SOF tips: Teamwork and perseverance pay off in the long-term

SOF tips: Teamwork and perseverance pay off in the long-term

One of the most common mantras you will hear in Special Operations is the absolute must of being known as a team player. The very essence of a successful special operation is with a team working together to accomplish their mission. With it, the missions don’t get accomplished and the units fail. And yet the […]

Why Delta Force was chosen over SEAL Team 6 for the operation to kill the leader of ISIS

Why Delta Force was chosen over SEAL Team 6 for the operation to kill the leader of ISIS

Why did American commanders choose Delta Force over SEAL Team 6 to conduct the operation that killed the leader of ISIS? Many are bound to speculate that the SEAL option was quietly put aside because of the never-ending drama emanating from the Naval Special Warfare (NSW). And the problems in the SEAL community aren’t restricted […]

Fraying at the edges: Elite SOF aviation unit faces critical pilot shortage

Fraying at the edges: Elite SOF aviation unit faces critical pilot shortage

According to a manning report, the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160th SOAR), also known as Night Stalkers, is facing significant manning shortages. The report, first obtained by the Army Times, concerns the final quarter of Fiscal Year 2019. It reveals the following numbers of pilot shortages: With regard to the MH-60 Black Hawk […]

Can Special Forces teach everything? Pretty much

Can Special Forces teach everything? Pretty much

As a member of a Special Operations unit, you can be tasked with damned near anything and probably will. The best indicator of having a skill is the fact that you can teach it to others. As we wrote here some time ago, “Teaching is An Art in Special Forces”, and some of the best […]

MARSOC Critical Skills Operator (CSO) selection outline

MARSOC Critical Skills Operator (CSO) selection outline

The Marine Corps took its time to become part of SOCOM but now their MARSOC units are not only part of the SOCOM umbrella but growing in both size and influence. The Corps keeps a pretty tight lid on their operators and their training. We visited their booth at the annual SOFIC event in Tampa. […]

The long reach of America: The details behind the Delta Force Raid

The long reach of America: The details behind the Delta Force Raid

As the smoke is still settling down over the charred ruins of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s compound details about the operation are already emerging. SOFREP has learned that the assault force was comprised of approximately 70 operators from Delta Force’s A Squadron and Rangers from the 75th Ranger Regiment. The air package included eight helicopters, a […]

SOF Tips: Speed up your recovery after the 12-mile rucksack march

SOF Tips: Speed up your recovery after the 12-mile rucksack march

This piece is meant to help prospective candidates prepare for SOF selection with their 12-mile rucksack march. And hopefully for those that followed it and conducted it, (it was a cold 40 degree, rainy morning here), followed our normal rucksack marching tips. Wearing the correct boots and socks, having the correct and comfortable clothes on […]

Operation Urgent Fury: The US invades Grenada on this day in 1983

Operation Urgent Fury: The US invades Grenada on this day in 1983

On this day in 1983, members of the 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalions, 82nd Airborne Division, Marine Corps 8th Marine Regiment, US Army Delta Force and Navy SEAL commandos invaded the island nation of Grenada. The small island, located about 100 miles north of Venezuela, was under strife after Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was placed […]

SOF Selection ‘Tip of the Day’: Say goodbye to shin splints when rucking

SOF Selection ‘Tip of the Day’: Say goodbye to shin splints when rucking

When attempting to pass the various Selection courses in the military, we tend to lean towards the physical preparation but speak about the courses being mostly mental in nature. Well, the two definitely go hand-in-hand as the more physically prepared you are, the more confident you will be when tackling the next obstacle in your […]

SOF Tips: Rucking trails in deep snow? Try something new and go snowshoeing

SOF Tips: Rucking trails in deep snow? Try something new and go snowshoeing

We publish a daily workout regimen that we post for all of the aspiring Special Operations candidates to properly prepare themselves physically for the various Selection courses. And Sunday was supposed to be a long rucksack march. But Mother Nature decided to throw us all a curve here in the Northeast. Our first major winter […]