Nasty Nick: The Special Forces obstacle course from hell

Ah yes… the Nasty Nick Obstacle Course. If you are an aspiring Special Operations soldier in the Army, you will become intimately familiar with this obstacle course. It is one of those rites of passage gated events that you have to complete. Part of the reason we do so much upper body training while preparing […]

Air Force Special Operations Command invests in JTAC training

The Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), partnered with Valkyrie Aero, has landed a contract to provide live Contract Close Air Support (CCAS) for the Air Force Special Operations Command’s Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) training course. According to an article released by the Aviationist, the companies will provide training support at multiple locations throughout the […]

Son of Russia: Former Special Forces officer charged with espionage

A former U.S. Army’s Special Forces officer has been arrested in Alexandria, VA, and charged with passing secrets of American military units and personnel to the Russian military intelligence arm (GRU) for over a decade.  Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins, 45, was recruited by Russian intelligence operatives as he considered himself a “son of Russia,” according […]

Five personality traits of a Special Operator

People are always asking, “What do I need to do to become a Navy SEAL?” Or they say, “Those Rangers are all psychos and mindless killing machines; that’s not for me.” Or, perhaps someone thinks they have what it takes, physically, to be a Special Forces soldier, but they don’t know if they have the […]

Special Tactics Airmen refine their diving capabilities

For years, Air force Special Tactics operators have trained with and utilized open-circuit dive gear. While this is a great capability and allows for diversity within their mission-set, any savvy tactical individual knows that open-circuit dive gear creates a ton of bubbles. This completely negates the stealth factor, which is often at the heart of […]

Combat Controller receives the Silver Star

Last week, Master Sergeant John Grimesey was awarded the Silver Star for his bravery and lifesaving actions in Afghanistan during a 2013 battle in Ghazni province. During the battle, he was concussed and peppered with shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade blast. Then-Senior Airman John Grimesey felt Taliban bullets whiz by as he saw his Green […]

Cubic wins contract from SOCOM for satellite and baseband communications

Cubic Corporation announced this week that its Cubic Mission Solutions (CMS) business division was awarded a follow-on, single-award contract from United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The contract is for delivery of Ground Antenna Transmit and Receive (GATR) inflatable satellite communications (SATCOM) terminals and baseband communications equipment in support of Special Operations Forces (SOF) communications requirements. […]

A special approach to caring for operators and their families

U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) excels at supporting its operators and their families. By tactfully implementing the Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program, the command is creating a culture of individuals that are stronger mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually. According to an extensive article, published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, […]

George ‘Speedy’ Gaspard: A Special Forces legend

‘A Warrior’s Warrior’ in MACV-SOG During America’s long war in Vietnam, many of the Green Berets who fought there became legends within the Special Forces Regiment. And among those warriors were the men of MACVSOG (Military Assistance Command Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group); the SOG warriors were among the finest the country has ever produced. […]

Special Forces Detachment A: Counterterrorism & hostage rescue operations

You can read part I here and part II here.  The men of Det A were highly trained professionals, ready to carry out what would most likely be a suicide mission in the opening hours of World War Three. With targeting packets completed, covers established, and extraction plans committed to memory, they were prepared to […]

Air Force Special Operations Airman becomes first-ever religious waiver

A member of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has received the first-ever religious-related waiver, allowing him to wear a turban and keep a beard. According to an Air Force press release, a follower of the Sikh religion, Senior Airman Dominic Varriale received his waiver about a month ago. Varriale works as a geospatial […]