individual training course begins

On this day: October 6th First MARSOC Individual Training Course Begins — 2008 After standing up the Marine Corps’ first special operations unit in 2006, the USMC’s Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) was mired in controversy after an incident in Afghanistan where the unit was accused of killing civilians in a firefight. The […]

CIA releases new Sputnik documents

CIA releases new Sputnik documents

[Update Oct. 4: The CIA has released the Sputnik documents. You can find them on the CIA’s website here.] The CIA plans to release a new batch of secret documents about the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik, which made history when it blasted into space 60 years ago Wednesday, Code and Dagger has learned. An article published […]

Inside a 1930s submarine in Estonia: Class in tight quarters

Inside a 1930s submarine in Estonia: Class in tight quarters

TALLIN, Estonia – It seems impossibly cramped and somehow elegant at the same time. Inside the Estonian submarine Lembit, pristine maroon curtains made of a velvet-like material cover the tiny officers’ quarters. Wood paneling separates the sections of the sub from plump, cushioned chairs that sit in front of wooden tables, one with a leather-bound […]

SOFREP ARCHIVE: Across the fence with MACV-SOG, ‘You shot me 3 times.’

SOFREP ARCHIVE: Across the fence with MACV-SOG, ‘You shot me 3 times.’

Near the end of September, the brass asked Schaff if he’d mind becoming the One-One, or assistant team leader. The brass wanted to put an overweight Special Forces sergeant from Germany who had a previous tour of duty with a Green Beret A-Team, but no experience in Laos, in the One-Zero slot simply because he […]