Story by Sgt. Keaton Habeck, SOCPAC.

Royal Thai 1st Special Forces Division and U.S. Special Operations Detachment – Pacific (SOD-P) attended a Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) Joint Planning Process (JPP) course before exercise Cobra Gold 24 in Lop Buri, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 19 through Feb. 22, 2024.

The JSOU JPP course focused on aspects of special operations forces’ (SOF) integration for Cobra Gold 24. The JPP determines how to use military capabilities in time and space to achieve objectives within an acceptable level of risk.

“JPP allows a commander and the staff to analyze a situation, assess what the mission is and then put on paper what each of the subordinate units have to do in order to accomplish the mission,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Brown, source intelligence analyst assigned to SOD-P. “We’ve really been able to come together and focus on the mission.”

Kingdom of Thailand soldiers saw JPP from an operational level for the first time.

“Normally we use JPP at the tactical level,” said Lt. Khunanon Kumchan, assigned to Royal Thai 1st Special Forces Division. “It’s good to focus on the operational level because it’s a much bigger picture and more complicated, but it’s good that we trained with the U.S. because they have a lot of experience to share.”

The JSOU JPP course was important to Thai and U.S. SOF participants, helping to understand each other’s missions and goals.

“We can’t separate into Thai only and U.S. only,” said Kumchan. “When we come together we can have a shared understanding of what we’re doing here, and it’s that shared understanding that helps us work towards our goals.”

There were some challenges while operating in a classroom environment but both the Thai and U.S. forces were able to synergize and work together.

“The communication barrier can be difficult to overcome,” said U.S. Army Col. Dave Coughran, commander of SOD-P. “However, time and proximity ultimately leads to synergies. We’re excited to apply those during the exercise itself.”

The U.S. remains committed to the Kingdom of Thailand, promoting military-to-military relations, as well as advancing interoperability and coordination with the Royal Thai Armed Forces, to promote
regional security and stability.

“Working together is very good because we can strengthen ourselves and our allies for bigger, more complex objectives,” said Kumchan. “We can continue to build our friendship and partnership that way.”

Joint Exercise Cobra Gold, now in its 43rd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the longstanding friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

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This story by Sgt. Keaton Habeck of U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC) was originally posted by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) on March 1, 2024.

By Dahncye Baucom, 7th SFG(A).

Soldiers and Airmen participated in a four weeklong jumpmaster course on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 2-27, 2023. Jumpmaster school prepares students for precision parachute and airborne operations. The course consists of an intensive curriculum that equips them with the skills and knowledge to lead successful airborne missions.

“This is the 6th class that the 7th SFG(A) has run since the USASOC decertification back in 2020. We have had a consistent 60-70 students for the past 4 classes” said Master Sgt. Leonel D. Castillo, Special Operations Forces static line jumpmaster course (SOF-SLJMC) chief instructor. “My job was to make sure the students received accurate and up-to-date information and training.”

Jumpmaster school sets specific qualifications for its students. Prior to attending, candidates must complete the Basic Airborne Course (BAC) and earn their jump wings. Once they arrive, they undergo physically and mentally demanding training, ensuring they are prepared to make critical decisions in high-stress scenarios. The course consists of a Nomenclature Exam, Pre-Jump Exam, Written Exam, PWAC Exam, JMPI Exam, and Safety Duties Exam.

“The mission of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Static Line Jumpmaster course is to train paratroopers in the skills necessary to perform jumpmaster duties during an airborne operation. This includes duties as the Airborne Commander, Primary and Assistant Jumpmaster, Safety, Departure Airfield Control Officer, and the Drop Zone Safety Officer,” said Castillo.

Photo: U.S. Paratroopers from 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) perform PWAC (Practical work inside the Aircraft) to become jumpmasters on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, Oct. 26, 2023. Airmen and Soldiers worked together to certify as jumpmasters. (Photo by Spc. Christopher Sanchez)

The day before graduation, students conducted a Practical Work inside the Aircraft (PWAC) Exam. During this exam, they were graded on hand and arm signals, door check procedures, in an aircraft while in flight. These future jump masters learn to supervise parachute operations, focusing on safety, accuracy, and mission success. The curriculum covers everything from jump theory and aircraft procedures to proper equipment use and drop zone control.

