Canada

Last year, during the annual exercise Flintlock, we wrote an article about the dangers of airborne operations. As this year’s iteration of Flintlock is upon us, it’s prudent to review what went wrong when some Special Operations troops from an African country decided to conduct some airborne training. Bad exits or landings during parachute operations […]

A Canadian soldier assigned to the Joint Task Force-2 (JTF2) will be kicked out of the Canadian military for stealing equipment worth thousands of dollars. Last August, a military court had found Corporal Pedro Collier guilty of possessing stolen property. He received a suspended sentence and one-year probation. According to the Canadian publication Ottawa Citizen, […]

The first parts of this series outlined the realities of what it means to be Special Forces. If you haven’t read those two, I suggest that you start there first. Now that you have a better understanding of what Special Operations is all about, I want you to understand what keeps things operating smoothly once […]

Three Americans were killed after their C-130 plane crashed during a firefighting mission in Australia. The crash took place on Thursday afternoon (Australia time). Pending next-of-kin notification, the names of the three firefighters have not been released. According to the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority, the mission of the C-130 was to drop fire retardant […]

Washington- U.S. Army Special Forces Soldiers with 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct a team litter carry during Menton Week at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Dec. 10. The litter carry is one of several events during the two-day competition between 1st SFG (A) and partnered nation teams who attend the commemorative week. Menton Week is […]

Over 1 million people have been killed in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria in the last two decades of war. So I find it slightly irritating seeing the top fashion designers co-opting war camouflage at great profit with no moral consequence. So, hopefully this piece will educate the few who’ll read it. First, a quick story […]

The Canadian Army has decided to reactivate the Assault Pioneers in an attempt to increase the lethality of its infantry units. Known for their specialized training, different grooming standards (they are allowed to wear well-groomed beards), and their axes, Assault Pioneers are a mix of an infantryman and a combat engineer. Aside from the normal […]

A Canadian Catholic priest is recovering after he was stabbed during mass on Friday morning. The incident was broadcast to thousands of viewers via live television, as the mass was being carried on a Catholic television station, according to a report from Agence France-Presse (AFP). The victim, 77-year-old Claude Grou, was getting ready to begin […]

As the unconventional conflicts in Syria and Afghanistan draw to a close and the U.S. military again turns its gaze toward nation-level threats, the 75th Ranger Regiment prepares for a conflict in the Arctic. The Regiment sent almost 30 Rangers from across its three line battalions to attend the Cold Weather Operations Course (CWOC), at […]

Bad exits or landings during parachute operations aren’t uncommon. Throwing people, often laden with dozens of pounds of equipment, out of an aircraft inevitably invites trouble. Parachuting is inherently dangerous, whether the jump is static line (the parachute opens automatically as the paratrooper exits the aircraft) or free fall. Naturally, parachute training is complex and […]

Following the example of the American Special Operations Forces (SOF), the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) is considering a recruiting plan that will allow civilians off the street to try out for SOF selection. With the increased importance of SOF becoming evident with each passing conflict, the Canadian military is trying to swell its […]

With a mission to support U.S. allies in the Pacific, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) cutter Mellon has set off to protect fisheries near Fiji. Onboard the Mellon, officers from Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) assisted USCG personnel in enforcing the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of “Fiji and the island nations of […]