U.S. Special Operations Forces face growing demands and increased risks

Touching down before dawn, Somali “Lightning” commandos climbed out of U.S. military helicopters and carefully advanced in the dark toward a ramshackle compound tucked into muddy farmland dotted by banana trees. U.S. surveillance had monitored the site for days after an intelligence tip signaled the location of Moalin Osman Abdi Badil, the suspected leader of […]

Watch: Special Operations Handguns

Even though these videos are two years old, the content is still relevant today. Ken Hackathorn, Dave Harrington and Larry Vickers take you through several pistol platforms in use by various special operations units.   Part 2: Shooting Suppressed with HK45C Part 3: Glock Modifications Part 4: Pistol Shooting Drills *Featured image courtesy of Vickers Tactical […]

The Heckler & Koch MP7: A Stinger for the good guys

In 1989, NATO published a set of requirements that requested a new type of firearm with rounds capable of penetrating body armor. Called the Personal Defense weapon, or PDW, it was meant to replace weapons, such as pistols and submachine guns, whose caliber was found wanting against ballistic protection. Several companies went on to design […]

Excerpt from “Never Quit” by Jimmy Settle former Pararescueman

Check out this excerpt from “Never Quit” by Jimmy Settle, former Pararescueman.  Chapter 9 Operation Green Feet For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to jump out of an airplane. It was the parachute on the PJ logo that initially caught my eye. The para in “pararescue” puts parachuting right in the […]

Three Rivers: Modern Japanese Intelligence, Special Operations, and Organized Crime

Part I: Sawanobori, or, basically, river climbing, is a very old Japanese pastime. It involves following a river or stream, up a mountain, to its source.  The climber ascends a tributary of a river, negotiates its features (swimming gorges, and climbing walls and waterfalls), and seeks to run that tributary until they have reached the river’s source.  […]

The 75th Ranger Regiment hits the ground in Syria for Raqqa offensive

After months of planning and deliberations, the 75th Ranger Regiment has been deployed to Syria to participate in the war against ISIS as the coalition closes in on the so-called caliphate’s capital city of Raqqa.  Yesterday, the first images emerged of Stryker armored vehicles on their way to Manbij.  This comes weeks after Rangers deployed […]

Never before seen footage: 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions in combat

A new documentary released by Joe Joynt depicts Rangers assigned to 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions in combat in Afghanistan.  During the course of these deployments, Rangers Justin Allen and Jonathan Peney tragically lost their lives.  This short documentary reminds Americans that we are still at war in Afghanistan, a war that many would like […]

Active Navy SEAL pens “Death of a Team Guy”

The following was acquired via email and was written by an anonymous Navy SEAL still on active duty. -Desiree Huitt, Managing Editor Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and […]

Navy SEAL pull-up tips

Muscular strength, the ability to produce force during a single contraction, should be developed when preparing for BUD/S and the physical screening test. It is required not only to enhance performance, but also to facilitate the overall training process and reduce the risk of injury. While strength relative to body weight—required for pull-ups or rope […]

Will the Glock 19 work for the Navy SEALs?

Naval Special Warfare Command made a decision to add the Glock 19  to the available inventory of the SEAL Teams. They will slowly begin to phase out the Sig P226 and replace those with the Glock 19. There is nothing wrong with the Sig P226. It has served the Teams for many years and is […]

First female infantry recruits begin basic training at Fort Benning

The first class to include women in U.S. Army Infantry One Station Unit Training, or OSUT, began today at Fort Benning, Georgia. Infantry OSUT is a combination of basic training and advanced individual training, designed to take a civilian, teach the basics of infantry weapon systems and battle drills, and graduate them as infantrymen for […]

Operation Bulmus 6, the raid on Green Island

Raid: a type of operation that captivates the mind and many people believe that it is the essence of what SOF units are about, hit hard and get out quickly, leaving only destruction in your wake. One such operation that I found fascinating as a young reader of military history was the Israeli raid on […]