Letter from the editor: Writing and editorial decisions about controversial stories

We certainly live in some tumultuous times, with what appears to be a full-blown culture war erupting between various factions in a highly polarized society. With social media added into the equation, Americans are thrown together into one big pool—one that is often filled with sharks—while the design of said social media apps has the […]

The Marine Corps just launched two non-spec ops train and advise units

In an attempt to stay relevant in the Foreign Internal Defense (FID) arena, the Marine Corps activated two new units to represent it. On June 7, Marine Corps Advisor Companies (MCAC) Alpha and Bravo were established in a ceremony that took place at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Washington D.C. The two new outfits, which belong to […]

Exclusive: Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher was also alleged to have committed murder in Afghanistan

Green Berets assigned to a 3rd Special Forces Group Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) crept forward and took control of the compound ahead of them. The American Special Forces soldiers moved in with Afghan soldiers assigned to the 6th Kandak Commandos, Afghanistan’s frontline counter-terrorism unit. The commandos were not tethered to any one region in Afghanistan […]

Recon Challenge 2019: Sweat, blood, and pain for a noble cause

On May 16, active-duty and veteran U.S. Marines from units stationed around the globe gathered in Camp Pendleton, California, to participate in the annual Recon Challenge. The Recon Challenge is an endurance event that takes participants through numerous tests inspired by the Reconnaissance Marine training and operational history. There is, for example, a grueling 30-mile […]

How an Android app is helping commandos call Close Air Support faster

An integral component of modern U.S. battlefield superiority is air power. More specifically, the ability to call in effective and timely close air support (CAS) provides ground troops with a crucial advantage over their opponents, whether these are Taliban fighters in the mountains of Afghanistan, ISIS terrorists in the deserts of Iraq, or Russian mercenaries […]

‘Murphy’s Law’: Friendly fire isn’t

About halfway through the deployment, we got word that we were to prepare for a new recce mission, one that had special significance for the Ranger regiment. We were to recon the compound harboring the suspected Taliban leader who’d planned the Pat Tillman ambush, so that it could be assaulted by a Ranger strike force. […]

Book Review – “Murphy’s Law” And the Truth Will Set You Free

I always balk at when someone I know writes something and I’m asked to give an opinion on it. As my circle of friends has grown smaller, I have erred on the side of caution, not wanting to hurt any of my friends’ feelings. Jack Murphy has never had that problem. Jack has been on […]

DOD Scammed of $20 Million For Bogus Chinese Knockoffs

A New Jersey man has been charged with defrauding the United States government and selling counterfeit military gear for over $20 million dollars. The conspiracy to sell cheap Chinese knockoffs began in 2013 and ran until 2018 when government investigators shut down his operation. Ramin Kohanbash, 49, ran wholesale companies in New York, New Jersey, […]

How Recon Marines prepare for a conflict with Russia

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 […]

Adjust target: SOCOM prepares for war with China and Russia

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 […]

‘American Taliban’ John Walker Lindh released from prison

After 17 years in prison, John Walker Lindh, the American who joined the Taliban prior to the 9/11 attacks, was released. He was captured by 5th Special Forces Group soldiers and Northern Alliance fighters during the opening days of the war in Afghanistan.  Often referred to as the “American Taliban,” Lindh converted to Islam as […]