Special Operations

“The final weapon is the brain; all else is supplemental.” SOF Assessment and Selection (A&S) courses are designed to bring the suck, in a number of different ways, to everyone privileged enough to receive an invitation to be a SOF candidate. Despite the suck, there’s a total beauty to a struggle that methodically breaks down […]

When I was 16, my father and I had a huge argument which resulted in my leaving home. I don’t remember what I said that finally set him off, but whatever it was, it brought to an end not only my trip with my family but also my life with my family. Suddenly my dad […]

U.S. Special Operation Forces led a Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) operation against an Islamic State cell in Syria in response to increased ISIS attacks in the region. The combined operation resulted in the capturing of an ISIS leader responsible for the recent attacks in the Deir el-Zour countryside.  Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve […]

Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is working through the Air Force Special Operations (AFSOC) to purchase up to 75 “armed overwatch” planes that will conduct intelligence, reconnaissance, and Close Air Support (CAS) missions. SOCOM’s armed overwatch aircraft is envisioned to operate in close conjunction with special operations troops on the ground. The versatile aircraft can scout […]

As with the recent revamp of its enlisted Special Operations career fields, the Air Force created a new specialty code that will now encompass its three officer SOF jobs. Combat Rescue, Special Tactics, and Tactical Air Control Party officers will now fall under the same Air Force Specialty Code (19ZXX), which is the Air Force […]

I have been through a lot of training over the years. After a few beers, people sometimes ask about the toughest training I have ever seen. After you read this story, I think you will agree that the Combat Diver Qualification Course (CDQC) at the Special Forces Underwater Operations School in Key West, Florida, takes […]

Editor’s note: What a better way to celebrate the Military Appreciation Month than with some “Why I Joined” stories? May is here and spring is in the air unless you live in New England where it feels like March. However, May is National Military Appreciation Month. During the month, there are several days set aside […]

“They were playing Rambo,” Maduro said. “They were playing hero.” Venezuelan security forces arrested at least eight people, including two Americans, after a failed coup aimed at capturing socialist President Nicolas Maduro. This failed coup was allegedly approved by the U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido, an allegation that he has denied. Jordan Goudreau, an ex-Green […]

In a recent series, we examined the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) spectrum. In this series, we’ll review the elite components within the conventional British forces. We will start with one of the U.K.’s most renowned units: the Royal Marines, an elite amphibious commando force of the Royal Navy. The Royal Marines (RM), or Bootnecks […]

This article was written by Alex Hollings and originally published on Sandboxx. If you love military movies, then it’s safe to say you’d recognize Max Martini. While his film career doesn’t only include military-centric roles, he’s built a reputation among the military community as both a proud supporter of service members and one of the […]

There are times when you just should be realistic and just admit defeat. And when you are in a conventional National Guard unit, don’t get into a war of psychological operations with Special Forces guys. It is a losing proposition.  So, to quote the beginnings of the old “Lone Ranger” television series: Return with us […]

Across the ages, every great society has celebrated and revered a great warrior tradition and passed on the stories of these heroes in folklore. We can look back to the Spartans, Roman legions, Vikings, medieval Knights, Samurai, or Aztecs, and each time we will find that a strong warrior class coincided with a strong nation. […]