“Going to Jumpmaster School made me a better paratrooper and a better teacher. To know and understand why things are the way they are in an Airborne operation, makes the difference between someone who is there to be there and someone who is there to serve a purpose bigger than us all” said Staff Sgt. Clayton Wider, Jr., a 92A, automated logistics specialist.

In the end, graduation from jumpmaster school marks a significant achievement, certifying the students as qualified jump masters ready for deployment. Their role is critical in ensuring the safety and success of airborne operations, making them a key component to their respective branches of the military. Jumpmaster school remains a crucial institution in the journey to becoming elite paratroopers, and its graduates stand as a testament to the dedication and discipline required to excel in this high-stakes field.

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This article by Staff Sgt. Dahncye Baucom of the 7th SFG(A) was first published on December 4, 2023, by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Top photo: U.S. Soldiers with 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct an airborne operation on Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, October 26, 2023. The jump served as means for jumpmaster qualification and certification. (U.S. Army photos by Staff Sgt. Ryan Jenkins)

Every 2 years the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) develops a 5-year forecast of foreign language capability training needs. However, a key element of this process on determining mission requirements is not consistently followed, leading to uncertainty on the validity of the resulting analysis. By providing training on the methodology personnel should use to determine foreign language capability requirements, SOCOM would have greater assurance that its process is consistent and effective. In addition, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and the Marine Forces Special Operations Command have not analyzed the relevancy of assigned foreign languages during deployments to inform future training needs. By periodically monitoring and assessing relevance in the countries to which they deploy, the Commands would be able to adjust foreign language training plans accordingly.

The Army and Marine Corps Special Operations Commands have issued foreign language proficiency and training standards and provided resources and incentives to improve foreign language skills. However, GAO found that from fiscal years 2018 through 2022, most Army and Marine Corps Special Operations Forces (SOF) units did not meet foreign language proficiency goals. According to select Army and Marine Corps personnel, not meeting minimum proficiency levels has had limited consequences on service members. This is due in part to a lack of consistent procedures that specify consequences when SOF personnel do not achieve minimum foreign language proficiency standards.

Further, less than half of SOF personnel completed any foreign language training, and the average number of annual sustainment training hours completed was much less than required due primarily to competing training demands and priorities.

GAO is making four recommendations to DOD to train personnel on how to determine SOF foreign language capability requirements; monitor the relevancy of assigned languages at deployment locations; establish and enforce consistent procedures that specify consequences when foreign language proficiency standards are not met; and hold unit commanders accountable for monitoring and reporting on completion of required foreign language training. DOD agreed with GAO’s recommendations.

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Special Operations Forces: Enhanced Training, Analysis, and Monitoring Could Improve Foreign Language Proficiency, Government Accountability Office, GAO-24-105849, October 2023, PDF, 50 pages. https://www.gao.gov/assets/d24105849.pdf

Image: Page 9, GAO-24-105849, source is GAO analysis of Department of Defense; Map Resources, info current as of April 2023. Click here to view a larger image SOF Language Training by Region of World.

By Pat Carty.

The Royal Marine Commando Training Centre, also known as CTCRM, is the principal training centre for the United Kingdom’s Royal Marines. Based at Lympstone in Devon, the CTCRM selects and trains all Royal Marines Officers, recruits and reserves. CTCRM is also unique in that it also provides all Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) command training as well as training 70% of all Royal Marines specialists.

On average, 1,300 recruits, 2,000 potential recruits and 400 potential officers attend courses at CTCRM every year. In addition, the Training Wings run upwards of 320 courses a year for a further 2,000 students.

Benjamin (Ben) McQueen enlisted for training at the CTCRM on 7 December 2009. As part of 103 Troop, and following an intense 32-week training course, Ben passed out as a Royal Marine Commando on 10 September 2010. However, at an inquest on 28th July 2023, Coroner Judge Sir Ernest Ryder concluded that 26-year-old Ben had drowned some eight years later, on 14 November 2018.

Ben, who the coroner said had already passed UK Special Forces selection and was just days from completing specialist training to join “an elite unit”, was taking part in an SF amphibious assault. This involved a lengthy underwater approach to a target, located at Portland Harbour – home of the UK’s Special Boat Service. But went missing.

Tracking devices, which could have located Ben were not used, because the exercise was supposed to be as realistic as possible. However, this resulted in standby divers taking 40 minutes to locate Ben on the seabed and bring him to the surface.

