The Dick Marcinko Interviews Part 4

Part of of SOFREP’s interview with Dick Marcinko on the formation of SEAL Team-Six. This episode is about Operation Eagle Claw, the failed desert mission to rescue fifty-two American hostages in Iran.

The Iranian commando who became an American Green Beret

The first time Changiz Lahidji joined a Special Forces unit, his loyalty was to Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. But he found himself guarding lavish parties in the middle of the desert, protecting the opulent ruler of Imperial Iran and his guests. It wasn’t exactly the life of adventure that John Wayne movies led […]

Fraying at the edges: Elite SOF aviation unit faces critical pilot shortage

According to a manning report, the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160th SOAR), also known as Night Stalkers, is facing significant manning shortages. The report, first obtained by the Army Times, concerns the final quarter of Fiscal Year 2019. It reveals the following numbers of pilot shortages: With regard to the MH-60 Black Hawk […]

The DEVGRU files: Founder Dick Marcinko on why SEAL Team Six was created

Years ago we had a chance to sit down for an interview with Richard “Demo Dick” Marcinko when he was in town for an event in New York City. For the first time in more than three years, this content is now free for your viewing pleasure. During this exclusive interview, Dick Marcinko, the founder […]

Historical retrospective: The Fulton Extraction System

Many remember the Fulton extraction system from the James Bond movie, “Thunderball,” starring Sean Connery, but the system was actually developed by the CIA for extracting personnel in austere parts of the world. Named after its creator, Robert Fulton, the system was tested by the CIA’s Special Activities Division in the 1950s. A few years back, […]

“Death to America:” We finally know what Iran means by it

Since the Iranian Revolution began in 1978, the United States is known among protestors as the “Great Satan.” “Death to America” is the favorite chant of pretty much anyone who wishes to display his or her anti-American credentials, whether it’s an al-Qaeda terrorist or an Iranian politician. Now, the Iranian supreme leader finally offers some […]

Picture of the Day: Remembering Operation Eagle Claw

An Air Force MC-130H Combat Talon II and two CV-22 Ospreys perform a flyover at Hurlburt Field, Fla., April 24, 2018, during a ceremony marking the 38th anniversary of Operation Eagle Claw, an attempted hostage-rescue mission that resulted in five Airmen and three Marines sacrificing their lives. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ryan Conroy