Iraq

For nearly twenty years now, the United States has been embroiled in combat operations spanning multiple nations and against multiple opponents. These terror groups often hide in plain sight, infiltrating the local population and making it extremely difficult to identify and engage targets. As a result, counter-terror operations tend to have little in common with […]

For every year of my adult life, September has opened on a somber note. As a journalist that works in the National Security and Defense sphere, I’ve come to embrace the sadness this month brings with it, often channeling the lump in my throat for the sake of content — writing pieces each year that […]

A U.S. Army Special Operations Soldier with 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) rides horseback while leading a mule through Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest during the SOF Horsemanship Course at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif., June 19, 2019. The purpose of the SOF horsemanship course is to teach SOF personnel the necessary […]

There is no more messing around for the Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) when it comes to discipline and professionalism issues in the SEAL Teams. In a sudden move, NSWC decided to relieve the officer and enlisted leadership of SEAL Team 7 (ST-7). According to a NSWC press statement, Commander Edward Mason (ST-7, commanding officer), […]

A soldier assigned to U.S. Army Special Operations Command demonstrates firing positions on the M320 40mm grenade launcher to a member of the Saudi Arabian Naval Special Forces during joint forces weapons training in a tactical training area in Amman, Jordan, Aug. 28, 2019, as part of Exercise Eager Lion 2019. Eager Lion, U.S. Central […]

The Navy has decided to drop detainee-abuse charges against a group of four Navy SEALs. The would-be case concerned reports of participating in and supervising the beating a group of suspected Taliban in 2012. At the time, the SEAL platoon concerned was working with an Afghan police unit when one of their checkpoints was attacked […]

To prove the value of mental management and rehearsal, I would often relate a true story related to the topic. A Navy fighter pilot was shot down in Vietnam, captured and imprisoned for years in the famous prisoner of war camp the “Hanoi Hilton”. The pilot was an avid golfer back home, and to get […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

Last Sunday, the Pentagon announced the death of Marine Gunnery Sergeant Scott A. Koppenhafer, 35, of Mancos, Colorado. According to the initial release, Koppenhafer died of critical wounds he received under small arms fire while supporting and advising a contingent of Iraqi Security Forces during a planned operation in Ninewah province, Iraq. Now, however, the […]

As the Naval Special Warfare community stumbles from controversy to controversy, the top special operations officer graciously stepped forward and offered a helping hand to the embattled community. Army General Richard Clarke, the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), was the guest speaker to the graduation ceremony of the SEAL Qualification Training Class […]