Ranger

Broken Faith: A wounded veteran’s search for self-forgiveness

SOFREP is proud to present its guest author, Zachary Mayne, veteran of 3rd Ranger Battalion.  Welcome, Zachary! Five weeks after being wounded by a burst of high-explosive rounds in combat, I was hooking up my static line for a daylight, Hollywood jump over Fryar DZ. My wounds had healed quickly, it seemed. The sight had […]

The American Road and the Gold Star Family

In World War I, families who had one of their own serving in the military often hung a banner or flag outside with a blue star to symbolize their loved one. If that loved one were killed, the blue star would be turned to a gold one. I can imagine that in a war like […]

Breaking: American soldier found dead near train station in Germany

An American soldier deployed to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve was found dead in Germany on Sunday, according to a statement released by the U.S. Army on Tuesday. 1st Sgt. Nicholas S. Amsberry, 34, of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas, was found dead early […]

One of many failures as a Ranger: Learning from your mistakes

“The greatest teacher, failure is,” said Yoda. Or if Winston Churchill is more your speed: “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” When I was a gun team leader in the 3rd Ranger Battalion, I felt like I knew what I was doing. I struggled from switching from a position […]

BREAKING: 2/75 Ranger killed in training in Oregon, investigation ongoing

Spc. Devin James Kuhn, 24, was killed after a shot was heard on Camp Rilea in Oregon. He was on the way to the Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria when he succumbed to his wounds. Right now, officials say that the shot was due to training, though the facts are still coming in and the investigation […]

The American road and the veteran family

I recently found myself traversing the American countryside once again, cruising 1,140 miles from Tampa, Florida to Gary, Indiana right up to Lake Michigan (pictured above). Travelling in this country has never ceased to amaze me — the seamless movement from state to state, the richness and variety of cultures in the peculiar corners of […]

‘Watch the f***ing alley’

This isn’t a story about combat heroics. It’s just about doing what needs to be done, in the very essence of the phrase. It was the middle of the Afghan night; the air was hot and my sweat was cold, matting my clothes to my body under my kit. I breathed heavily as the NODs […]

Trijicon and Primary Arms collaboration | The ACOG with ACSS reticle

The Trijicon ACOG is a legendary optic among many servicemen who have relied upon its durability and versatility during combat.  While I am lucky to count myself among that group, my time spent overseas was spent with the venerable TA01 which has been surpassed time and time again by more advanced offerings from Trijicon.  While researching […]

Cruxord stainless steel guide rod for your Glock

As a product review writer, I find excitement in the big, fancy products just like everyone else.  Equally, I find the little components that incrementally improve the machine to be fascinating.  I don’t believe the next generation of service rifles or sidearms will be a revolutionary leap forward, I believe they’ll be sum of all the improvements […]

Hazard 4 | HWD Snowfield watch

There is no doubt that those in combat need the highest level of durability possible for their gear.  If it isn’t up to snuff, it will break and in a hurry too.  There is another environment which is also notoriously abusive to gear, though many don’t know about it.  Underwater, specifically undersea.  The abrasive salt-water is known […]

Memories from the cold

They say that out of all the senses, smell is the most linked to memory. The smell of Grandma’s cooking when you step barefoot on her hard wooden floor, the smell of freshly washed sheets as you lay your head on your pillow, or even the smell of the lubricant that makes a rifle operate […]

The many faces of Stolen Valor

The latest case of stolen valor to hit the news was self-acclaimed Green Beret war hero, Papotia Reginald Wright, who had created a group called the “8th Special Forces Regiment New York Honor Guard.” He claimed to have earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, among other awards he was never actually awarded. Though he […]