Will the elimination of Baghdadi change the US’ relationship with the Kurds?

Will the elimination of Baghdadi change the US’ relationship with the Kurds?

The swift and daring raid by members of the United States Special Operations Command to take out Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was a resounding success. Al-Baghdadi who was considered the head of ISIS and established a caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq before being routed by a U.S.-led coalition. That coalition included the Kurdish-led Syrian […]

SOF tips: Teamwork and perseverance pay off in the long-term

SOF tips: Teamwork and perseverance pay off in the long-term

One of the most common mantras you will hear in Special Operations is the absolute must of being known as a team player. The very essence of a successful special operation is with a team working together to accomplish their mission. With it, the missions don’t get accomplished and the units fail. And yet the […]

Why Delta Force was chosen over SEAL Team 6 for the operation to kill the leader of ISIS

Why Delta Force was chosen over SEAL Team 6 for the operation to kill the leader of ISIS

Why did American commanders choose Delta Force over SEAL Team 6 to conduct the operation that killed the leader of ISIS? Many are bound to speculate that the SEAL option was quietly put aside because of the never-ending drama emanating from the Naval Special Warfare (NSW). And the problems in the SEAL community aren’t restricted […]

Fraying at the edges: Elite SOF aviation unit faces critical pilot shortage

Fraying at the edges: Elite SOF aviation unit faces critical pilot shortage

According to a manning report, the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160th SOAR), also known as Night Stalkers, is facing significant manning shortages. The report, first obtained by the Army Times, concerns the final quarter of Fiscal Year 2019. It reveals the following numbers of pilot shortages: With regard to the MH-60 Black Hawk […]

The Pic of the Day: Recon Marines building one brotherhood at a time

The Pic of the Day: Recon Marines building one brotherhood at a time

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Zachary Johnson, right, holds the bipod of an M40A6 sniper rifle over his shoulder as a stable shooting platform while a Philippine Marine fires during KAMANDAG 3 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, Oct. 14, 2019. Exercises such as KAMANDAG increase our ability to work together in response to crises across the military […]

Can Special Forces teach everything? Pretty much

Can Special Forces teach everything? Pretty much

As a member of a Special Operations unit, you can be tasked with damned near anything and probably will. The best indicator of having a skill is the fact that you can teach it to others. As we wrote here some time ago, “Teaching is An Art in Special Forces”, and some of the best […]

MARSOC Critical Skills Operator (CSO) selection outline

MARSOC Critical Skills Operator (CSO) selection outline

The Marine Corps took its time to become part of SOCOM but now their MARSOC units are not only part of the SOCOM umbrella but growing in both size and influence. The Corps keeps a pretty tight lid on their operators and their training. We visited their booth at the annual SOFIC event in Tampa. […]

The Video of the Week: Just another day at the 75th Ranger Regiment

The Video of the Week: Just another day at the 75th Ranger Regiment

Rangers assigned to the 2nd Ranger Battalion while conducting task force training in August 2019 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The 75th Ranger Regiment is comprised of five battalions: The 1st Ranger Battalion is based at Fort Benning, Georgia. The 2nd Ranger Battalion is based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The 3rd Ranger Battalion is […]

SOF Tips: Speed up your recovery after the 12-mile rucksack march

SOF Tips: Speed up your recovery after the 12-mile rucksack march

This piece is meant to help prospective candidates prepare for SOF selection with their 12-mile rucksack march. And hopefully for those that followed it and conducted it, (it was a cold 40 degree, rainy morning here), followed our normal rucksack marching tips. Wearing the correct boots and socks, having the correct and comfortable clothes on […]

Breaking: Delta Force raid kills leader of ISIS

Breaking: Delta Force raid kills leader of ISIS

A Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) operation in Syria has resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State and one of the most wanted men in the world. The operation took place on Saturday in the Syrian province of Idlib. Sources with intimate knowledge of the operation confirmed to […]

The Pic of the Day: Operation Dark Dune – the coolest op name ever?

The Pic of the Day: Operation Dark Dune – the coolest op name ever?

A French Eurocopter EC725 connects to the fuel hose of a U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II, assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Wing, based out of RAF Mildenhall, during a helicopter air- to- air refueling (HAAR) exercise Oct. 17, 2019, outside of Cazaux Air Base, France. This mission was part of a larger exercise […]

Operation Urgent Fury: The US invades Grenada on this day in 1983

Operation Urgent Fury: The US invades Grenada on this day in 1983

On this day in 1983, members of the 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalions, 82nd Airborne Division, Marine Corps 8th Marine Regiment, US Army Delta Force and Navy SEAL commandos invaded the island nation of Grenada. The small island, located about 100 miles north of Venezuela, was under strife after Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was placed […]