Due to concerns about national security surrounding the circumstances of Ben’s death, the majority of the evidence was presented behind closed doors, with only Ben’s family and security-cleared legal representatives able to attend. However, in open court, Sir Ernest Ryder raised significant concerns about the planning and supervision of the training provided by the MoD, which led to Ben’s death. These included;

• Not topping up breathable gas levels between the two dives.
• The lack of a training requirement for all signals to be acknowledged.
• Inadequate risk assessment for the combined use of the equipment used in training.
• Failing to identify mitigating measures for the risks arising.
• A marked and inappropriate increase in the rate of training progression.
• Insufficiently firm instruction on when student drivers should surface.
• Limitations in training in the Emergency Ascent Drill.
• Not specifically training dive students to check their cylinder pressure after drills;
• Inadequate consideration of the risk of a loss diver in selecting the most appropriate air cylinder for the stand-by diver;
• Failure to ensure a full and rapid debrief of the student divers who surfaced in choosing where to deploy the standby diver;
• The lack of formal authorisation from Headquarters for some of the equipment being used.
• A lack of proactive engagement in the chain of command.

It was said during the inquest that Ben was extremely well-liked by his fellow troops and commanders and was also said to have been a considerate and human being as well as a competent and natural soldier. He had also stood out in his career reports for the excellence he brought to his role, and had achieved his life ambition of serving his country by joining the Corps and being selected for such an elite unit.

The Government’s Health and Safety Executive had previously served the MoD with two improvement notices, and following their earlier investigation, the MoD had also accepted two Crown Censures. These illustrated a level of overconfidence within the MoD when it came to providing safe systems of training to its soldiers.

The Coroner Judge, having heard evidence as to what improvements had been implemented by the MoD since Ben’s death, also made four recommendations to the MoD via a Prevention of Future Death Report, to ensure that lessons arising out of Ben’s death were learned.

Sebastian Del Monte, acting on behalf of Ben’s family said:

“It is clear from the coroner’s conclusions that Ben’s death was preventable and is symptomatic of the Ministry of Defence’s opaqueness, which led to overconfidence surrounding safety and training processes. It is the family’s view that this complacency and lack of oversight caused the tragic death of a young man serving his country.

“Due to the lack of transparency and the need for a secure inquest, the family has waited nearly five years to uncover what happened to their son. Inquests are difficult processes for any family but especially so in these circumstances. Ben’s family fought tirelessly and with dignity to learn the truth surrounding Ben’s tragic death. They did so to ensure that other families do not have to go through the same torturous process.”

Ben’s mother, Kathy McQueen, and Ben’s father, Colin McQueen added:

“Ben was a precious beloved son, brother, soldier, and friend and is sorely missed. He lived life to the full, a natural soldier with a humble heart. He had a fierce focus and determination to reach his best. His life was cut short because he was failed by the very organisation in which he put his trust. We do not know exactly what happened in Ben’s final moments, but we do believe Ben’s death was preventable. His legacy will be significant changes in dive training and ethos across the forces and an inspiration for others to face their fears as he so courageously did. We do not grieve as those who have no hope because we will see Ben again and his live and death have not been wasted.”

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Author: Pat Carty is a NATO accredited journalist who covers military news, events, operations, and exercises; including special operations forces. He is a contributor to SOF News as well as several other military defense publications.

While at SOF Week 2023 in Tampa, Florida from May 8-11, 2023, I visited a number of very interesting and informative displays in the exhibition hall. One of the more compelling booths featured TACMED Solutions K9 Diesel. This highly realistic training manikin is provided for Military Working Dog (MWD) handlers, veterinarians, first responders, and others to help them to render aid to a MWD at the Point of Injury . . . and later in the emergency veterinary clinic.

Diesel was named in memory of a heroic canine who died in the line of duty following the 2015 Paris terror attacks. The training manikin was developed jointly with the U.S. Special Operations Command. Diesel weighs approximately 55 pounds and is based on a Belgian Malinois.

Training Scenarios. K9 Diesel offers 28 different medical training interventions and features. These include active bleeding, active breathing, sounds, pulses, and a realistic mouth and airway for intubation. Each of the training features replicate the look, feel, and function of actual medical procedures. The manikin can breath, has interchangable limbs, and has a pulse. It provides opportunities to treat for intestinal evisceration, airway management, intubation, CPR, and more.

