Propaganda leaflets that talk and listen: The future of psychological operations?

Always striving to increase its effectiveness, the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is aiming to produce leaflets that can talk and listen. Part of a drive for more effective psychological operations (PSYOP), the project is in the early stages of development. SOCOM has managed to create a prototype that is capable of the above. But […]

Navy SEAL becomes first SEAL Fleet Master Chief in naval history

A Navy SEAL is being selected to be the next Fleet Master Chief of Naval Forces Europe and Africa, becoming the first-ever SEAL in the United States Navy’s (USN) history to rise to that position. “I am excited to announce Force Master Chief Derrick Walters will be our new Fleet Master Chief,” said Admiral James […]

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: Mastermind behind USS Cole attack killed in airstrike

A U.S. airstrike has killed the al-Qaeda mastermind behind the attack on the USS Cole in 2000 that killed 17 American sailors and wounded 39. According to emerging reports, Jamel Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Badawi was killed on Tuesday by a bomb whilst driving his car in the Ma’rib Governorate of Yemen. The Governorate is situated […]

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 […]

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 U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that all American troops currently in Syria will be withdrawn.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 […]

The global influence and effect of American SOF

The United States doesn’t just possess some of the world’s top special operations units, but, more importantly, it leads the way when it comes to SOF doctrine and development. Earlier this month, the Netherlands established its own Special Operations Command (NLD SOCOM) in order to better face current and future threats. The NLD SOCOM is modeled […]

Op-Ed: Breaking down the Trump-McRaven catfight

I’ve been watching the recent comments flying back and forth between President Trump and Admiral McRaven — as well as heckling from the media cheap seats — over remarks that McRaven made about Trump being the biggest threat to democracy in his lifetime. The President then fired back about McRaven not finding Bin Laden sooner, […]

Exclusive: Interview with an American Mercenary who ran combat ops in Yemen

Little Bird helicopters swept down and dropped the Delta Force operators on the roof of the prison. The helicopters were so heavy with men, weapons, and equipment that some only had one pilot on board due to weight restrictions. The breacher ran forward and set the explosive charge on the door leading down into the […]

TigerSwan: Former Delta Operator sought to incite violence at the Dakota Access Pipeline

It was early afternoon on October 11th, 2016 when TigerSwan’s program manager, retired Delta Force Sergeant Major John Porter, met with Silverton’s owner, Carl Clifton, inside a hangar at the Mandan Municipal Airport. The hangar was initially used by Silverton security as a clandestine office for their intelligence cell that collected information on the protesters, […]

UK Maritime counter-terrorism is changing

The Royal Marine Commandos are changing. The Royal Navy is getting two new aircraft carriers, and thus an expanded need for an organic force capable of Maritime interdiction operations (MIO), Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS), and personnel recovery (PR). To assume this task, 42 Commando has reorganized as a Maritime Operations Commando (MOC).  With […]