Gear

Gear in the Wild: Foreign weapons familiarization with the Kalashnikov AK-47

U.S. Marines and Airmen fire AK-47 assault rifles (also known as Kalashnikovs) during a foreign-weapons familiarization class at Marine Special Operations School’s Individual Training Course, April 10, 2017, at Camp Lejeune, N.C. For the first time, U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Airmen spent three months in Marine Special Operations Command’s Marine Raider training pipeline, representing […]

Gear in the Wild: Sensitive Site Exploitation

A Green Beret assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) observes activity at a compound during a training mission held February 20 on Eglin Air Force Base in Northwest Florida. The mission required a team of Special Forces soldiers to assault a mock drug-cartel outpost and document sensitive materials found inside. Photo Credit: Capt. […]

MH-6 Little Bird upgrades include a huge increase in operational range

Some sharp eyes over at The Drive recently spotted a modification to the MH-6 Little Bird helicopter in a USASOC-released video. The footage shows the Little Bird configured with external pods designed for ferrying special operations soldiers to their targets, but underneath one can see a rectangular attachment that appears to be an additional fuel […]

Gear in the Wild: Marines don’t dig fox holes, they dig fighting holes

Marines dig fighting holes during a combat readiness evaluation at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif., Nov. 29, 2017. The Marines are assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joseph Prado Watch U.S. Marine infantry train in the video below:

Gear in the Wild: Target practice aboard the USS America

Marines conduct a low-light deck shoot to maintain marksmanship proficiency while underway aboard the amphibious assault ship USS America in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility, Nov. 26, 2017. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Dusty Kilcrease Get a better look at the amphibious assault ship USS America in the video below:

SOCOM admits defeat in effort to produce Iron Man armor for operators

Four years ago, NEWSREP reported that United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) developed the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS)—a hardened exo-skeleton suit for special operators—and it was really a sham, but promising technologies emerged in the process. From 2015’s “TALOS: Special Operations Powered Armor or Just Another Boondoggle?” Initiated under Admiral William H. McRaven […]

Gear in the Wild: Convoy ops in Hohenfels, Germany

Soldiers prepare for a convoy to a tactical operation center during Swift Response 17 in Hohenfels, Germany, Oct. 11, 2017. Swift Response is an annual, U.S. Army Europe-led exercise focused on allied airborne forces’ ability to respond to crisis situations as a multinational team. Army photo by Spc. Randy Wren Learn more about exercise […]

Gear in the Wild: Surviving the cold

A soldier waits for transportation after a successful airborne operation during Spartan Pegasus in Deadhorse, Alaska, Feb. 22, 2017. The exercise simulated the recovery of a downed satellite and tested the soldiers’ operational abilities in temperatures 30 degrees below zero. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Love See arctic warfare training in action below:

Gear in the Wild: Live fire exercises in Hawaii

Army 1st Lt. Bret Brunco provides security while a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter takes off during an air assault mission as part of a combined arms live-fire exercise at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, May 19, 2018. Brunco is assigned to the 25th Infantry Division’s 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Army photo by […]

Gear in the Wild: Special Operations troops at an undisclosed location, Afghanistan

U.S. Air Force pararescuemen, assigned to the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, survey the landscape during a training exercise at an undisclosed location in the mountains of Afghanistan, March 14, 2018. The Army crews and Air Force Guardian Angel teams conducted the exercise to build teamwork and procedures as they provide joint personnel recovery capabilities, aiding […]