From Navy SEAL to warbird pilot, flying across America in the Epsilon

My friend Glen (Navy SEAL/CIA, KIA in Benghazi, Libya in 2012) and I departed from Peoria, Illinois and started to pick up ice climbing through 4,000 feet just after losing communications with departure control. Fun meter pegged. I had purchased my first airplane in 2003, a little 1980 Cessna 172 and had this great idea […]

Letter from the editor: Writing and editorial decisions about controversial stories

We certainly live in some tumultuous times, with what appears to be a full-blown culture war erupting between various factions in a highly polarized society. With social media added into the equation, Americans are thrown together into one big pool—one that is often filled with sharks—while the design of said social media apps has the […]

Exclusive: Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher was also alleged to have committed murder in Afghanistan

Green Berets assigned to a 3rd Special Forces Group Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) crept forward and took control of the compound ahead of them. The American Special Forces soldiers moved in with Afghan soldiers assigned to the 6th Kandak Commandos, Afghanistan’s frontline counter-terrorism unit. The commandos were not tethered to any one region in Afghanistan […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 15, Day 2

Monday morning means our weekly mini-UBRR test to judge where our fitness level is at. Start off with pushups, sit-ups, and crunches, then to the bar for V-ups, Pull-ups, and dips before a 5-mile run. Remember to stay hydrated and mark your progress in your workout log book. UBRR Training: More preparation for the UBRR […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 15, Day 1

Sunday morning rucksack march. Do a quick warmup of pushups and sit-ups before heading out. Head out over varied terrain and try to go as fast as you can without running. Stretch well both before and after the event. Remember to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated out there. With a bunch of the […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 14, Day 7

Let’s kickoff this Saturday morning right and head back to the gym for a shoulder and back workout. Pulldowns, pullups and some shoulder work followed by a four-mile run. Log your numbers down in the workout notebook Training: More Preparation for the UBRR: 3 x 10 Lat Pull downs, rear 3 x 10 Barbell Dead […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 14, Day 6

Friday is Leg Day at the gym. Start off with our favorite, Squats – (Front, Dumbbell Goblet, and Barbell), then Lunges and the Weighted Sled Push. Follow it all up with a five-mile run. Mark your progress down in your workout log book and stretch well after the session. Remember….keep hydrating, even in the rain. […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 14, Day 5

Back to the gym this morning for a Chest and Triceps workout before heading out for a 4-mile run. Remember to stretch well before and after and to stay hydrated. Mark your progress down in your workout log book. UBRR Training: More Preparation for the UBRR: 3 x 12 Bench Press 3 x 10 Dumbbell […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 14, Day 4

Wednesday is a light Shoulders and Back training day in the gym before heading off to do the SOF (Special Operations Forces) Triathlon. A 3-mile run, a rucksack march, and a swim with fatigues and boots. These are three things that you’ll have to be able to do well to pass Selection. If your plans […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 14, Day 3

It is Tuesday, which means it is Leg Day at the gym followed by a 4-mile run. Start off with pull-ups, then squats, lunges and the Sled push/Fireman’s carry followed by a four-mile run. Remember to stretch well and hydrate well during and after your workout. UBRR Training: Continue to prep for the UBRR 3 […]

DOD Scammed of $20 Million For Bogus Chinese Knockoffs

A New Jersey man has been charged with defrauding the United States government and selling counterfeit military gear for over $20 million dollars. The conspiracy to sell cheap Chinese knockoffs began in 2013 and ran until 2018 when government investigators shut down his operation. Ramin Kohanbash, 49, ran wholesale companies in New York, New Jersey, […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 14, Day 2

A quick workout to start the Monday morning and week off right. Start off with the basics of pushups, sit-ups, and crunches, then to the bar for V-ups, pull-ups, and dips before a 5-mile run in a mini UBRR test. Remember to stay hydrated and mark your progress in your workout log book. So how […]