On Friday, June 14—coincidentally the Army’s 224th birthday—the Army unveiled its newest and most unnecessary badge: the Expert Soldier Badge. If you read this and are rolling your eyes, trust me, you are not alone. According to a press release, the Expert Soldier Badge will recognize those individuals who demonstrate a mastery of physical fitness, […]
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SEAL teams to get new clandestine underwater craft
As the Pentagon shifts its gaze from low-intensity conflicts to nation-level adversaries, the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is following suit, and the Navy SEAL teams are eager to prove their strategic utility in the rediscovered domain. SOCOM and the Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) are focusing their efforts on two underwater craft: a Shallow Water […]
StripLULA AR Magazine Loader: Spend More Time Shooting, Less Time Loading
The StripLULA is a 10 round 5.56/.223 magazine loader. It weigh’s in at a mere 1.5 oz, has a universal fit, and is military grade. The StripLULA is small (pocket-sized) and lightweight. It is tough and durable; made of glass-filled, UV protected, high-strength polymer. Maglula Ltd is an Israeli company owned and operated by Ran […]
Spot X 2-way Satellite Messenger: Peace of mind in the backcountry
Anytime you travel to remote areas, communication is often compromised. It’s a concern I have wherever I may be. As a former Ranger, communication was paramount for a successful mission. Nothing has changed since those days except the technology. Even with modern smart phones, travel to countries with a limited network will render them useless. […]
Skyroam: Global WiFi at your fingertips
The ability to have comms and navigation when traveling is critical these days. On a trip to Europe, I used my cell phone and just added on an international plan while overseas. Although that temporary data plan only cost me an additional $10 a day, I still went over my monthly data limit and got […]
Marine MARSOC Critical Skills Operator (CSO) selection outline
The Marine Corps took its time to become part of SOCOM but now their MARSOC units are not only part of the SOCOM umbrella but growing in both size and influence. The Corps keeps a pretty tight lid on their operators and their training. We visited their booth at the annual SOFIC event in Tampa. […]
Proper hydration during selection is vital to success
We are always preaching about staying hydrated during the Selection course as well as in your preparation train up beforehand. And practicing proper hydration has to be practiced during the Selection course, regardless of the season or you will most assuredly fail. The military is unlike almost every other profession because we work outside, regardless […]
Having the proper boots and socks at selection is essential
About 8-9 months ago we posted a piece on boots and not only having ones that fit properly but having at least one backup, broken-in pair when you start Selection. With new classes starting up, we’ve gotten some questions about the different gates and events at Selection and we’ve posted on those and will revisit […]
SFAS Wasn’t All Serious, Some Funny Cadre Anecdotes
When we think about Special Forces Selection and Assessment (SFAS), nothing fun, funny or silly immediately comes to mind. You’ll hear about the horror stories of the ruck marches, the soft sand of nearly every Camp Mackall firebreak, the Star land navigation course and the various conveyances constructed during Team Week. It is known more […]
MTM Special Ops Status | A low-vis smart watch in a classic case
Today there are two types of wristwatches out there. Classic analog watches with hands and a clock dial that keep time via Quartz or Automatic mechanisms. Then there are the smartwatches. Miniaturized wrist computers with a multifunction screen. I’m a classic watch kind of guy, accumulating a drawer full of them over the years. Titanium […]