UK Special Forces perfect their maritime counter-terrorism skills with elite aviation units

With the terrorism danger perpetually high in both the United States and Europe, Special Operations Forces (SOF) are always honing their counter-terrorism (CT) capabilities, whether in a ground or maritime environment. To respond to a terrorist incident, however, SOF units need to get there first. And that’s where elite aviation units come in. American SOF […]

UK Special Forces perfect their maritime counter-terrorism skills with elite aviation units

With the terrorism danger perpetually high in both the United States and Europe, Special Operations Forces (SOF) are always honing their counter-terrorism (CT) capabilities, whether in a ground or maritime environment. To respond to a terrorist incident, however, SOF units need to get there first. And that’s where elite aviation units come in. American SOF units […]

From special operations to the boardroom: General McChrystal’s leadership advice

Retired General Stanley McChrystal, a former head of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and commander of all forces in Afghanistan, recently co-wrote a book on leadership, exploring what makes an effective leader. The book, “Leaders: Myth and Reality,” explores a wide range of leaders across centuries of human history. The authors’ selection of leaders […]

Breaking: 14 killed in deadly terrorist attack in Kenya, SAS responds

On the afternoon of Tuesday, January 15, al-Shabaab terrorists attacked a luxury hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens. According to emerging reports, one American and one British national are among the dead. The attack began early in the afternoon. An unspecified number of terrorists stormed the hotel’s entrance, lobbing […]

American commandos could have ‘Iron Man’ suits by summer

For decades, American commandos have been outfitted with the best high-tech gear in the world. Whether it’s the first-generation night vision goggles (NVGs) in Vietnam or stealth Blackhawk helicopters like the ones SEAL Team 6 and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) used to fly deep inside Pakistan to kill Osama bin Laden, American […]

Breaking: SAS operators wounded in Syria, at least one in critical condition

Two Special Air Service (SAS) troopers were seriously injured during an Islamic State (ISIS) missile attack in an undisclosed location in eastern Syria. At least one Kurdish fighter was killed in the attack. The special operators were attached to Kurdish forces, providing their partners with essential joint terminal attack control (JTAC) capabilities—that is, coordinating airstrikes. […]

The HK416 A7: German special operations units select new rifle

The new year will bring a new rifle to Germany’s elite soldiers. In the upcoming months, the HK416 A7, which the Germans have designated the G95K, will be issued to the soldiers of the Kommando Spezialkrafte (KSK) and sailors of the Kommando Spezialkrafte Marine (KSM). The standing order is for less than 2,000 new rifles, […]

The way forward for America’s Special Operations Forces

In a recent interview with West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center, Mark E. Mitchell, the current Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict, offered some great insight on the past and future of America’s SOF. Mitchell had commanded the 5th Special Forces Group and a Joint Special Operations Task Force in Iraq. He has […]

Will this be the Army’s new submachine gun?

The competition for the Army’s new submachine gun is entering the final stage. The process began back in May when the Army issued through its Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO) a Request for Information (RFI) during the annual National Defense Industrial Association’s Armament Systems forum. Initially, 13 companies responded, and 10 guns were presented. The […]

Trump: Mission accomplished — all US troops to immediately withdraw from Syria

“We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump Presidency,” he said in a tweet. U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that all American troops currently in Syria will be withdrawn. There are currently around 2,000 U.S. troops inside Syria fighting ISIS alongside the Kurds and Syrian rebels. “We’ve […]