Photos: Left – a dog handler treating his MWD (K9 Diesel) during a mission (training). Right – K9 Diesel receiving treatment in a medical clinic setting (training).

Manikin Features. It has unique details such as barking, whimpering, growling, a moveable jaw, and breathing response. The airway is adjustable – from slow (10 bpm) to panting (120 bpm). A wireless remote control provides real-time sensor data and provides for programming and customizing different medical scenarios.

Accessories. There are quite a few accessories that are available for K9 Diesl. One is the TAcMed K9 Tourniquet; another is the TacMed K9 Handler Trauma Kit. There is also a K9 TCCC – Rental Bundle; available as part of the TACMED Solutions Trauma Simulator Rental Program.

Photos: Left – K9 Diesel undergoing fixed wing medevac (training). Right – K9 Diesel being treated by dog handler for amputated leg (training).

K9 Diesel is used by the DoD Military Working Dog program as well as civilian law enforcement to train MWD handlers in life-saving first aid procedures for their MWD partners. Countries from all over the world have purchased Diesel, including the U.S. UK, Canada, Australia, Norway, and more.

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TACMED Solutions K9 Diesel
https://tacmedsolutions.com/products/k9-diesel

Photos: All images courtesy of and with permission of TACMED Solutions.

References:

Video – K9 Tactical Combat Casualty Care Training, DVIDS, May 11, 2021, 3 mins. Members of the 1st Special Operations Secuirty Forces Squadron receive K9 medical training.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/795806/public-health-command-atlantic-k9-tactical-combat-casualty-care-point-entry-training

Video – K-9 Diesel Advanced Medical Trainer. Video from ShotShow 2020, YouTube, February 6, 2020.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJJxFKdAi38

K9 Diesel: Advanced Canine Medical Trainer User Guide, 2021, PDF, 91 pages. Link

K9 Diesel Canine Medical Trainer Quick Start Guide, PDF, 2 pages. Link

By How Miller.

Imagine, if you will, how excited I was to be invited to tour the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center (JSOMTC) on my trip to Fort Bragg. Training has evolved tremendously since I became a 91B4S Special Forces Medical Aidman in 1968. Their mission is to merely produce the finest medics in the world.

Thanks to fellow Chapter 78 member, Dennis DeRosia, having invited two head trainers, Mike Jones and Pat Buckles, to join his 91B vs 18D presentation at SFACON 2021 in Las Vegas, they were happy to return the favor and continue the process of highlighting what is on offer for today’s top candidates. My former teammate at A325 Duc Hue in Vietnam, Lew Chapman, and I were treated like extra special VIPs. We helped return the favor with a presentation of what it was like to be a 91B (medic) and 05B (commo man) on an A team at a fun working lunch in their lecture hall.

Nowadays this is an integrated SOF training, including providing SOCOM Medics to be Ranger Medics, SOAR Flight Medics, Civil Affairs Med SGTs, and other USASOC Medics, while some will continue on to be 18D Special Forces Medical Sergeants, or Naval Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsmen.

All students go first through the 9-month 68W1 course. That begins with National Registry EMT basic and ends with National Registry Paramedic civilian certification. The civilian certifications are a big improvement for transition back to civilian life after the service. As a 91B in those early days our qualifications were considered more of a state secret, resulting in no civilian authority recognizing our training and accomplishments. That caused many disappointments when trying to build on our experiences when “back in the world”. The 68W1 course culminates in testing for civilian certification in (ACLS) Advanced Cardiac Life Support and (ATP) Advanced Tactical Paramedic, which is a good intro to any medical facility. JSOMTC lays claim to the highest pass rate of any school in the country. In order to maintain the 68W1 MOS, every two years they return for refresher and updates and re-certification.

Photo: How Miller (author) tries out a sonogram machine. (Lew Chapman)

There are many facets to the training, including many medical subjects, hands-on training, and what we used to call OJT at several civilian hospitals. Experiences at the hospitals can vary from ambulance runs and Emergency Room duty to delivering babies and open heart surgery, depending on what is available when they are working in their assigned areas. There is a heavy emphasis on Trauma care.

A lot of the training is now done online, allowing for students to study and self-test at their own schedule. 100 percent correct answers are required to pass on to the next section (Each block requires a 75% GPA to pass onto the next iteration with an academic review board if you fall under the passing GPA), with reviews available to fill in any info that was missed or misunderstood. The pace of the material is intense, requiring focused attention and good scheduling skills, but this method actually allows for less travel and more studying. The instructors also make themselves available by cellphone or email for an unbelievable amount of time.

