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Changes Are Coming For the Special Forces Qualification Course

Course Is to Be Shortened to 24 Weeks

We’ve been expecting change to the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) for some time now. The course is and pretty much has always been a constantly evolving training vehicle to get the best trained Special Forces troops on the ground and to the operational groups. The missions evolve as the world around us and the threats our nation faces change. The outstanding SF troops from Vietnam were training for and fighting a much different war than the men are today in Syria or Afghanistan.

But with the breaking story from a year ago with several SF instructors being concerned with the standards of the course being compromised, we knew changes were bound to happen. Which is nothing new. Cadre at the SFQC in every generation are always worried about the standards and keeping them at a high level. In this case, those concerns from the cadre made into the social media platforms. And many civilians who don’t understand how things work in the military got the wrong impressions

Well, the changes weren’t long in coming. MG Sonntag had been meeting with the people at the JFKSWCS (Special Warfare Center School) and there are big changes coming down the pipeline for the SFQC, Civil Affairs, and PSYOPs Courses. They are attempting to streamline all of the courses to better improve their product.

NEWSREP’s Jack Murphy was given a copy of the email sent out by MG Sonntag to the command that stated the SFQC was going to be streamlined to a total of 24 weeks from the beginning of SFOC to RFF (Regimental First Formation). Below is a copy of that message:

From: Sonntag Kurt L MG (USAJFKSWCS) [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2018 6:02 PM
To:
Subject: SFQC Optimization Update

SWCS Team,

In August, I met with all of you to discuss our way ahead. The question I asked was: How do we transform the enterprise and organization structure to ensure doctrine and training prepares Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations and Special Forces personnel through their careers to effectively operate in the current and future environments given operational requirements and institutional constraints?

The answer to that question resulted in five new lines of effort for the command. Today, I was briefed by the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (A) Command on their way forward on one part of LOE 2, the optimization of the Special Forces Qualification Course. The Training Group staff, in coordination with the SF Commandant efforts, took a hard look at the course from start to finish and has recommended a course of action that will:

– Leverage the best of the SFQC training modules to enhance the overall training environment.

– Reduce the total training time from the start of the SFQC to RFF to 24 weeks, thereby enhancing 1st SFC(A)’s readiness.

– Introduces students to resistance and ODA operations and reinforces their importance throughout the entirety of the SFQC.

– Sets the conditions for touch points throughout the course for interaction between SF, CA and PSYOP.

– Transitions the SFQC to a four-start production model that will maximize resources while still providing sufficient training capacity.

– Focuses on individual MOS skill development and collective training, while moving to a coach, teach, mentor environment where training the individual is a priority.

– Collective training is executed in an ODA construct within the Pineland Training Scenario. This construct enhances the learning environment while increasing the understanding and comprehension of SF missions.

This is the first step in our optimization. Over the next several months many of you will be involved in this process, with a projected transition starting in June 2019. This is a big step forward, but it cannot stop here. As the SFQC cadre and staff work through this process, leaders throughout the command will look at all SWCS training in an effort to make comprehensive changes that will better prepare our Army Special Operations Forces’ ability to operate successfully in complex, dynamic environments throughout the world – now and into the future.

v/r,

KLS

MG Kurt L. Sonntag

Commanding General

USJFKSWCS/US Army SOCoE

NIPR: [email protected]

SIPR: [email protected]

Office: 910-432-4404

BB: 910-568-9273

SFQC Optimization approved concept 18OCT18 (2)

Obviously, (above), we also had been given copies of the slides that the General had briefed off of and we had some questions about how the training would be conducted, what was being cut or shortened.

We reached out to the USASOC, SOCOM PAO Office for some clarification and they asked for the questions in writing so that they could answer them in a timely, complete manner which is completely understandable.

So in regard to the portions of the course that were being either shortened or cut entirely, the command answered that. Their response:

“1st Special Forces Command outlined the individual tasks required for each MOS to meet their operational needs. Instead of adding collective tasks into MOS, this concept focuses solely on individual tasks and incorporates application through historical vignettes (lessons-learned). The practical application at a team level will come in tactical skills. Currently, the course orientation and history phase is six weeks. This concept incorporates the introductory individual tasks into MOS training and the collective tasks into tactical skills. History modules and other tasks now taught in course orientation will be taught throughout all phases of the course. This concept found efficiencies in training by reorganizing where we teach certain tasks, which provides opportunities to combine complimentary tasks in a logical manner.”

We asked about changes to cut out MFF and if any of these changes that were taking place in the SFQC would affect the SFAS course.

