SOF

From pay to test scores, weapons and campaign histories, this comprehensive look at Navy SEALs was written by former SEALs and SOCOM members.

Back in the early days of the OSS, when the stakes were sky-high and the playbook still being written, candidates faced a gauntlet of tests designed to weed out all but the toughest, sharpest minds—because only a ‘PhD who could win a bar fight’ would survive behind enemy lines.

Explore the Green Beret’s history, weapons, and key battles in this definitive guide by former SOCOM members.

You can slap a beret on a guy and call him elite, but if he hasn’t earned it under fire, all you’ve got is a tourist with a cool hat.

In every platoon, there’s always that one guy who manages to be a human IED—volatile, unreliable, and liable to blow up your mission and your morale in a single bad moment.

Preparing for selection requires pushing yourself to your limits while not getting to the point that you break yourself in the process.

Fear isn’t something operators are free from; it’s what they master, using relentless training, humor, and a clear head to keep that little quitter on their shoulder in check.

Mastering calm under duress in water is crucial for Navy SEALs, forming their training’s foundation and effectiveness.

The men of the NCDUs who stormed Normandy’s beaches faced certain death but fought with relentless courage, clearing the way for Allied forces in what would become the deadliest day in Naval Special Warfare history.

Hell Week isn’t some inspirational Instagram quote—it’s a prolonged beatdown from Neptune himself, and the only way out is through, one sand-chafed, sleep-deprived, surf-tortured hour at a time.

Rucking is as much about mindset as it is about muscle; practice the fundamentals, stretch those hips, and before you know it, the speed will come naturally—without (literally) running yourself into the ground.

The term “Special Operator” has become part of the military cool guy lingo, but its origins are more humble than you might think.