Our tour started in a very busy training area. Endotracheal intubations and starting IVs were being practiced when we visited one of the activity areas. The intubations were practiced on sophisticated manikins that showed exposed lungs and stomachs.

If one missed the trachea, the stomach would start to fill with air and expose the error. This was done in cooperation with one’s partner. Then the assistant became the intubater. When under fire, this is not an option, so cricothyroidotomies are becoming the go-to choice in combat if an airway can’t be cleared and maintained otherwise. I recall carrying a ballpoint pen in one of my pockets in case I needed to use the empty barrel to keep an airway open. I’m sure they have better ways now.

Starting the IVs was done in a different manner. One partner would actually start the IV on the other, under supervision, and then roles would be reversed and the patient would become the medic. You can imagine that method leads to a lot of care being taken not to hurt the partner in the hopes that he or she will also be that careful. I recall we used that method for lots of procedures, including nasal intubation.

Intraosseous fluid replacement is another innovation that saves many lives. Instead of a medic trying different vein locations to start an IV, which could ultimately prove too difficult to accomplish in the field, some injured soldiers can only be saved by injecting fluids or even blood directly into a bone. The device has a series of spikes along the circumference of the roughly quarter-sized circle, which are only for stability, so it will grab and hold on. In the center is a stiff, large-gauge needle through which the product is delivered.

The force needed to penetrate the bone is provided by the spring-loaded injector. There are a few bones that make for the most feasible sites. The two most preferred are the flat tibial surface along the shin and the sternum. If the soldier is in bad enough shape to need this, it most likely will not seem to hurt as much as it will when being removed. Quite often, the best location will be the sternum because it is easy to reach and provides a stable target.

If you were lucky enough to be selected to be an 18D (Special Forces Medical Sergeant), or an SOIDC (Special Operations Independent Duty Corpsman), another 3 months of Surgical, Dental, Disease and other subjects are in store for you, and could result in you receiving a BS degree. There is even a pathway to earning Physician Assistant credentials later on.

I’m a little murky on the field experiences of an NSOIDC, but I know that an SF medic on an A-team, now an ODA, is as good as it gets. You’re the closest thing to a doctor that many indigenous people will ever see. You can have a lot of responsibility, but you also have comprehensive training to prepare you. You also get all the free ammo you can carry.

The Surgical section was on a cycle break, but we got to tour the facility and see a couple of the surgical rooms and equipment. The portable sonogram that they use to guide their regional blocks reduces anesthetic use by about 80 percent. There were a few students practicing regional blocks on each other and using the sonogram. When they were done, we got to play with the portable ultrasound as well.

Regional blocks are a recent addition to potentially lifesaving tools. Besides giving a “local” anesthetic further up the nerves for some surgeries, by knowing the right locations and techniques, a whole area can be numbed, eliminating the need for general anesthesia sometimes. On the battlefield, sometimes a wound can be so painful as to incapacitate a soldier. In some cases, a regional block can numb the pain and allow the soldier to help get himself off the battlefield, freeing up others for a more vigorous defense.

Photo: Typical lab equipment for blood analysis, centrifuge not shown. (How Miller)

When we walked into the lab, which was not being used at the time, I said “Where’s the Lab?”

The only familiar things in sight were workbenches, a microscope and a bunch of cabinets. Apparently they still use reagents and centrifuges, but they were packed away, except for those in the ventilation hood. What they use now are a lot of electronic devices that do an incredible amount of analysis of blood samples, for example. They are compact enough to be useful in an ODA lab. These devices are constantly adding capabilities and they are expecting another significant upgrade soon.

In the hallway were numerous display cases showing the supplies that are typically available for use by the SF Medic. There is everything from syringes and swabs to autoclaves, sophisticated splints, and full kits and packs. I was searching for and delighted to find that the A team bible, the Merk Manual of diagnoses was available. The one we used was the eleventh edition, and a lot of that same information is in the current version.

Photo: The Hall of Heroes which honors SOF Medics that have died in combat. (How Miller)

We spent some time looking at the Hall of Heroes, SOF Medics that died in combat. A strong message of how serious the job is. 

Later we met with Mike Jones, trainer Mike Jackson, and a group of trainees at Charlie Mike’s Pub. But that’s another story.