Military Free Fall is not being cut out. It is actually included on the far right of the first slide. There has been no proposal to alter Special Forces Assessment and Selection at this time, but Cadre are constantly looking for efficiencies and best-practices to enhance training. The optimization of the Special Forces pipeline is only the first step in enhancing MOS qualification training across all three Regiments trained at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

The final questions we had were about what one of the SF Groups were conducting for newly graduated Green Berets entering into the 3rd Special Forces Group SFG(A). We had heard thru our sources there that 3rd SFG was running a Green Platoon training for new SFers called “Entry Level Operator Training Course.”

Given the flap that hit the schoolhouse last year around this time, our questions were blunt. Is the 3rd SFG conducting this training in response to what we heard about a year ago? And more importantly, is this action by the Group a sign that they aren’t happy with the level of training that the troops are receiving in the SFQC? USASOC responded to that as well.

Each installation has unique requirements for planning and executing training events. The Entry Level Operator’s Course is provided to new members of 3rd SFG(A) to equip them with the required certifications they will need to conduct training on Fort Bragg. During the course, an operator can expect to receive their military driver’s license, their ammunition handler’s card, and their range safety certifications, as well as information to make them successful as they facilitate training on the installation.

This makes total sense and is quite practical. Fort Bragg, like any big Army training base has a ton of rules that have to be followed and to conduct any training it is always advisable to have every SF troop as qualified as possible to conduct training on post.

However, we did hear back from our source(s) in 3rd SFG, and while those admin tasks that USASOC mentioned were indeed part of the initial training as part of the Entry Level Operator’s Course, but they also said there was a tactical portion of the course that covered basic “includes how to shoot, move, communicate, and medicate. Other parts deal with combatives and mobility.”

This again doesn’t necessarily mean that the Group is unhappy with the training conducted by the “Q” Course. It could mean that the 3rd SFG(A) is simply wanting all of their personnel to conduct a standard of SOPs that will be uniform throughout the Group. That way, everyone regardless of A-Team, Company or Battalion will be operating virtually the same. With the Operational Tempo the Groups are currently dealing with, it would make sense to do this collectively before the new guys make their way down to the teams. We haven’t been able to confirm that yet.

If we learn anything new, we’ll be happy to update and share. Until then, the course is changing again. For the cadre. For the prospective SF candidate, he’ll be seeing it for the first time (hopefully) anyway and won’t notice the difference. The tempo may be increased a bit.

DOL, “Don’t be late, don’t be light, don’t be out of uniform.”

Photo: US Army

Originally published on Special Operations.com

Iron Man? Russian Special Ops Going For Predator Camouflage

In the never-ending search for the next best technology, both the United States and Russia are searching for armor, camouflage, and exoskeletons to carry the next generation of Special Operations Forces into battle. And as they are both working on the latest upgrades for their troops, some of the newest technology looks like it came from a Hollywood backlot for its inspiration.

The Russians reportedly are already fielding at least parts of their Star Wars-like third generation Ratnik-3 Combat Suit, which more resembles the armor worn by the alien in the film “Predator” than it does anything out of Star Wars.

But now the Russians have supposedly upped the ante by displaying what they claim is a new paint which can change colors quickly, almost chameleon-like (does the Predator ring a bell here?) which will better protect Russian troops.

Russian defense contractor Rostec was showing off this new camouflage on a helmet at the Army-2018 Forum in Moscow that they claim will blend in to just about any surrounding terrain easily and can even display moving images.

In a media statement for the even, Rostec said, “The specialized electrically-operated material covering the helmet prototype is able to change color depending on the camouflaged surface and environment.”

They also added, “the material can display dynamic changes of color intensity and simulate complex images, for example, the motion of leaves in the wind.”

When combined with Ratnik-3 combat suit which the Russians dub a “Star Wars-like combat suit”, the helmet, if it works as advertised would give the Russian Spetsnaz, Special Operations Troops a stealth technology that would be unsurpassed. The paint can be applied to anything, including the rest of the combat suit and even armored vehicles and according to Rostec is applied like ordinary paint and doesn’t require, “great accuracy in terms of thickness and uniformity.”

The third-generation Ratnik-3 suit according to earlier media releases by the Russians, “comprises five integrated systems that include life support, command, and communication, engaging, protection and energy saving subsystems.”

The Russian suit even appears more akin to the “Predator” wear than a Star Wars armored suit that the stormtroopers wore. The Russian system like the American “TALOS Iron Man” armor has a built-in exoskeleton which is supposed to make it much easier for the operator to move long distances and carry more weight, without sapping his strength. The Russian system has 59 different pieces of gear, including a fully encompassing helmet and visor with a heads-up display.

