SOF Video of the Day: HALO jumping with US Air Force Special Tactics teams

Airmen of the U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Training Squadron prepare to conduct a high altitude, low opening or HALO, mission near Fort Walton Beach, Fla., March 16, 2010, during Exercise Emerald Warrior 2010. U.S. military servicemembers participated in the U.S. Special Operations Command-sponsored, 19-day joint training exercise at multiple sites along Florida’s Gulf Coast. […]

New Black Hawk Down war movie offers a fresh perspective on the battle

A new documentary/war movie about Operation Gothic Serpent, also known as the Black Hawk Down incident, offers a fresh perspective on the battle that cost 19 Americans their lives. Retired Air Force Colonel Randall Larsen worked with retired Brigadier General Bill David, who fought in the battle, to produce “Black Hawk Down: The Untold Story.” […]

The Maltz Challenge: How special operators honor a fallen brother

Military bonds forged in the adversity of training and the rigors of combat are hard to break. When a warrior falls, his memory lives forever with his brothers in arms. Since 9/11, a popular way to commemorate fallen warriors has been to organize physically and mentally demanding events that resonate with the fallen warrior’s background. […]

What happens if a special operations team needs help in Africa? Meet their Quick Reaction Force

Air Commandos from the 67th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) trained alongside their brethren from the 56th and 57th Air Rescue Squadrons (RQS) in Croatia, honing their personnel recovery skills. The 67th SOS flies the MC-130J Commando II, which offers special operations infiltration, exfiltration and resupply capabilities. “Personnel recovery is not one of our core missions […]

Meet Cole Geldernick: Super commando of the US Air Force

In early February, a Special Operations Forces (SOF) Air Commando received one of the most important awards in the defense industry. Capt. Cole D. Geldernick, a Combat Aviation Advisor Air Liaison Officer serving with the 6th Special Operations Squadron (6th SOS), earned the 2018 National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict Superior Achievement Award. […]

Report: More money is key to retaining Special Operations warriors

Special Operations Forces (SOF) are known for their physically and mentally tough selection and assessment processes. However, for those few who can make the cut and enter into the vaunted ranks of a special operations unit, the benefits are significant. Special operators get to train and play with the most advanced military toys available. They […]

The newest maritime facility where SEALs and other special operations units will be training

A new private maritime training facility promises to provide the most realistic training possible to maritime special operations units such as Navy SEALs, Marine Raiders, or Special Forces dive teams. BEI Maritime, a company that specializes in realistic maritime training, is building an indoor training facility that will be able to hold everything from a small […]

Exclusive report: Which US Special Operations unit has the highest attrition?

Special Operations units are famous for their arduous selection and assessment programs. All four service components of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) boast that they offer the toughest challenge to those aspiring to join their units’ elite ranks. In an attempt to increase the success rate of its selection programs, SOCOM has released a […]

Honoring the fallen: Air Force special operators to ruck 830 miles

In a feat of extreme endurance, 20 operators from throughout the Air Force Special Operation Command (AFSOC) Special Tactics community will ruck an astounding 830 miles to honor their 20 Special Tactics brothers who have made the ultimate sacrifice since the War on Terror began in September 2001. The airmen will march from the Medina […]

Honoring the fallen: Air Force special operators to ruck 830 miles

In a feat of extreme endurance, 20 operators from throughout the Air Force Special Operation Command (AFSOC) Special Tactics community will ruck an astounding 830 miles to honor their 20 Special Tactics brothers who have made the ultimate sacrifice since the War on Terror began in September 2001. The airmen will march from the Medina […]

Meet Special Reconnaissance, a new career field in Air Force Special Operations

In a major development, the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) changed the Special Operations Weather Technician (SOWT) career field to Special Reconnaissance (SR). The Air Force has debated the future of its battlefield airmen for some time. SOWTs were seen as unnecessary with the advent of weather forecasting technology. Earlier in 2018, the service […]