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This story by How Miller entitled “18D Training Today” was first published in the April 2023 issue of the Sentinel. This monthly publication is published by Chapter 78 of the Special Forces Association. You can subscribe to it at this link. Top photo, by How Miller, is of one of the 18D training surgical units.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Boris.

The Center for Security Forces (CENSECFOR) instructors deep dive into the requirements, expectations, and experiences held at the Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) school. VBSS consists of volunteer Sailors of any Navy rate who participate in maritime boarding actions and tactics. Teams specialize in capturing enemy vessels, anti-terrorism, anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, conducting customs, safety, and other shipboard inspections.

“VBSS is used to combat trafficking, drug traffic, piracy, and smuggling and recently to combat the Somalian pirates,” said Chief Torpedoman’s Mate Paul Logan, instructor CENSECFOR. “The school house mission is to ensure the Sailors and the fleet can enforce the security tactics used not only to protect our assets but also our Sailors.”

Becoming a part of the VBSS team requires the completion of two different security reaction force schools, the ability to climb a 30-foot steel cable ladder, and a class two swimmer qualification.

“Most students come in without understanding how challenging some of the aspects of operating in water can be,” said Logan. “On week two we have a pool day which involves learning to swim with drags and carries to save other personnel on your team. They also have to climb that steel cable ladder, but from a moving rigid inflatable boat in the water. I think people underestimate how challenging that can be.”

Most students have little to no experience being a part of a boarding team when they first show up at the CENSECFOR school house.

“CENSECFOR fulfills the mission for VBSS by taking these students that generally have no real experience in being a part of a boarding team,” said Master-At-Arms 1st Class David Werlinger, course supervisor for the VBSS, noncompliant and boarding officer courses. “We give them the tools, tricks, and all the information to be able to go out there, join a team out at sea and be able to conduct those missions properly and safely.”

VBSS school is three weeks long. It’s structured in a crawl, walk and run course starting in the classroom, providing education information on the VBSS mission set, successfully climbing the steel cable ladder, marksmanship fundamentals, and understanding what’s needed to conduct the mission set before entering a qualifying live-fire exercise ensuring students have obtained the lessons taught throughout the first week.

“[The curriculum] starts with introductions, then we go into the basics of the VBSS mission set, then we go outside and prove you can climb the 30-foot steel cable ladder and our attrition rate for that is about five percent,” said Logan. “Then week two is mostly tactics.”

During the second week of VBSS school, students learn the basics of entering rooms, clearing hallways, and carrying out how to conduct an entire mission profile of a vessel. Instructors go over defense tactics with the students throughout the week. These consist of a lot of hand-to-hand combat, weapon retention, and personnel control.

“Week three we put it all together and we evaluate the students based on what they’ve learned for the first two weeks,” said Logan. “One day will be scenarios that are compliant, the next day will be scenarios that are less than compliant, and then that final day is all graded out scenarios.”
After students graduate from the course and are released to their respective VBSS teams with the understanding of their mission set, the instructors hope the students will quickly adapt to their new team to accomplish their jobs safely and efficiently.

“What I want them to take from the course is the stress and uncomfortable feelings they felt while in this class,” said Logan. “We should be raising our bar in the fleet to a level of excellence. Once we get back to that level of excellence, maybe future endeavors in regard to interactions with other countries that aren’t necessarily peaceful have a better chance of success.

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This article by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicholas Boris was first published on July 7, 2022, by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: Naval special operations forces from the Greek Underwater Demolition Team (DYK), Cypriot Underwater Demolition Team (UDT), and U.S. Navy Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) conduct Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) in Souda Bay, Greece, during a trilateral exercise, January 11-29. This trilateral maritime exercise strengthened cooperation and combined capabilities between Greece, Cyprus, and the United States in the European theater to better enable global operations. Photo by Sgt. Monique ONeill, SOCEUR, Jan 24, 2021.

The Special Operations Forces Training and Experimentation Center (SOF-TEC) at White Sands Missile Range at Fort Bliss, Texas was formally activated during a ceremony in March 2022. The event took place at the SOF-TEC Campus. The site has been a location where special forces pre-mission training has taken place in the past at Fort Bliss, Texas. It is now to become a premier irregular warfare training and experimentation center. Units from all U.S. and many partner special operations forces are expected to conduct training at SOF-TEC.

