The Afghanistan Papers: Lessons learned or lost?

The Washington Post spent a lot of time and made many of Freedom of Information Act requests to dig up what they hoped would shed some light on what we’re doing in Afghanistan, why we’re still there and whether it is worth the lives of 2,400 — and counting — American military members and the […]

Pakistan Ex-President Musharraf sentenced to death in absentia

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has been sentenced to death in absentia for high treason after a prolonged and contentious legal case. Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999 and ruled Pakistan until 2008.  Musharraf was convicted on Tuesday by a special three-person court in Islamabad of violating the constitution by unlawfully declaring […]

Special Forces and allied SOF honor their heritage

Established during the Second World War, the 1st Special Service Force (SSF) was a joint American-Canadian commando unit. It participated in all major combat operations in Italy and Southern France before being deactivated in 1944. Because of its formidable character and night-combat expertise the Germans nicknamed it “Black Devils.” The U.S. Army’s modern-day Special Forces […]

Air Force releases criteria for new controversial Combat Medal

The Air Force has announced the eligibility criteria for the Remote Combat Effects Campaign Medal (RCECM). The RCECM aims to recognize the actions of non-deployable Air Force personnel in ground combat. It is, in fact, tailored to the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) community, which has been providing key intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and air support […]

The Pic of the Day: Hooah, Sergeant Ives!

Sergeant Ian Ives, a recently wounded Army public affairs sergeant assigned to 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) was promoted to Staff Sergeant at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Nov. 21, 2019. Staff Sgt. Ives received the promotion while recovering from injuries sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated during a combat patrol in Farah […]

The legacy continues: The moving story behind a maroon beret

The year 2008 was tough for the Doherty family. It was in 2008 when their oldest son, Private Jeff Doherty, a paratrooper with 2 PARA, was killed by enemy fire during a Taliban ambush in Afghanistan. His brother, Fin Doherty, was only six years old at the time. And yet he made a vow: as […]

Learn how to prepare for cold weather prior to Spec Ops selection

Because most of our military bases are in the southern United States, one area that can be neglected, especially when preparing for Special Operations training is cold weather training.  It is surprising how many young people who enter the military don’t know or understand the basics of cold weather preparation. First some of the basics; […]

German Tier 1 SOF unit infiltrated by neo-Nazis

German military counterintelligence has discovered several potential neo-Nazis in the country’s Tier 1 Special Operations unit. According to German media reports, the Kommando Spezialkrafte (KSK), an equivalent to Delta Force and the British Special Air Service (SAS), has been infiltrated by neo-Nazis. At least one operator has been kicked out of the unit and two […]

SEAL Team 6 was minutes away: Taliban prisoner recounts failed rescue attempts

An Australian who was recently released by the Taliban believes that SEAL Team 6 came agonizingly close to rescuing him six times. Timothy Week, an Australian teacher, was abducted, alongside his American colleague Kevin King, from Kabul in 2016. He was released after the U.S. and Australian governments struck a hostage exchange deal with the […]

Brothers Forever: How Bar X Project is healing wounded veterans

A few months ago, I learned about The Bar X Project through its support of the group of men referred to as the MARSOC 7. In June of 2019, seven men from MARSOC Fox Company and one of the panel members from their 2008 court of inquiry (COI) were reunited — some for the first […]

Why we fight: A warrior’s perspective on service

I remember being in my Aqua Blue 1994 Single Cab 4 Banger Toyota Tacoma and driving to my high school in Temecula. It was my senior year and I already knew that I was going to serve. Coming from a family of immigrants it was ingrained in me to give back to the country that […]