U.S. Air Force 353rd Special Operations Group Airmen run through various emergency response procedures during an Ability to Survive and Operate (ATSO) exercise Nov. 3, 2017, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The integrated ATSO and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) readiness exercise educated Airmen on protective measures for CBRN defense. U.S. Air Force […]
M1911
Gear in the Wild: Firepower you’ll never see coming (look closely for snipers)
“U.S. and Allied #SOF conduct joint sniper training at the International Special Training Centre (ISTC) Basic Sniper Course held in Hohenfels, Germany: #WeAreNATO #ReadyForces” Courtesy of US Spec Ops Europe on Twitter. To learn more about some of the camouflage methods utilized by Special Operations snipers, watch the video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk8MFlBeSNM
Gear in the Wild: Room clearing with U.S. Marine Raiders
Marine Raiders with 1st Marine Raider Battalion breach and clear a room during an exercise to capture and evacuate a high-value target (HVT) on Camp Pendleton, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018. MARSOC is tasked to train, organize, equip and deploy task organized, scalable and responsive U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Forces worldwide to conduct foreign internal […]
Gear in the Wild: Special Operators hunting for IEDs
East coast members of Naval Special Warfare uses a metal detector to search for possible improvised explosive devices on a road while conducting an exercise May 11, 2017 at Camp Shelby, Miss. during TRIDENT17. TRIDENT 17 is NSW’s premier joint training event that encompasses several Special Operations Forces and conventional military participants, as well as […]
Gear in the Wild: SEALs testing new equipment under cover of darkness
U.S. Navy Sea, Air, and Land Team Members conduct proof of concept development testing with an in-water reconnaissance drone during exercise TRIDENT 17 on Hurlburt Field, Florida May 2, 2017. TRIDENT 17 is Naval Special Warfare’s premiere joint training event that encompasses several Special Operations Forces (SOF) and conventional military participants, as well as partner […]
Gear in the Wild: A rope you can trust with your life
ABOARD USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER (April 19, 2000) — The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team (EOD) and SEAL personnel practice Special Insertion and Extraction (SPIE) techniques from an SH-60 “Seahawk” aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Eisenhower is on a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class […]
Gear in the Wild: Cold weather training with the Navy SEALs
Advanced cold-weather training in Kodiak, Alaska, exposes SEAL candidates to the physical stress of the environment and the tactics, techniques, and procedures necessary to operate efficiently where inclement weather is the norm. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric S. Logsdon Watch how U.S. Marines manage cold weather training in the video […]
Gear in the Wild: A sniper and his .50 cal
A U.S. Marine with Task Force Southwest fires an M107 Special Application Scope Rifle to test its functionality and to sustain combat marksmanship at Camp Shorabak, Afghanistan, Feb. 8, 2018. Marines with the unit’s security force tested the weapon’s reliability in order to bolster base security and sustain gunnery skills. U.S. Marine Corps photo by […]
Gear in the Wild: Force Recon doesn’t knock
A Marine with Maritime Raid Force, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, practices breaching in Guam, January 24, 2018, during Visit, Board, Search and Seizure training. VBSS teaches Marines how to take over ships for searches and counter-piracy operations. As the Marine Corps’ only continuously forward-deployed MEU, the 31st MEU provides a flexible force ready to perform […]
Gear in the Wild: On the wrong end of a US Air Force Pararescueman
A U.S. Air Force pararescuemen, assigned to the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, aims his rifle during weapons training on Feb. 21, 2018. Pararescuemen conduct training on all aspects of combat, medical procedures and search and rescue tactics to hone their skills, providing the highest level of tactical capabilities to combatant commanders. U.S. […]