Tag: Russia

Soldiers from Latvia and Poland recently wrapped up the “Ridge Runner” training exercise in West Virginia which partnered them with American military forces to train in unconventional warfare. The training prepares these Eastern European soldiers for what was once known as the “stay-behind” mission, in the event Russia invaded their countries with conventional or irregular forces, […]

Although one of the five core special forces truths is that humans are more important than hardware, it’s always better to have top-shelf equipment. Navy SEALs, Green Berets, and Marine Raiders are all elite in their training and capabilities, but better gear makes them even more effective on the battlefield. The American technological preponderance of […]

On Tuesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded to news of new American troop deployments to the Middle East with measured words. Despite rising tensions between the United States and Tehran and a history of fiery rhetoric from Iranian officials, Rouhani adopted an almost victim-like posture. Iran will not wage war against any nation,” Rouhani said […]

The winds of change are blowing fiercely across the geopolitical chessboard, propelling countries to adjust and adapt to remain competitive. Nation-level conflict is once more the focus of Western militaries following decades of counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations, and special operations forces (SOF) are fighting to remain at the tip of the spear. According to the […]

U.S. Marines with Force Reconnaissance Company, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, discuss their plan prior to an operation during Exercise Trident Juncture 18 at Vaernes Air Station, Norway, on October 31, 2018. Trident Juncture 18 demonstrates the II Marine Expeditionary Forces’ ability to deploy, employ, and redeploy the Marine Air Ground Task Force while improving interoperability with […]

As the Department of Defense prepares for future conflicts and contingencies, its elite units are following suit. In an interview with Special Forces Outlook magazine, Rear Adm. Collin Green, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC), outlined the future of the SEAL Teams and how they are preparing to combat future threats. The top Navy […]

Are the U.S. government and military indirectly supporting war crimes? Yes, according to the non-profit Human Rights Watch (HRW). Recently, the HRW released a report documenting war crimes committed by the Egyptian military and the Islamic State (ISIS) in North Sinai. The report accuses both warring parties of committing crimes against humanity. Although this is […]

The responsibilities of a superpower are many, as are the potential hotspots where American war-fighters might need to fight in the future. Consequently, in the modern multi-domain battlefield, allies and partners are essential to achieve mission success. Be it in the mountains of Afghanistan, the deserts of the Sahel, or the fjords of Scandinavia, American […]

During the 2019 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) in Tampa, Florida, General Richard Clark, the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), offered an insight on the priorities and goals of America’s special operations forces (SOF). “Today, SOCOM is focused squarely on the implementation of the national defense strategy,” he said during an […]

A U.S. Marine with 1st Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force, patrols during exercise Platinum Ren at an undisclosed location in Norway on May 13, 2019. The evening patrol was conducted to acclimatize the team to the harsh Arctic climate and mountainous terrain, increase interoperability within the allies and partners of the North […]

Renata Dwan, the director of the United Nation’s Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR),  sounded the alarm that the world has never been closer to a nuclear war since the end of World War II. Dwan cited nuclear weapon modernization programs currently underway in many nuclear-capable countries and blossoming arms races between countries such as the […]

Former NSA and CIA director Michael Hayden recently made an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” where he commented that conspiracy theories surrounding Special Operations Command’s Jade Helm training exercise were stirred up by Russian influence agents. Jade Helm was an unconventional warfare training exercise run across the southwestern portion of America by the U.S. military. The […]