Technology Is OK But Carrying a Ruck Will Always Be a Question of Will

The Selection courses put a great amount of stock as well as time and effort into seeing what the troops ( I almost wrote men, but now women are allowed to attempt), are made of.  The running and timed runs in the courses are one thing. But carrying a rucksack is quite another. Because of […]

What Trump’s $700 Billion in the Defense Budget Pays For

The new omnibus $1.3 trillion spending bill that President Trump signed last week, the Pentagon’s budget rose to the most in their history, $700 billion. The military budget approved on Friday is packed with funding for new weapons as well as upgrades for older systems. On Tuesday, CNN reported that Trump has privately floated the […]

Two Coalition Troops Killed in Syria By IED, Five Wounded

Reports from U.S. military personnel in Syria say that two coalition personnel have been killed and five were wounded by a roadside bombing in Syria on Friday. IEDs attacks, while common in Iraq have been rare since the U.S-led coalition sent troops into Syria’s war-torn country. The military did not say where the incident occurred […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 1, Day 6

Friday, that must mean its Leg Day at the gym but instead of a run at the finish of that, we’ll substitute the Shuttle run in there, to work on your speed today. If you have a sled at your disposal use that, if not carry your training partner in a Fireman’s carry. Some of […]

March 29, 1911, The US Army Adopts the Finest Combat Pistol in History

If you are a fan of another combat pistol produced by the United States or anyone else for that matter, you may wish to click and go elsewhere. For 75 years the U.S. had the monopoly on fielding the best combat pistol for its troops. It was simple, powerful and quite easy to shoot. The […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 1, Day 5

Back in the gym this morning before heading out for a run. But first today it is a back, and shoulders workout. Go heavy with the pulldowns and keep it under control, slowly pulling the weight up and lowering it back to the rack. Use strict form on the dumbbell raises and presses as well. […]

Operation Chariot: Royal Marine Commandos Raid on St. Nazaire

Operation Chariot (also known as the St. Nazaire Raid) was a very successful if highly costly Commando raid on the port of St Nazaire in German-occupied France on March 28, 1942. The Royal Navy and Royal Marine Commandos targeted the German naval base there because it housed not only a fully equipped submarine base but […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation, Week 1, Day 4

Continue to prep for the UBRR and focus on some speed work today with some short runs for time. Speed work will help with your endurance and explosion. Work on the perfect form when doing your exercises. The cadre at Selection are meticulous in grading form, especially with pushups. The time to get it right […]

OSS Operation Greenup, The Most Daring, Successful Mission of WWII

Last week we posted a story on the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) and how after 73 years they were finally recognized as a group and were honored with a Congressional Gold Medal. OSS was the forerunner to both the Special Operations Command of the military, OSS Jedburgh and Operation Groups were the units that […]

Islamic State Regrouping in Iraqi, Kurdish Territories

The Islamic State has regrouped in Iraq and is conducting increasingly deadly attacks in territories across northern Iraq, taking advantage of the hostility between the central government and the Kurdish people, according to both Iraqi and Kurdish officials. The Iraqi government declared a final victory over IS last December after Iraqi forces drove its last […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 1, Day 3

Tuesday is a leg day at the gym. These exercises build strength and explosion in your lower body and you’ll need both in Selection. These will also help your times with both running and carrying a rucksack. We’re going to go for heavier squats today with fewer reps, at other times we’ll go lighter and […]

US Top General in Afghanistan Claims Russia is Arming the Taliban

The top U.S. general in Afghanistan has said the Russians are supporting and supplying arms to the Taliban, adding more fuel to the already tense relationship between the two superpowers. General John Nicolson said in an interview with the BBC that he’s seen “destabilizing activity by the Russians.”  He said Russian weapons are being supplied […]