SAS

UK Special Forces to get SOF Chinooks

The UK government has requested and will receive 16 special operations Chinook helicopters for the UK Special Forces (UKSF). Late last month, the US State Department and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved the sale of 16 new H-47 Chinooks. Additionally, the British will be getting numerous parts that could be used to configure the […]

Op-Ed: UK military opens combat roles to women, and they’re doing it right

London, United Kingdom — The British government announced that women will be allowed to apply for all jobs in the military, including combat roles. The decision had been suggested by the former British Prime Minister David Cameron. In 2016, Cameron had announced that gradually all military occupational specialities would be open to both genders. Female military […]

British SAS Now Open to Women, But Will the Standards Change?

The British Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced this week that they were expanding the roles for women in the British military and now they will be able to serve in the SAS (Special Air Service). This includes the Royal Marine Commandos and the SBS (Special Boat Service). In 2016, the British MOD opened up infantry […]

Want a successful proxy war? Send the SAS: Part II

This is the second part of the article regarding SAS involvement in proxy operations during the Cold War. You can read Part I here. Historically, the Mahra tribe had lived in a tri-border area that overlays Saudi Arabia, South Yemen, and Dhofar.  After the British withdrew from South Yemen in 1967, and the country went communist, […]

Want a successful proxy war? Send the SAS: Part I

The early 1970s. With the help of the British, the Sultan of Oman is in the final stages of winning a communist insurgency in the southern part of his country (Dhofar). British contribution was limited to a few Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons, seconded officers and enlisted men to lead the local troops, and — […]

Meet the Night Wolves, Russia’s paramilitary biker gang

Dolna Krupa, Slovakia — Paramilitary and influence operations can take many forms. They could be a team of Delta Force operators conducting Operational Preparation of the Battlefield (OPB) in an unstable region; they could be a CIA front company creating a pro-U.S. narrative in a far-away country; but they could also be a Russian biker-gang […]

Captured on video: SAS chopper almost collides with family

Cumbria, United Kingdom—Imagine taking your family for a lovely weekend excursion. You don’t get to do it often, being busy with work and the children slammed with schoolwork. But today is different. You get into the car and drive up to the countryside. The weather isn’t ideal, but it isn’t so bad that it will […]

Is this the world’s toughest military exercise?

Wales, United Kingdom—Exercise Cambrian Patrol: Is this the world’s toughest military exercise? Forty-eight hours. Over 40 miles across the arduous Brecon Beacons. Weather conditions: awful. Personal loads in the excess of 80 pounds. Who will win? Did I mention that Cambrian Patrol is an unofficial race? The annual exercise is organised by the 160th Infantry […]

The SAS train with the Warrior-King

Amman, Jordan—Always more comfortable in fatigues than in a suit and tie, King Abdullah spent 35 years in the military before he was crowned. As with many foreign royals, Abdullah was sent to Great Britain for his education. In 1980, he graduated from Sandhurst Royal Military Academy (the British Army’s West Point). As a newly […]

British Army has a new gender and age-blind fitness test

London, Great Britain— In an unanticipated—and highly refreshing—move, the British army is going to change its fitness tests to reflect the rigors of combat. The new tests will ditch gender and age considerations to ensure the all personnel designated for close combat duties will be up to the task. “I don’t care if you are […]

SAS instructors exonerated over training deaths

Bulford, Great Britain—The two British special forces instructors have been acquitted of negligence over the deaths of three SAS candidates in 2013. For PERSEC reasons, the two SF instructors were only identified as 1A and 1B. 1A, a captain, was the training officer in command of the march; 1B, a warrant officer, was the exercise’s chief […]

Court-martial begins after SAS training deaths

Bulford, UK—A court-martial over the deaths of three aspiring SAS reservists has begun. Two special forces instructors face jail over the incident. The accused, for PERSEC reasons only identified as 1A and 1B, are charged with a negligence whilst performing their duties. The persecution, in particular, focuses its case on their lack of health and […]