The kings of the north: Meet Finland’s readiness units

The kings of the north: Meet Finland’s readiness units

In the weeks leading up to February 24th, 2014, Russia conducted large-scale military exercises on the border with Ukraine. While NATO focused on that diversion, Russian intelligence services assembled a collective designed for hybrid warfare to facilitate an invasion of Crimea: ethnic Russians in the Crimea, Serbian militias, Chechen soldiers, the Night Wolves motorcycle club, […]

Dunford Shoots Down WSJ Report of US Troops Remaining in Syria

Dunford Shoots Down WSJ Report of US Troops Remaining in Syria

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Joseph Dunford is denying an earlier Wall St. Journal report that the United States is planning on leaving 1000 U.S. troops in Syria, which is more than double what was initially reported. “A claim reported this evening by a major U.S. newspaper that the U.S. military is developing plans […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 3, Day 4

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 3, Day 4

Shoulder work in the gym is the order of the day along with some speed work. The sprints will help with your overall cardio fitness, build explosion in your legs and will serve you well with your endurance. It is also a functional part of your job in Special Operations. There will be plenty of […]

Get Out And Ruck For a Cause While Prepping for Selection

Get Out And Ruck For a Cause While Prepping for Selection

We have frequently in the past advocated for many of the fine organizations that support our Veteran community here at SpecialOperations.com, especially those who care for our Special Operations Forces and/or are conducting a fundraiser thru rucking. During the past weekend, the 30th annual Bataan Memorial Death March drew its largest field of ruckers and […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 3, Day 3

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 3, Day 3

Continue to prep for the UBRR. Leg Day at the gym, our favorite with squats, the sled push, and some lunges. We’ll follow that with a three-mile run at a good pace, faster than the standard. Remember to stretch well before and after the run and to hydrate. UBRR Training: 3 x Pullups 10 reps […]

On St. Patrick’s Day, Get Your Alibis Straight … And Don’t Be on Camera

On St. Patrick’s Day, Get Your Alibis Straight … And Don’t Be on Camera

Ah, St. Patrick’s Day, a day for the celebration of all things Irish, “What’s the craic laddie?” even for those of us who aren’t from there…I used to tell my neighbors from Ireland that my family was from the southern part of Ireland…Sicily. And there is arguably no place better to spend St. Patrick’s Day […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 3, Day 2

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 3, Day 2

This Monday we’ll focus on some speed work with the sprints rather than a longer duration. It will build up some explosion in your legs and improve your overall running. We’ll hit the exercises heavy this morning and build up some endurance. Focus on correct form and then worry about the speed. Especially with the […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 3, Day 1

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 3, Day 1

A short warm-up and a good long Sunday morning rucksack march. Go as fast as you can without running. Go over varied terrain and learn to use the downslope of the hills to make time. It was a cold, windy morning today, after a spring-like thaw of 60 on Friday, we’re back in the 20s early […]

YouTube bans Navy SEAL who exposed stolen valor cases

YouTube bans Navy SEAL who exposed stolen valor cases

The online video platform YouTube decided to suspend the account of a retired Navy SEAL known for exposing numerous cases of stolen valor. Known for his direct manner and incisive humor, retired Senior Chief Petty Officer Don Shipley used his YouTube account, tagged Buds131, as a hammer against military imposters, specifically Navy SEAL imposters. His […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 2, Day 7

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 2, Day 7

Back in the gym this morning before heading out for a run. We’ll break up the routine next week with some speed interval running, that will help to build up your short area quickness and speed. But for today it is back, shoulders and a run. UBRR Training: More Preparation for the UBRR: 3 x […]

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 2, Day 6

Special Operations Forces Selection PT Preparation Week 2, Day 6

Continue to prep for the UBRR. Friday is a Leg Day and we’ll work them out good today in the gym. We are going to break up the 3-mile run into one-mile segments. Take only a minute’s rest in between runs and then do the best you can. Make note of your times in the […]

Special operations gone wrong: Watch this year’s ugliest parachute jump

Special operations gone wrong: Watch this year’s ugliest parachute jump

Bad exits or landings during parachute operations aren’t uncommon. Throwing people, often laden with dozens of pounds of equipment, out of an aircraft inevitably invites trouble. Parachuting is inherently dangerous, whether the jump is static line (the parachute opens automatically as the paratrooper exits the aircraft) or free fall. Naturally, parachute training is complex and […]