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Latest Military History stories, analysis, and updates from SOFREP.
President John F. Kennedy had a special relationship with the United States Army Special Forces. That relationship was sealed on Oct. 12, 1961, when the President visited Fort Bragg, N.C., to review the troops. At the now-historic meeting between Kennedy and then-Brig. Gen. William Yarborough, Kennedy embraced the iconic Green Beret. That relationship was celebrated […]
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I found this awesome video on Youtube.com from a Vietnam vet who took a camera out on patrol and got some super-rare footage of Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) soldiers while out in the jungle. From the author of the video: Super 8 movies from field missions of the LRRPs of K Company, 75th Infantry […]
You’ve got to love this old footage. Made in 1957, this amazing U.S. Navy film showcases the pre-cursors to the SEALs and the UDTs (or Underwater Demolition Teams). Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) conducted beach reconnaissance, cable and net cutting, explosive destruction of underwater obstacles for amphibious landings, limpet mine attacks, submarine operations, and the locating […]
I thought you guys might enjoy this video I discovered the other day, it gives a nice peek into the world of our Vietnam-era Special Operations units: Before SOCOM: LRRPs, Rangers, UDT/SEALs, Special Forces, MACV-SOG, Force Recon…
Lasting from the mid-1960’s to 1980, the bush war in Rhodesia saw this tiny land locked nation surrounded by communist backed insurgents operating from the adjacent nations of Mozambique, Zambia, and Botswana. Robert Mugabe’s ZANU was supported by Red China while Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU was primarily a Soviet sponsored insurgency. With guerrilla fighters pouring across […]
1st SOW has the MC130, which is their troop carrier aircraft, and which also has the capability to pluck a single individual out of an open field without landing, using a device called the Fulton Recovery System, aka the Skyhook. This gizmo has been around for years. In fact James Bond used it at the […]
In the wake of the failed hostage rescue mission conducted by the British SBS in Nigeria, it may also prove useful to take a look back at JSOC hostage rescue missions as well. Special thanks to SOFREP reader Chris for his hard work in compiling this information for us. The successful rescue of Jessica Buchanan […]
The U.S. is in the dark ages when it comes to utilizing women in the US Special Operations community. Female Navy SEALs, Green Berets, and Combat Controllers? Why the hell not? In all fairness, the Army beat us to it with the first female Green Beret Katie Wilder. Hard-line thinking coupled with fixed ideology gets […]
Special Forces operate by building rapport with indigenous forces, creating long term relationships before conflicts even begin to take shape. High-tech gizmos provide the flash for movies and video games but in reality it is the human element that determines so much of what actually happens where the rubber meets the asphalt. To get a […]
You may have seen a paddle displayed proudly in the home or office of a former Recon Marine. So, what’s the deal with these paddles? Every Recon Marine is presented with a paddle from his peers when he leaves the unit or the Marine Corps. The history of this tradition stems from the days of […]
January 1962: Two Navy Sea Air Land (SEAL) operating teams are established to conduct unconventional warfare and counter-guerrilla operations. SEAL Team One is formed in Coronado, and SEAL Team Two is established at Little Creek, Va. The first SEALs are selected from existing Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT), the “frogmen” responsible for clearing the way for […]
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