We began the week remembering those that fell at Pearl Harbor. We were humbled to share the tale of the men of the USS Oklahoma — trapped inside a sinking ship — and moved to reflect on why the attack is so ingrained in our way of life. It is a day we will never forget.

We tracked several events from abroad this week: a U.S. airstrike pummeling terrorist targets in Somalia, Morocco normalizing its relationship with Israel and winning itself unfettered access to the oil-rich Western Sahara, and tensions in the Mediterranean flaring irrespectively of NATO’s so-called influence.  

We were honored to welcome General Donald Bolduc to SOFREP this week. General Bolduc, who logged 10 tours in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2013, broke down the war in Afghanistan and shed light on our biggest missteps in the nearly two-decades-long conflict.

But the biggest news this week was at home, and from among the ranks.

We lost a legend this week; Chuck Yeager, the revered test and WWII ace pilot, and the first man to break the sound barrier. We took a look at Yeager’s legacy and were motivated by it. Rest easy, Chuck. 

We followed several military stories this week. Staffer Sean Spoonts continued his reporting on the murder of two former special operators at Fort Bragg, NC. New information about their lives — and their deaths — has turned the case on its head. While things were unfolding in North Carolina, the Army released the first round of punishments for the deaths and abuse of scores of soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas. Elsewhere, a source inside the Special Warfare School confirmed that soldiers at the elite training facility would be forced to receive the coronavirus vaccination or be faced with fierce administrative action, and the Navy commenced the search for a sailor lost at sea. We also took a look at Military Working Dogs, a powerful contingent of the U.S. Armed Forces that is often overlooked.

Elsewhere, the Biden camp announced its pick for secretary of defense this week. In a surprise move, the former Vice President has tapped General Lloyd Austin to be his SecDef over shoo-in Michèle Flournoy. 

In Gear, field tester Travis Pike punched up a trio of reviews. He put the Plano Field Locker through its paces, talked side saddle accessories for uncommon shotguns, and took a brand new mini red dot sight downrange. This week, on SOFREP Radio, host and SOFREP Senior Editor Steve Balestrieri talked shop with 30-year SWAT veteran Jeff Nyce, part of the team that took down the DC Snipers.  

What’s in store for next week? None of us knows. But, as always, we’ll be here to bring you the stories you won’t find anywhere else with insights and analysis from people who have actually been there. 

In the meantime,

Stay frosty

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