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 […]

Black helicopters over Manhattan for JSOC training exercise

The night of April 17th, New Yorkers were rattled by the sound and sight of low flying helicopters buzzing around southern Manhattan. In this case, there was nothing to be alarmed about; New York City had announced that the flights would occur and the gents flying the helicopters are the best in the world: The […]

Possibly The Worst Thanksgiving Day Ever, Courtesy of SERE School

Back in the day, we were in a support cycle having come back from a deployment with the 7th Special Forces Group and myself and another guy got ourselves put in a short course the Weapons Committee was running for some reserve Heavy Weapons guys. It was early November and the weather was turning crappy […]

Remembering Navy SEAL Michael P. Murphy, Medal of Honor 6/28/2005

On June 28, 2005, Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy would perform heroic actions that would result in his being awarded the Medal of Honor. It would also cost him his life in the process, in one of the bloodiest days in the history of the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the SEALs. Murphy […]

Army PAO SGT Faces QMP Over Flap for Trying to Secure Information

In a SNAFU of epic proportions, an Army PAO SGT is facing being forcibly removed from the service for trying to safeguard classified information. SGT Ricardo Branch was serving in the PAO office of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Night Stalkers). Members of the Night Stalkers were to visit the Boeing aircraft company site […]

160th SOAR: Death waits in the dark

It’s rare you get to see the Nightstalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment in action, mainly because their missions and the bulk of their training are, appropriately enough, conducted at night!  This video compilation contains some good daytime footage of the unit training in both field and urban environments–as well as a few […]

The 160th SOAR “Nightstalkers” Deliver Shock and Awe

Courtesy of the “Nightstalkers,” the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, we bring you some absolutely beautiful close air support provided by the Sikorsky MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) and the AH-6 “Killer Egg” version of the MD-500E helicopter. The SOAR is most well-known for its ability to insert and extract SOF units under any and all battlefield conditions, […]

160th SOAR “Shock And Awe”

Courtesy of the “Nightstalkers“–the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, we bring you some absolutely beautiful Close Air Support provided by the Sikorsky MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP), as well as the AH-6 “Killer Egg” version of the MD-500E helicopter. The SOAR is most well-known for its ability to insert and extract SOF units under any […]