Op-Ed

Chasing Your Passion Is Seldom the Easy Path But Worth It

The two most important days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why “The Equalizer” Before I begin here, I first have to say, that although I love the film by Antoine Fuqua, starring Denzel Washington, the quote that they attribute to Mark Twain, was one he […]

Operation Faithful Patriot …Moving 5K Troops to the Border

Depending on what side of the political aisle one resides, the decision by President Donald Trump to send over 5200 troops to the border is either a political move to influence the midterm elections, according to the left. Or a needed operation to bolster and harden our points of entry to the United States at […]

British SAS Now Open to Women, But Will the Standards Change?

The British Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced this week that they were expanding the roles for women in the British military and now they will be able to serve in the SAS (Special Air Service). This includes the Royal Marine Commandos and the SBS (Special Boat Service). In 2016, the British MOD opened up infantry […]

Remembering Humbert “Rocky” Versace, MOH, 29 October 1963

Humbert “Rocky” Versace was captured early in the Vietnam War on October 29, 1963, by the Viet Cong and showed his indomitable will by refusing to be indoctrinated by the Communists and resisted fiercely. He so enraged his captors by his insistence on adhering to the code of conduct and protesting their treatment of American […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 14, Day 6

Friday is Leg Day at the gym. Start off with our favorite, Squats – (Front, Dumbbell Goblet, and Barbell), then Lunges and the Weighted Sled Push. Follow it all up with a five-mile run. Mark your progress down in your workout log book and stretch well after the session. Remember….keep hydrating, even in the rain. […]

New Push-up Technique Makes Things Easier, Not Harder to Grade

New Pushup Technique Makes Things Easier, Not Harder to Grade A story that was posted on Military.com yesterday was intriguing as it will no doubt, affect many soldiers in the Army, but especially those attempting to go thru Selection in the Army’s Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) or Ranger Selection and Assessment (RASP). Beginning […]

Train For the Long Haul in Special Operations

We have mentioned this not too long ago but it probably bears repeating, especially now that the Selection courses are running and the next batch of candidates are gearing up to attend. You don’t have to be a marathon runner, a professional weight lifter or a bodybuilder to pass Selection. Not every Special Operations trooper […]

On This Day in 1983, Marine Barracks in Beirut is Truck Bombed

During the Lebanese Civil War of 1983, two suicide trucks laden with explosives are driven into the barracks at Beirut’s airport where the Multi-National Force in Lebanon (MNF) peacekeepers were staying. A total of 307 people are killed. 241 Americans, 58 French, 6 civilians and the two bombers. A terrorist group calling themselves Islamic Jihad […]

Hero or villain: Why does Kaepernick have to be one or the other? (Part III)

Identity politics and excessive tribalism suppress the conversation we could be having in the spirit of NFL anthem demonstrations. When Colin Kaepernick began this movement, the popular narrative was that he sought to promote awareness about police brutality, specifically as it occurs in the black community. Implicit here is the suggestion that police would shoot […]

Hero or villain: Why does Kaepernick have to be one or the other? (Part II)

Military service is a potentially rewarding career. However, not every strategic objective involves defending the nation from enemies that pose an existential threat to our “freedom.” Foreign policy is complex and messy. If, in the absence of unintended consequences, the U.S. military always promoted global human rights while safeguarding American democracy, there would be little […]

Hero or villain: Why does Kaepernick have to be one or the other? (Part I)

Colin Kaepernick is back under the microscope now that he is the face of Nike’s new “Just Do It” ad campaign. Just as when he initially chose not to stand during the national anthem, he remains an unnecessarily polarizing figure. To some, he is a martyr for social justice; to others, he is an ungrateful […]