The Pic of the Day: Close quarters combat at its best

The Pic of the Day: Close quarters combat at its best

U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group Airborne (SFG) conduct close-quarter battle training on the range near Panzer Kaserne, Boeblingen, Germany, May 31, 2019. The 10th SFG was the first Special Forces group to be activated in 1952. Its area of operations (AO) includes Europe and North Africa. However, the relentless tempo […]

Diplomacy with a big stick: New spec ops chief for Africa faces a hard task

Diplomacy with a big stick: New spec ops chief for Africa faces a hard task

Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) welcomed its new chief, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Dagvin R.M. Anderson, on June 28th. The departing commander, Air Force Maj. Gen. J. Marcus Hicks, said in a statement: “To the men and women of Special Operations Command Africa, you have accomplished so much with so little, so quickly and […]

Spec ops technology: Could a digital flashbang make the difference in close-quarters combat?

Spec ops technology: Could a digital flashbang make the difference in close-quarters combat?

A new, reloadable flashbang with a digital fuse promises to give law enforcement officers and war-fighters a crucial tactical advantage when it comes to close-quarters combat (CQC). Liberty Dynamic has been working on the Enhanced Diversionary Device (EDD) for more than four years. According to the manufacturer, their flashbangs are superior to current products for […]

How Recon Marines prepare for a conflict with Russia

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 […]

MH-6 Little Bird gets an extended fuel range with some new toys

MH-6 Little Bird gets an extended fuel range with some new toys

Some sharp eyes over at The Drive recently spotted a modification to the MH-6 Little Bird helicopter in a USASOC-released video. The footage shows the Little Bird configured with external pods designed for ferrying special operations soldiers to their targets, but underneath one can see a rectangular attachment that appears to be an additional fuel […]

Goodbye, Little Bird: Special Operations Command to replace legendary helicopter

Goodbye, Little Bird: Special Operations Command to replace legendary helicopter

According to the U.S. Special Operation Command’s (USSOCOM) acquisition executive, James Smith, the unit’s Little Bird helicopters might be experiencing their final years as America’s light special operations helicopters. Smith made the statement during the NDIA Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict Symposium, which took place last February. He indicated that the most likely replacement for the venerable […]

US Special Operations Command reveals new helmet for operators

US Special Operations Command reveals new helmet for operators

American commandos will soon be going into combat protected by a new, high-tech helmet. According to a statement by the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), Gentex Corporation has been awarded a contract worth $95 million to supply SOCOM with its Ops-Core FAST SF Super High Cut Helmet. Gentex manufactures a number of different models of […]

New Black Hawk Down war movie offers a fresh perspective on the battle

New Black Hawk Down war movie offers a fresh perspective on the battle

A new documentary/war movie about Operation Gothic Serpent, also known as the Black Hawk Down incident, offers a fresh perspective on the battle that cost 19 Americans their lives. Retired Air Force Colonel Randall Larsen worked with retired Brigadier General Bill David, who fought in the battle, to produce “Black Hawk Down: The Untold Story.” […]

24 hours of pain for a noble cause: Air Commandos honor their fallen

24 hours of pain for a noble cause: Air Commandos honor their fallen

Approximately 100 airmen participated in the 8th annual Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Association’s run, which took place on March 28th in Biggs Park, Texas. But this wasn’t your regular run. Lasting 24 hours, the event was open to all physically fit military and civilian personnel associated with the Fort Bliss base. Rotating in shifts, […]

New Black Hawk Down war movie offers a fresh perspective on the battle

New Black Hawk Down war movie offers a fresh perspective on the battle

A new documentary/war movie about Operation Gothic Serpent, also known as the Black Hawk Down incident, offers a fresh perspective on the battle that cost 19 Americans their lives. Retired Air Force Colonel Randall Larsen worked with retired Brigadier General Bill David, who fought in the battle, to produce “Black Hawk Down: The Untold Story.” […]