Welcome to the Big Boy’s Club: Australian SOF get billions with an eye toward regional supremacy

Welcome to the Big Boy’s Club: Australian SOF get billions with an eye toward regional supremacy

In an attempt to solidify its position as the premier Spec Ops force in the Indo-Pacific, the Australian Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) will be receiving a $3 billion boost to enhance its technological, infrastructural, and manpower capabilities. More specifically, the Australian government greenlighted the funds, which will be distributed over a period of 20 years. This, […]

How to become a Navy SEAL sniper: A special breed

How to become a Navy SEAL sniper: A special breed

The cold morning air hung thick in the Afghan valley. Each warm exhale would briefly fog the outside corner of my riflescope as I waited and maintained a clear view of my target. I could make out a middle-aged man, in traditional Afghan dress, with a crook in his step, perhaps a wound and story […]

SEAL Team 6: Naval Special Warfare’s elite

SEAL Team 6: Naval Special Warfare’s elite

The public description of Naval Special Warfare’s Development Group for years has reflected its name. An organization whose primary purpose was to develop tactics and strategies supporting operations from the sea, air or land. This was the accepted description of DEVGRU. Naval Special Warfare Development Group was tasked with the management and testing of both […]

When terrorists attack, Aussie Commandos are ready

When terrorists attack, Aussie Commandos are ready

Within mere hours of a group of terrorists hijacking a passenger ferry in Sydney’s Middle Harbour, Australian commandos were already above and beside their target. Six rigid-hulled inflatable boats packed with operators whizzed toward the ship. In the sky, a flock of Blackhawk helicopters circled to fast-rope additional assault teams and provide critical aerial sniper […]

Forget China and Russia, terrorists are still a major threat

Forget China and Russia, terrorists are still a major threat

It is an undeniable fact that the U.S. military has been gradually shifting its focus from counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations to near-peer threats, such as China and Russia. Navy SEALs have been practicing with increased frequency in the Pacific in anticipation of a potential conflict with the former. Special Forces teams are rotating more frequently […]

Special Operations Command wants to improve SOF forensics

Special Operations Command wants to improve SOF forensics

During the 2019 Special Operations Forces Industry Conference that took place earlier in the summer, the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) offered a rare glimpse into its Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE) initiatives. In specific, SOCOM is developing a cell phone application that aims to simplify the SSE process. Glen Cullen, SOCOM’s SSE program manager, said […]

Another 10th Special Forces Group soldier killed in action in Afghanistan

Another 10th Special Forces Group soldier killed in action in Afghanistan

A U.S. Special Forces soldier was killed “in action” in Afghanistan on Saturday, the Pentagon announced in a brief statement. That soldier is identified as Sgt. Maj. James G. “Ryan” Sartor, a 40-year-old from Teague, Texas, assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He was killed during combat operations in Faryab Province, Afghanistan. The sergeant […]

US Army officer convicted of murdering Afghan civilians to receive an appeal

US Army officer convicted of murdering Afghan civilians to receive an appeal

Having previously gotten nowhere with their appeals to the military, the attorneys for former Army 1st Lt. Clint Lorance will soon have their appeal heard by a civilian federal court in Kansas. Lorance was convicted by a military court-martial of murdering two unarmed Afghan civilians on July 2, 2012. Lorance’s platoon, part of the 82nd […]

The aftermath of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher’s trial

The aftermath of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher’s trial

Following a 10-month legal saga, Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher was found not guilty for the murder of an Islamic State fighter during a 2017 deployment to Iraq. The jury, however, did find Chief Gallagher guilty of inappropriately posing with a dead fighter for a photograph. For this, the SEAL received a four-month […]