954 articles
Following a fierce legal battle inside and outside courtrooms that lasted a decade, veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars lost their final chance to receive compensation for illnesses caused by toxic smoke while serving overseas. The group of veterans had sued the military contractor KBR, Inc. for running huge burn pits, which burned tires […]
After decades of counterinsurgency operations, the United States military has begun shifting its gaze back to nation-level adversaries. According to the Department of Defense (DoD), Russia and China pose the greatest nation-level threat to the U.S. As a result, hereafter, military spending will place more importance on projects and capabilities that would be useful in […]
The United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has chosen SIG Sauer to provide America’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) with a new riflescope and gun mount. More specifically, the gun company won a contract for the Electro-Optics TANGO6T 1-6×24 Second Focal Plane (SFP) Riflescope and ALPHA4 Ultralight Mount. According to SIG Sauer, the TANGO6T 1-6×24 Rifle […]
The second Navy SEAL implicated in war crimes allegations in Iraq has gone to court. Lieutenant Jacob “Jake” Portier, who commanded Alpha Platoon, SEAL Team 7 in a 2017 deployment in Iraq—the same unit to which Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher belonged—has been accused of dereliction of duty because he didn’t properly supervise Chief Gallagher […]
Two U.S. Navy Mark VI patrol boats assigned to the Coastal Riverine Group (CRG) 1 Detachment (Det.) Guam, completed the longest-ever small patrol boat transit. The two boats completed the 500-nautical-mile transit in just two days. The objective of the mission was to test and evaluate the operational reach of the patrol craft. Special attention […]
A female Marine lieutenant has become the first woman in history to graduate from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) Scout Sniper Unit Leaders Course. Previously, the Marine officer, who is a candidate for a Ground Intelligence Officer (0203) Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), was the second female to successfully complete the Infantry Officer Course. She […]
An unwelcome avalanche of fame has fallen on the lone Special Air Service (SAS) member who responded to last Tuesday’s terrorist attack in downtown Nairobi, Kenya. News outlets around the world have speculated about his identity and outfit. At first, he was a Navy SEAL from SEAL Team 3 because he wore a Velcro patch that […]
Despite the astounding success of America’s Special Operations Forces (SOF), decades of conflict and consecutive high-tempo deployments have taken their toll. Army SOF units are having trouble filling their ranks. In an attempt to alleviate this conundrum, the U.S. Army is offering financial incentives to applicants willing to try out for SOF units. Although far […]
Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Theresa May brought her proposed BREXIT plan to Parliament for approval. It got thrashed, amounting to the largest defeat in British Parliamentary history (432 votes to 202). The remarkable thing for those not accustomed to British politics is that both the Labour opposition and numerous members of parliament (MPs) […]
Among other tasks, Special Forces soldiers are experts at winning people’s hearts and minds. This skillset is particularly useful in a counterinsurgency context. It also comes in handy in other circumstances. For the past few years, the Green Berets of 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group—which is forward-based in Germany—have been saving the lives of civilians. Last […]
The Russian Special Operations Forces (SOF) will be receiving an advanced infiltration capability in the form of futuristic mini subs. According to a source from the Russian government, “the Main Directorate of Deep-Water Research of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation showed interest in the apparatus, and it considers these bathyscaphes [which is […]
An Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist attack in the Syrian city of Manbij has killed four American and wounded three. The dead included two service members, one Department of Defence (DoD) civilian, and a DoD contractor. In addition, 13 civilians were killed and 18 wounded. The attack took place early in the afternoon. The Americans were patrolling […]