However, the Russians did not supply any video or offer a demonstration of how well the new system works, if at all. The Russians have deployed parts of the 1st generation Ratnik suit in the Crimea back in 2013.

The TALOS (Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit) nicknamed the Iron Man suit is still a pie in the sky concept that is not even close to being ready for deployment. The Pentagon back in 2013 with the backing of Admiral McRaven of the Special Operations Command, announced plans to develop a high-mobility suit of armor that could better protect special operators tasked with entering contested spaces.

After 5-years and over $80 million dollars, the suit is nowhere near ready. SOCOM announced earlier this year that the testing will continue for the bulky, battery-heavy suit for quite some time before they’re ready for testing. In contrast, Lockheed-Martin has already produced a light exoskeleton that we profiled here last year.

That piece of equipment is form-fitting, has already been tested by a United States Special Operations Tier-1 unit and the results were quite encouraging. Plus, the battery pack in the rear of the exoskeleton, on the back of the operator is easily changed.

The system isn’t nearly as bulky although it doesn’t incorporate armor, which makes the TALOS system so heavy. SOCOM may be better served using an exoskeleton like that and then develop upgraded armor and targeting systems inside of the helmet.

So, in the not-so-distant future, Special Operations Forces may be going into battle with some futuristic-looking armor and camouflage. And it could just be that it is life imitating art.

Photos: Rostec/Universal

Originally published on Special Operations.com

Buck Knives’ classic 112 Ranger with a modern twist

Buck Knives took their classic 112 line and breathed some new life into it with their 112 Ranger Pro version. It features a G10 handle and brushed nickel silver bolsters, and has a razor-sharp S30V clip point blade. As the video demonstrates, it comes with an impressive factory edge and is a solid option for any working man or knife enthusiast.

112 Ranger Pro features

Overall length: 7.25”
Closed length: 4.25”
Blade Shape: Clip
Blade Thickness: 0.120″
Blade Length: 3″ (7.62 cm)
Weight: 6.4 oz (181.44 g)
Handle: G10
Carry System: Leather sheath
Origin: Made in the USA
Steel: S30V
MSRP: $112

Wazoo Cache Belt | Your EDC Loadout Just Got an Upgrade

Wazoo Cache Belt

Wazoo Survival Gear puts out some great products and I am particularly excited about their latest one — the Cache Belt. It is available for Preorder now. The following video review examines the belt and some of the gear that can be stored in it.

Everyday Essentials Kit

The Essentials kit from Wazoo is meant to provide common survival and EDC items that are easy to travel with inside the Cache Belt while leaving room for other gear of your choosing.

What’s in the Everyday Essentials Kit:

Safety pins (2)
Magnetized needle
Fishing hooks (3)
Fishing weights (3)
Fishing line (40 ft)
Whistle
Technora cord (25 ft)
Zip ties (2)
Duct tape (2 ft)
First-aid tinder (3)
Ferrocerium rod
Ferro rod striker
Water bag (32 oz)
Purification tabs (2)
Ranger bands (2)

Firecraft 550 FireCord Necklace

With a scraper, Firesteel, tinder, and paracord all merged into a necklace, you’ll always be able to start a fire when you need it.

Custom ceramic scraper
Ferrocerium mischmetal toggle – “Firesteel” rod
550 lb rated Paracord – “550 FireCord”
30 inches of fire-starting tinder
Tied with traditional mountaineering knot, the Alpine Butterfly
Choice of black and olive drab
Breakaway safety clasp
Resizable

Life In Special Operations Is in the Shadows, Not the Limelight

For the current crop of aspiring Special Operations Forces candidates that want to be part of the legacy of the different units under the SOCOM umbrella, being part of the command comes with not only great sacrifice but a great responsibility as well.

The special operators have to sacrifice much of themselves in training to get where they want to be and then in the long, endless operations that follow. It is strange to consider but the group of military personnel who flocked to sign up after the deadly events of 9/11, if they’ve stayed in the military, will reach service retirement eligibility in just three years.

And during this time, the Special Operations community, that constitutes just 1 percent of the force, has been doing the lion’s share of the combat during these many years of warfare in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and hundreds of other places where peace is a goal, not a reality. The warriors of the Special Operations Forces live in the shadows, despite the American public wishing it to be the opposite.

Every now and again, the veil is lifted off as we read and learn about men such as Air Force Tech Sgt John Chapman who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for incredible heroism in the face of overwhelming odds during a battle in Afghanistan many years ago. In 2016, President Obama hit the nail on the head while he was reading the Medal of Honor citation of Navy SEAL Ed Byers, he talked about the life of a Special Operations warrior.

