SOF News Update 20170725 – Recon Marines train w/ SF, NSW’s first transgender, Sacolick with K2, Aussie police & hi-tech gear, Air Commandos learn about Operation Anaconda, Ranger School or BUDs – which is tougher, fixing Afghan security forces, Afghan War strategy, and more.
Recon Marines train w/ SF. The Marines of 4th Force Reconnaissance Company conducted some training with Army Special Forces in Hawaii. Some of the training consisted of static line and HALO parachute jumps at Schofield Barracks. Read more in “Recon Marines complete airborne jumps alongside Army Special Forces“, USMC Life, July 21, 2017.
NSW Has First Female (or something) in Ranks. A member of the Navy’s Special Warfare Command has chosen to identify as a transgender. So that person can now seek medical care to . . . fix things. Read more in “Member of elite Navy unit has come out as transgender”, Stars and Stripes, July 22, 2017.
Anaconda ‘Staff Ride’. The 16th Special Operations Squadron conducted a ‘staff ride’ about Operation Anaconda – a fierce battle that took place in 2002 in Afghanistan that cost several American lives. Read “Air Commandos learn from Operation Anaconda”, Cannon AFB, 27th SOW, July 24, 2017.
Aussie Police Need Hi-Tech Anti-Terror Gear. The Australian police are slowly coming up to speed to obtain the right equipment to handle terrorist incidents. Read more in “Police need hi-tech equipment in this age of terrorism”, Herald Sun (Aus), July 22, 2017.
Afghanistan War Strategy? Still Waiting. The Trump administration – now in its 7th month in office – has still yet to reveal its approach to solving America’s longest-ever war. Read more in “Afghanistan Awaits US President’s Strategy”, Voice of America, July 21, 2017.
Fixing Afghan Security Forces. One writer points out that the biggest problem with the Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) is its senior leadership. Corruption, nepotism, patronage networks, ethnic favoritism, and poor leadership are ruining the Afghan forces capabilities. He believes that Resolute Support (the NATO mission in Afghanistan) needs to take a bigger role in the selection of senior leaders of the ANDSF. Read more in “Fixing Afghanistan’s Struggling Security Forces“, The Diplomat, July 24, 2017.
Army Ranger goes to BUDS. So which is the tougher school? Army Ranger School or the Navy’s SEAL course? An Army Ranger who went to both provides his thoughts in “This is what happens when an Army Ranger goes through Navy SEAL training”, We Are the Mighty, July 24, 2017.
LTG (Ret) Sacolick w/ K2. LTG (Ret) Bennet Sacolick has been brought on to serve on the Board of Advisors for K2 Solutions, Inc. Sacolick retired in July 2016 after 35 years service with Special Forces and other SOF units. Read a press release by K2, July 20, 2017.
