US-Backed SDF Deny They Allowed ISIS Fighters to Escape Raqqa

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the US-backed peshmerga fighters are denying reports that they approved a deal with the Islamic State last month to allow safe passage to hundreds of trapped ISIS and foreign fighters evacuating from Raqqa, the de facto capital of the so-called Islamic State in northern Syria. The BBC on Sunday published a report, […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation 11.20.2017

We’re going to kick Monday and the new week off right, and we’ll do it with a UBRR preparation. Start off with pushups, sit-ups, and crunches, then to the bar for V-ups, pull-ups, and dips before a 5-mile run. Remember to stay hydrated and mark your progress in your workout log book. Training: More preparation […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation 11.19.2017

Sunday morning rucksack march. Do a quick warmup of pushups and sit-ups before heading out. Head out over varied terrain and try to go as fast as you can for 6 miles without running. Stretch well both before and after the event. Remember to still push water during the march. Although the cooler weather is […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation 11.18.2017

It is a cold Saturday morning here so it is a perfect time to go to the gym for a shoulder and back workout. Towel pull-ups if you have no access to climbing ropes. Followed by a five-mile run. Log your numbers down in the workout notebook Training: More Preparation for the UBRR: 3 x […]

Veterans Suicide Epidemic Needs National Attention

Hardly a day goes by where someone on social media in our military circles publishes the sad news that another service member has taken his or her life. With so many of our veterans having ties across service lines and across the country, it hits home and hard. There are about 22 veterans every day […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation 11.17.2017

Friday, that must mean its Leg Day at the gym but instead of a long run at the finish of that, we’ll substitute the Shuttle run in there, to work on your speed today. For those who don’t have ropes available to them in the prep, substitute the towel pull-ups. Training: Continue to prep for […]

Taliban “Special Forces” Another Issue Coalition Forces Must Deal With

The Taliban has been touting their “Special Forces” unit for quite some time, however with recent attacks on Afghan government police and conventional military units, they’ve been pushed to the forefront in the news. Reports of the Taliban using night vision equipment and laser aiming devices have the Afghans worrying. On November 13, Taliban units […]

How to Spot Fake Russian News Bots in Your Timeline

Earlier this week British Prime Minister Theresa May said in a speech that social media was inundated with Russian attempts to distort the news and elections and accused Moscow of “planting fake stories” online as part of a “campaign of cyber-espionage and disruption”. She was using the information after both British and US intelligence services […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation 11.16.2017

Thursday is a Chest and Triceps workout in the gym and then hit the road for a 4-mile run. Remember to stretch well before and after and to stay hydrated. Mark your progress down in your workout log book. Training: More Preparation for the UBRR: 3 x 12 Bench Press 3 x 10 Dumbbell Flies […]

Book Review: “War Stories of the Green Berets” by Hans Halberstadt

Frequently, we get emails or tweets here at SpecialOperations.com in the realm of questions about the training and the qualification course. Many of course deal with Selection and I have to tell people that the Instructors don’t actually kill anyone during the events and one doesn’t have to be 10-feet tall to pass. But one […]

Russians “Irrefutable Proof” US Support of ISIS is a Video Game Shot

Russia’s Ministry of Defense has egg on their face when they were caught lying about a serious charge that the US isn’t trying to defeat ISIS but actually is helping the Islamic State. Russia’s claims to have “irrefutable evidence” that US forces are in league with ISIS was actually footage from a video game. Russia, […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation 11.15.2017

Wednesday is a back and shoulder day at the gym followed by a 6-mile rucksack march. Look to better the time that is the standard (90 minutes) and remember to hydrate throughout the march. Don’t forget to mark your progress in the workout log book Training: More Preparation for the UBRR: 3 x 12 Lat […]