German woodcarver becomes honorary Green Beret

Special Forces have a very tight select group of members and it isn’t often that an outsider is accepted as one of their own. Very few have been given the honor of becoming an honorary Green Beret. A German woodcarver, who has been supporting the members of the 10th Special Forces Group in Europe for […]

Special Warfare Museum to close permanently

In January, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum closed in order to conduct a complete inventory. The Museum announced that once it reopened it would fall under the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and expand to include all of the ARSOF Regiments. Therefore it would also include Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations. Let the […]

Senior Officer Who Approved Niger Ambush Mission Gets Denied General rank

Following the deadly 2017 Niger ambush that resulted in the loss of four U.S. Special Forces troops, Colonel Bradley D. Moses, who approved the ill-fated mission, has been permanently removed from the promotion list to Brigadier General, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny and accountability faced by officers involved in the operation.

Special Operations Warrior Foundation: A noble cause worth supporting

One of the constant reminders of the cost of endless wars is the human toll they exact. This is not just confined to soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, but to their families too. Every time a warrior is either killed or seriously wounded in battle, his or her family is left to pick up the […]

Combined Special Operations raid kills two ISIS leaders in Syria

On May 17, a combined Special Operations raid killed two regional Islamic State leaders in eastern Syria. The assault force was comprised of a U.S. Special Operations element and a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) partner force. In a press release, Operation Inherent Resolve identified the two ISIS leaders as Ahmad ‘Isa Ismail al-Zawi, AKA Abu […]

Less pull-ups, more intellect: The new approach to Special Operations recruitment

It is no secret that Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has a growing shortage of operators and is experiencing an ongoing struggle to meet training quotas. In previous articles, I have talked about the manning shortfalls within the Special Operations community and the dwindling number of people that are capable and willing to make it through […]

Raider Ride: Biking 2,700 miles across the country for his brothers

My name is Aaron and I am an honorably discharged Marine Raider and Marine Scout Sniper. I would like to bring your attention to a travesty of the worst degree happening right now to three honorable special operators, personal friends of mine, and their spouses, children, and extended family as they are drug through the […]

MARSOC is getting a new commander, here is what you need to know

The MARSOC (Marine Forces Special Operations Command) Communication Strategy and Operations office has confirmed that current MARSOC Commanding General, Major General Daniel Yoo, will be retiring and relinquishing his command during a ceremony currently scheduled for June 26, 2020. MajGen Yoo assumed command of MARSOC, headquartered at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on August 10, 2018. […]

Terrorists still number 1 on Special Operations Command’s target deck

Army Gen. Richard D. Clarke, the commander of SOCOM, addressed attendees virtually on last Tuesday during the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC). He stated that the number one priority for SOCOM operators remains the countering of Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs). He emphasized that extremism is a “generational issue.” Nevertheless, General Clarke, speaking to the […]

Spec Ops Q&A: Former operator trekking coast to coast in support of MARSOC 3

Editor’s note: This Q&A is with Aaron Vanderbeck, a former Marine Raider and Scout Sniper. Two Marine Raiders and one Navy Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman, the MARSOC 3 as they are called, are being abandoned by their commanders over charges involving the 2019 death of a contractor and retired Green Beret, Rick Rodriguez. Gunnery […]

SOCOM’s ‘Hyper Enabled Operator’ concept progresses

One of the more interesting items to come out of the recent vSOFIC (virtual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference) in Tampa last week was that the Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM) concept for a Hyper Enabled Operator (HEO) is progressing. The two-year program, built off a failed concept program, is designed to give special operators enhanced […]

No shortage of work for Special Operators

Special Operators are going to keep being special. That was the theme on Tuesday when General Richard D. Clarke, the commanding officer of the Special Operations Command (SOCOM), virtually addressed the audience during the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOIFC). During this time of relative peace for the U.S.’s conventional military, Clarke stated that Special […]