SOF News Update for 20160904 – Australian Special Forces, Special Forces knife, JSOA, a Green Berets’ mistress, CIA’s venture capital firm, fake SEAL goes to jail, Russian SF on Ukraine border, Blackbeard’s Ride, Afghan SOF rescue aid worker, a case for SOF FID Officers, Estonian SF in Ukraine, overseas U.S. SOF bases, and more.
Paper on Australian Special Forces. A paper by Ian Langford published in October 2014 by the Australian Army explains the principles and considerations for the employment of Australian Special Forces.
History of Original SF Knife. The U.S. Special Forces in the U.S Army race their honors and lineage to the First Special Service Force (FSSF). The FSSF was the joint Canadian-American elite unit that was formed up, trained, and fought during World War II. A special knife was designed for the FSSF – the “V-42”. Learn more in “V-42: The Original Special Forces Knife”, Solider of Fortune Magazine, August 27, 2016.
JSOA Association. The Joint Special Operations Association has been formed up “. . . with the common interest of supporting JSOC and the organizations that make up the JSOC enterprise, the unit members and their families”. Learn more at www.thejsoa.org.
SOF FID Officers. One writer believes that we need to revamp the USSOCOM FID program and cultivate Special Operations Forces Foreign Internal Defense specialists. Read more in “Special Operations Forces and the Professionalization of Foreign Internal Defense”, Small Wars Journal, August 24, 2016.
Estonian Special Operations Forces in Ukraine. Estonia has SOF training with their Ukrainian counterparts. Read more in in a news report by Estonian Public Broadcasting, August 24, 2016.
A Green Beret’s Mistress. “Men, Special Forces is a mistress. Your wives will envy her, because she will have your hearts. Your wives will be jealous of her because of her power to pull you away”. Read more in “Men, Special Forces is a mistress”, LinkedIn Pulse, July 12, 2016.
Afghan SOF Rescued Kidnapped Australian. According to a Afghan special forces rescued the female Australian aid worker held captive for four months. Read more in “Kidnapped Australian Aid Worker Freed in Raid by Afghan Forces”, Reuters, August 29, 2016.
Sixth Annual Blackbeard’s Ride. Watch a 3-minute long video of the 6th Annual Blackbeard’s Ride dedicated to the memory of SSG Matthew A. Pucino who died in Afghanistan in at age 34 on November 23, 2009 while serving with 20th Special Forces Group.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaBtg6zUxCE
Medal of Honor for Navy SEAL? A SEAL may be considered for the top military medal after a review of his heroic actions in Afghanistan in 2002. See “SEAL Team 6 and a Man Left for Dead: A Grainy Picture of Valor”, The New York Times, August 27, 2016.
Photos of Fight Where Navy SEAL Died. In May 2016 a US Navy SEAL was killed in combat with the Islamic State. Read the story and view some photos in “Never before seen images show the failed ISIS assault that caused the death of a US Navy SEAL”, Business Insider, August 30, 2016.
Ranger Dies in Parachute Mishap. A U.S. Army Ranger died in a parachute jump. He was a member of Company E, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment based at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. Read more in “U.S. Army Ranger died during training”, US Army, August 26, 2016.
US Trains Iraqi Soldiers to be Rangers. Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq are conducting a Ranger-style training program. The training is taking place at Camp Taji located just northwest of Baghdad. Read more in a news story by Task & Purpose, August 29, 2016.
Russia SF on Ukraine Border. According to the a news report in the Ukraine Today (26 Aug 2016) Russia is deploying special forces to the Ukraine border area as part of military drills.
Fake SEAL Going to Jail. A Texas man who posed as a decorated Navy SEAL will be serving some time in the slammer. Read more in “Texan who faked being decorated Navy SEAL gets prison”, Stars and Stripes, August 30, 2016.
Female NCO fails Tryout for Rangers. The first female Soldier attempting to join the Rangers didn’t quite make it. Read “Female NCO tries out for Army’s elite 75th Ranger Regiment”, Army Times, September 1, 2016.
Overseas Special Operations Bases. To accomplish their missions the U.S. special operations forces maintain a number of forward operating bases overseas. Learn more in “The Pentagon’s Not-So-Secret Commando Army”, War is Boring, August 30, 2016.
Kaepernick Pisses Off the World; A Green Beret Responds. Colin Kaepernick, a backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, has decided to sit during the playing of the national anthem (seems he is protesting something). Of course, this isn’t a popular action, and a NFL player (and SF dude) has responded. Read more in “An open letter to Colin Kaepernick, from a Green-Beret-turned-long snapper”, Army Times, August 30, 2016.
CIA’s Venture Capital Firm. In-Q-Tel is somewhat associated with the Central Intelligence Agency. It is a venture-capital firm in Virginia funded by the CIA. Read “The CIA’s Venture-Capital Firm, Like Its Sponsor, Operates in the Shadows”, The Wall Street Journal, August 2016.
“Col Maggie’s” 100th Birthday. If she were still living Martha Raye would be 100 years old. She was a favorite of Special Forces during the Vietnam War. Read a tribute to her by John Downey (retired SF) in “Remembering Martha Raye”, Fayetteville Observer, August 31, 2016.
