Much of what we post here is based on preparing the potential Special Operations candidates for what they will face in the various Selection or qualification courses. But sometimes it is good to change things up a bit and delve into our shared history to learn and respect where we come from. Other times, like […]
afghanistan
Kids Are the Same Everywhere and Say the Darndest Things
To our readers who are attempting for a career in Special Operations, you’ll meet all kinds of interesting people everywhere you go. Some societies are eclectic, like our own. Others are very regimented, but one thing that will never change, no matter where you travel are kids. As Americans we have a built-in affinity for […]
Can Special Forces Teach Everything?… Pretty Darned Near
As a member of a Special Operations unit, you can be tasked with damned near anything and probably will. The best indicator of having a skill is the fact that you can teach it to others. As we wrote here some time ago, “Teaching is An Art in Special Forces”, and some of the best […]
AK-47 Accuracy and Reliability
Before the price gouging of weapons, while I was stationed at Ft. Benning GA, I purchased an AK-47 (Romanian) at a local dealership for $174.00. I wanted an AK-47 after a few deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, everyone in those areas of operations had one and it seemed to serve its purpose for them just […]
Photo of the day: Remote outpost in Kunar, Afghanistan
Taken on top of a remote outpost in Kunar, Afghanistan just after a firefight where insurgents attacked our larger COP with recoilless rifles and small arms. My platoon and I returned fire with machine gun fire and Gustav’s as well as provided FSO duties to walk our 120mm Howitzers on target. *Photo was taken in 2012 […]
Robin Sage Begins June 9th, Time For the SF Students to Step Up
The Special Forces rite of passage is about to begin for the next class of SF candidates. The final training in Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) for prospective SF soldiers is the Unconventional Warfare (UW) exercise “Robin Sage”, which we went over in detail in an earlier post, that you can read here: The prospective Green […]
A Chance Encounter with Travis Mills
I was sitting at my gate waiting to board my flight when I looked over and saw a familiar face. I looked again and saw that the face was indeed that of SSgt. Travis Mills. For those not familiar with SSgt. Mills he is an Army veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division and a quadruple […]
Patrol near COP Zerok, Paktika province
COMBAT OUTPOST ZEROK, AFGHANISTAN U.S. Army Capt. Robert Smith with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division provides security near Combat Outpost Zerok, Paktika province, Afghanistan, Feb. 20, 2013. Security was provided while other 2-14th Infantry soldiers reach Saghrain village to discuss conditions of the region with elders […]
Warriors stand tall in combat once again
SAR KANI DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN Maj. Kent Solheim, Charlie Company, 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group Company commander, defends his position from insurgent small arms fire during a fire fight in Kunar province, Afghanistan, Mar. 7. Solheim was injured July 27, 2007 in Karbala, Iraq, while conducting a raid to capture an insurgent commander. During the […]
Book Excerpt: ‘A Warrior’s Path: Lessons In Leadership’ from an Army special missions unit operator
The following excerpt is courtesy of Robert A. Trivino’s book A Warrior’s Path: Lessons in Leadership. Robert is a former member of the US Army’s 18th Airborne Corps, 75th Ranger Regiment, and an operational member of the Army’s elite special missions unit. The book humbly highlights Trivino’s own successes – and particularly his failures – throughout […]