Navy SEALs

Every so often, this author hands this particular SOFREP column space over to a guest contributor. The below was filed by Mr. John Martin, the Republican county clerk of Crawford County, Missouri. John is a historian, as well as an elected official, and has specialized in Naval Special Warfare (NSW) history for over 15 years. […]

This author has gotten his hands on a truly mind-numbing and depressing piece of propaganda recently promulgated by the U.S. Navy’s Office of Information.  The head of said office, the Navy’s Chief of Information (CHINFO) — the position sounds eerily similar to a “propaganda minister” in some socialist nightmare state — is clearly marshalling his […]

The year was 1985(ish), in Panama City, Florida.  In those days, Panama City was a backwater in the Florida panhandle.  It was suburban in some parts, but pretty much rural in most, once you were off the beach.  It was all pine forests, mosquitoes, and hot, sticky air. It was a time when “latchkey kids” […]

Out on America’s West Coast, just to the left of California about 60 miles, lies a 21-nautical-mile-long geographical wasteland known as San Clemente Island.  It makes up the southern tip of California’s Channel Islands, making it the metaphorical hell to the comparable heaven of Santa Catalina Island, which is located a bit to the northeast. […]

All the media attention being focused on Colin Kaepernick and his symbolic protest by not standing for the National Anthem reminded me of one of my own favorite National Anthem incidents. I was a Platoon Leading Petty Officer (LPO), along with about 25 SEALs that were nearing the end of a training trip to San […]

Special Operations Forces (SOF), such as the Navy SEALs and Delta Force, may soon get a new type of technology that gives them additional eyes on the ground, make airstrikes more accurate, and help them better discern enemy fighters from civilians.

Using this new technology, troops will be able to livestream video back to command, see through each-other’s eyes, track targets, and call in air strikes—using just their smartphones.

The new technology could roll out soon. The company that develops it, CrowdOptic, received a rapid prototyping request from SOFWERX, which is a partnership between Doolittle Institute and U.S. Special Operations Command. Under the request, which CrowdOptic received on Sept. 8, they are expected to have a working prototype available by Sept. 30.

According to CrowdOptic CEO Jon Fisher, the technology works on just about any device with a sensor, from smart glasses to drones, but they’ll be starting with smartphones since troops with SOF use personal phones as their main communication devices while on the field.

“It’s the phones first because that’s what’s everywhere for the military,” Fisher said.

The technology works by linking data between multiple devices and finding common information between them. It can also detect the direction a device is facing, and Fisher noted “with that type of content you can do some incredible things.” This opens many doors for new technology that Fisher said could benefit anyone from warfighters to firefighters, and in industries from police work to entertainment.

The technology has been framed before as a tool that lets you “see through walls.” This is partially true, since by using smart glasses and syncing them with cameras fixated in various locations, a wearer can look in the directions of different cameras to see what they see. The CrowdOptic technology is being used this way by San Francisco Zoo’s wolf exhibit.

Since the technology can sync multiple devices and find common information, it can also be used to interconnect what various people are looking at through smart glasses. The Denver Broncos are using CrowdOptic technology, for example, to detect where fans are looking on the field, and to use this data to find the best camera angles of the action.

Former Navy SEAL Admiral William McRaven, who commanded the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) when al-Qa’ida leader Usama Bin Ladin was killed by American commandos in 2011, has indirectly weighed in on the Colin Kaepernick National Anthem controversy by way of an August 29, 2016, memorandum to the presidents and athletic directors of the University of […]

A team of scientists is investigating mysterious signal spikes coming from a six billion-year-old star. What’s the best strategy for global response?

This is a large development. Just last year reports emerged that SOF, as a whole, was going to or had rejected women in SOF. However, political marching orders did not sway, and women were to be enveloped into operational roles.

A former SEAL, therefore, comes into the water rescue business with a baseline comfort level in the water that is extremely helpful and conducive to conducting water rescue operations. He then must learn all of the other skills that go along with comfort in the water. There are rope systems for use in water rescue operations, swift and flood water boat operations, performing swimming rescues with tether lines attached, operating around all manner of submerged obstacles and obstructions, and many more elements of training to undergo before a former SEAL is ready to be a competent water rescue team member.

Ventura is taking the Kyle estate back to court, presumably to have his monetary award reinstated. Is it all about money? Surely not.

I understand the “quiet professional” aspect of it. No one joined a relatively obscure special ops career field for recognition or glory.