954 articles
The Afghan government announced that its security forces arrested the leader of the Islamic State in Afghanistan in an operation. Abdullah Orakzai, also known as Aslam Farooqi, was captured by operators from Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS), the Afghani intelligence service and a rough equivalent of the CIA but with greater emphasis on domestic duties. […]
The Coronavirus pandemic has forced Special Operations units to improvise when it comes to their training and selection programs. The Naval Special Warfare Command (WARCOM) has suspended a number of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) and Basic Crewman Training (BCT) classes; the former course is the first major hurdle to those aspiring to become Navy SEALs, […]
In early March, Army Special Operations (ARSOF) troops and their families got the chance to talk to Colonel Andrew Morgan, an ARSOF medical officer and NASA Astronaut, and ask him about life in space. Col. Morgan is a qualified Special Forces Combat Diver, arguably one of the toughest ratings to achieve in the Army, and […]
Estonian commandos are the latest to join a French-led Special Operations task force that will deploy in Africa in the upcoming summer to fight Islamic extremists. The deployment of the Estonian commandos was first reported by the Defense Post back in 2019. Then, an Estonian Defense Ministry spokesperson had stated that the country’s contribution to […]
Robert Levinson, a former FBI special agent and undercover CIA asset, has died while in captivity in Iran, according to a statement by his family. Levinson’s story is complicated, to say the least. The former FBI special agent retired from the Bureau in 1998. He then proceeded to work as a private investigator. In 2007, […]
A little over two years ago, a combined assault force comprised of Delta Force and Special Air Service operators went after an ISIS high-value-individual (HVI) somewhere in Syria. As the commandos neared their objective, an improvised explosive device (IED) went off killing one American and one British operator. The consequent investigations by the U.S. and […]
In response to the Coronavirus spread, a large but yet unspecified number of reserve and retired troops are being called up or, in the case of the latter, asked back to service. Last Friday, President Trump signed an executive order that directs the Department of Defense (DoD) to call up to Active Duty a large […]
The 75th Ranger Regiment is known for raising its own. Often, privates enter the Army’s premier Special Operations direct action unit right out of high school only to depart years, and even decades, later. Recently, and after 24 years of service with the Regiment, Command Sergeant Major Michael D. Albaugh, the Regimental Sergeant Major of […]
Last December, a tourist visit to an island with an active volcano in New Zealand went catastrophically wrong. On December 9, while 47 tourists were admiring the natural beauties of the Whakaari/White Island, the volcano in the center of the island erupted. In total, 20 people died and 25 wounded, most of who critically with […]
The Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community is looking for its future leaders. More specifically, the Navy EOD community is looking for either civilian candidates or Sailors already serving in the fleet who are looking into commissioning through the Enlisted to Officer Commissioning Program (OPNAVINST 1420.1B). Both categories of candidates will have to complete the […]
Last Thursday, an Air Force Combat Controller (CCT) died during an open water swim. Airman First Class Keigan Baker was participating in a surface training swim as part of the Air Force Combat Dive Course. During the training event, Airman Baker went missing and was found unresponsive some hours later. In a press statement, U.S. […]
The trials of two commandos accused of the murder of an Army Green Beret have been postponed for later this year. More specifically, Navy Chief Special Warfare Operator Tony E. DeDolph and Marine Gunnery Sergeant Mario Madera-Rodriguez will have their day in court in July and September, respectively. If found guilty, both are looking at […]