“Today’s ceremony is truly unique — a rare opportunity for the American people to get a glimpse of a special breed of warrior that so often serves in the shadows.”

Byers’ comments after the ceremony touched on the notoriety that the vast majority of special operators eschew, in trying to stay out of the limelight.

“I’ve lived my entire career a very private life. We don’t talk about what we do, and this honor carries with it some obligations that I need to carry out…But I plan to continue doing my job as normal and continue being a SEAL. It’s something I love and grew up wanting to be.”

But for every Byers or Chapman that are bestowed with honors well deserved, there are hundreds if not thousands of special operators that work in the shadows of our 100 countries on a daily basis that perform acts of valor that John Q. Public will never know about. Most will receive no award or decoration for it, because, in their own words, it is just part of their job.

The American public can’t get enough stories about the warriors in the SOF community. Fueled by the Hollywood stereotype of superheroes in camouflage, with beards and tats, the public’s consciousness is full of these. But they’re not superheroes, their human, with human issues just like everyone else. They’re not all built like NFL linebackers, drag their knuckles on the ground or perform superhuman feats of strength every morning before breakfast.

The reality is quite different. Special Operations troops are, on average, a bit older and more mature than their conventional counterparts. Most are married with kids, and many are voracious readers of history, military tactics, business, and leadership. Many work on advanced degrees when they have the time at home station. They are like the founder of OSS (Office of Strategic Services in World War II) General William Donovan envisioned when he created the group that eventually morphed into CIA and the U.S. Army Special Forces. “PhDs that can win a bar fight.”

So, while you are a member of our Special Operations Forces, most of what you do will never be recognized and with good reason, much of what are SOF units do on a daily basis is classified and the public doesn’t have the need to know what is transpiring behind the scenes in all of these countries. That’s why they are called the “Quiet Professionals.”

Americans have a right to know that their SOF troops are deployed in these countries and that part of it is public knowledge.

But what is exactly is going on, while boots are on the ground? Not necessarily. Once the veil is lifted on such operations by the Pentagon and the government, then, we’ll know what is happening.

There are exceptions to the rule. When an operation takes place of such huge implications like the bin Laden operation in Pakistan, then those operators need to tell their story right then.

Now, once a special operator’s career is over, then, by all means, they have every right to share their experiences with the public. In fact, all veterans have the right to share their stories with the people. Too many of our “Greatest Generation” veterans of the World War II era have been reluctant to share their stories, because the entire world was at war then and millions of being in uniform alone in just the United States, most of them feel, they did nothing that millions of other guys were doing.

As a result, with all of our veterans from that era, disappearing at the rate of more than a thousand a day, soon, the stories left untold will be lost forever. One of the things we’ve been doing here is trying to reach out to all veterans but especially the WWII ones to document their stories on video before they’re lost forever.

Just this week, a good friend from the Korean War era, who I’ve been after to tell his story was lost to us and we went to his wake with more than half the town in attendance on Tuesday night. He thought his story was unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Most of our town thought otherwise.

But as a reminder, if you think you’ll be famous by having a career in Special Operations, you’ll probably be disappointed. Most people will never know the vast majority of what you were able to accomplish. But you will and the men you served with will too. That’s all that is important.

Photo: DOD

Originally published on Special Operations.com

Bikini Clad Refresher in Firearms Safety

Firearm safety is a fundamental thing we should talk about whenever firearms are around. It can get boring if we do this by saying the same words over and over in a mantra of protection.

Rule One: All guns are always loaded.
Rule Two: Never let the muzzle cover anything which you are not willing to destroy.
Rule Three: Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
Rule Four: Always be sure of your target.

Change can make things more interesting in this vital area. The guys at Griffon Industries take your safety very seriously. They pulled out all the stops for the production budget to present the rules for firearm safety in a different way, both informative and focused: lingerie.

Often, we spend more time championing the right to bear arms than discussing the responsibilities of the armed citizen. Safety is at the top of the list of those responsibilities.

About Griffon Industries in their own words:

Driven by engineering and inspired by design, Griffon Industries builds modern firearm accessories combining form and function.

Our philosophy is that “good enough” is never good enough. We are a collective effort who work closely with field experts throughout concepting, testing and manufacturing. We are strong believers in designing from the dirt and not from the desks.

Our products are built tough using modern machinery and tightly controlled tolerances. We stand behind all our products and support our customers far beyond just the purchase. Our products are made to be pushed to the limit.

All products are proudly made in the USA.

*Photo courtesy of Griffon Industries Youtube channel