MARSOC

Hard-charging, old school Navy SEAL considered for top SOF position

Despite a series of misconduct and unprofessionalism incidents, the Trump administration continues to put faith in the Navy SEAL community for the top defence and intelligence positions. According to a report by Politico, President Donald Trump is considering former Navy SEAL Lou Bremer for the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and […]

The Pic of the Day: Marine Raiders and their K-9s

Military working dog handlers with the U.S. Army Rangers and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command multipurpose canine handlers fast-rope from a U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopter during a multipurpose canine subject matter expert exchange hosted by 1st Marine Raider Battalion, MARSOC, on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, July 24, 2019. The purpose […]

What Makes a Successful Special Operation Forces Candidate?

“…We are what we repeatedly do, Excellence then is not an act but a habit” Aristotle One of the biggest questions we get here at SpecialOperations.com and over at SOFREP for the aspiring SOF candidates is, “What do I have to do to get Selected?” It is a legitimate question if a bit simplistic. There […]

SEALs gone awry? SOF Chaplains might be the answer

As the U.S. Special Operations community is battered by scandal after scandal of misconduct and unprofessionalism, its leadership has been brainstorming solutions to this quandary. The Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC), from which rank’s most of the scandals have come, has already initiated a back-the-basics directive to be adhered by its subordinate Navy SEAL Teams. […]

Basic Training Will Be A Breeze by Following Some Simple Steps

A friend is leaving in a matter of days for basic training, followed by Airborne School and then on to one of our Special Operations Units where, hopefully, after he navigates the Selection and Assessment courses, will get qualified and serve as a member of one of our very best units in the force. But […]

Tactical Combat Casualty Care: A Navy Corpsman’s perspective

Background of TCCC Originating within the Navy SPECWAR community in the mid-90s, the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) is a set of guidelines based on phased care on the battlefield based on activity and threat level. Designed from the onset specifically for SOCOM units, to reduce the mortality and morbidity sustained on the battlefield, it […]

Innocent until proven guilty: Will the Marines clean up their JAG Corps?

Following the decision of Admiral Bob Burke, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, to investigate the Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps’  leadership and performance, the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Richard V. Spencer expanded the investigation to the Marine Corps’ JAG as well. According to a Navy Times article, military attorney Lt. Col. Robert […]

Addicted to SEALs: Overdependence on SOF units is dangerous

It is an undeniable fact that since the twin towers went down on 9/11 the role of Special Operations Forces (SOF) has changed. The gradual change saw SOF shift from their traditional role of supporting conventional forces to that of being supported by conventional units. With increased frequency, conventional elements fulfil secondary tasks during operations […]

Did friendly fire really kill a Marine Raider in Iraq?

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 […]

Purging the waste: SOCOM commander orders new review of culture and ethics in SOF community

After a rash of high profile incidents involving the U.S. Special Operations community, Gen. Richard Clarke, the head of U.S. Special Operations Command, has ordered a comprehensive review of the culture and ethics in play throughout America’s elite war fighting institutions. Recent incidents have called our culture and ethics into question and threaten the trust placed […]

Marine Raider killed in combat in Iraq

On Saturday, August 10, a Marine Raider was killed in action during combat operations in Iraq. Gunnery Sergeant Scott A. Koppenhafer, a Critical Skills Operator (CSO) assigned to the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion (2nd MRB) was fatally wounded while providing combat support to Iraqi Security Forces. In a press release, the Marine Special Operations Command […]