Minorities and Navy SEALs: How the Navy Is Trying to Recruit Better

In an effort to attract more qualified candidates from minority communities, the Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) has enlisted the first African-American to become a Navy SEAL to serve as an unofficial recruiter. Master Chief Bill Goines was part of the first wave of Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) operators who established the SEAL teams back […]

Women & standards in Special Operations and Special Mission units

SOFREP recently published an exclusive piece covering the journey of the first female candidate set to graduate the Special Forces Qualification Course and earn her coveted green beret — an amazing achievement. Similarly, recent years have seen the services open their previously male-exclusive roles, including the opportunity to attend Ranger School and others, to women […]

The death of Osama bin Laden and the rise of al-Qaeda in Somalia

Although the death of Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011, marked a triumphant day for the United States, the death of the charismatic leader of al-Qaeda did not mark the end of his terrorist organization. Al-Qaeda continues to operate globally and still poses a severe threat to international and homeland security. Of particular interest […]

FBI accidentally reveals name of Saudi suspected of supporting 9/11 terrorists

Yahoo News recently reported a mistake they found in an FBI court filing. In the filing, the FBI neglected to redact mention of the name of Mussaed Ahmed al-Jarrah, a Saudi diplomat whom FBI agents had suspected of directing material support to two of the Saudi 9/11 hijackers that crashed a plane into the Pentagon, […]

One year ago, the French Special Operations community lost two of its best

On the evening hours of May 11, 2019, French frogmen from the elite Commando Hubert conducted a daring hostage rescue operation in Burkina Faso. The operation was successful as the four hostages, two French, one South Korean, and one American, were rescued. However, two French commandos died from enemy fire. The two commandos were identified […]