White Sands Missile Range is a unique location – a place where a variety of training can be conducted that is not available in many other parts of the United States. WSMR is located 100 miles north of Fort Bliss, Texas (Google maps). Units have the ability to train in an area that spans 2 million acres and where the airspace is controlled by the military.

Units from the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force have been training there for years. In addition, organizations like Space Force, NASA, and others frequent the training location. SOF-TEC is now a tenant directorate on WSMR and is under the operational control of 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Currently, SOF-TEC hosts Sage Eagle exercises each year. Special Forces detachment-level training and testing takes place on a regular basis. In addition, MARSOC and AFSOC tactical training events take place at the location. The training campus enables special operations forces to complete the required certification, validation, and verification process prior to conducting special operations in support of theater and national objectives at overseas locations. The location can support small twelve-man Special Forces operational detachments (SFODAs) up to Special Operations Task Forces (SOTFs).

SOF-TEC can support a wide range of training and experimentation activities. These include cyber, space, electronic warfare, decentralized mission command, joint force training, and more. In mid-2020, the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) began the process to establish a premier warfighting training venue. in 2021 the location was designated as the Special Operations Forces – Training Center (SOF-TC). At the time, a smaller army SOF pre-mission training site already existed aft Fort Bliss, Texas.

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Photo: U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Security Forces Airmen from the Air Force Reserve Component conduct vehicle convoy operations during Sage Eagle in White Sands, New Mexico Jan. 19, 2022. Sage Eagle is designed to assist Special Forces battalions on validating subordinate units on pre-mission training by focusing on foreign internal defense. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kacie Benak)

References:

WSMR SOF-TEC
https://www.wsmr.army.mil/Pages/SOF-TEC.aspx

Video – SOF-TEC Activation Ceremony, DVIDS, March 8, 2022, 31 minutes.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/834106/sof-tec-activation-ceremony

Podcast – SOF-TEC: The Premier IW Training and Experimentation Location for USSOF, The Indigenous Approach, March 18, 2022, 22 Minutes.
Podcast

Story by Travis Fontane.

The Special Operations Mountain Warfare Training Center on Fort Carson held a field training exercise as the culminating event for the Special Operations Winter Mountain Operator Course (SOWMOC) in Gunnison, Colorado, March 14-16, 2022.

Before graduating the Winter Mountain Course, service members jumped from a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter onto a frozen lake, then moved to their objective area where they observed and reported on enemy activity within the target zone. Those who complete the training are taught a variety of tactics and techniques such as how to endure, tactically move and properly use gear and techniques in austere environments.

The Special Operations Winter Mountain Operator Course is taught twice a year and takes place over months of training. The course consists of Special Operations Service Members from all military branches. Some of the students and cadre who attended are from 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

“A graduate of the Winter Mountain Operator Course has a lot of capability,” said the lead cadre from SOWMOC. “That service member can now go lead, advise and teach either members from their detachment or partner nations.”

The course’s concentration on mountain and winter environments are the perfect transition from desert terrain, explained the lead instructor. He also described the intent of the training and the conditions in which the course takes place are designed to challenge individuals: physically and mentally.

“We have realistic and extremely rigorous points of interest,” said the lead cadre. “This is probably one of the most physically demanding courses in the regiment, with many of the students losing weight during the training because it takes place at high altitude and during severe weather.”

The students not only learn how to tackle altitude and frigid temperatures, but to adapt and adjust to the environment. The circumstances may require utilizing skis, snowshoes and mechanized vehicles or relying on rudimentary methods like map reading and compass navigations. These teachings enable graduates of the SOWMOC to explore terrain thought to be tactically inaccessible.

“Graduates of the Winter Mountain Operator Course don’t just survive, they thrive in extreme conditions,” said the lead cadre. “They take away a vast amount of technical and experiential knowledge to be a force multiplier, leader and teacher.”

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This story by Staff Sgt. Travis Fontane was originally published on March 14, 2022 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: Green Berets with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) pull security and pack airdropped equipment during a final field training exercise held in Gunnison, Colorado, March 14-16, 2022. The exercise was held as part of a Special Operations Winter Mountain Operator Course, which included Special Forces Service Members from all military branches. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Travis Fontane)

The 10th Special Forces Group is based at Fort Carson, Colorado with one battalion forward deployed in Europe. The 10th SFG(A)’s area of responsibility is Europe.

By Spc. Monique O’Neill, SOCEUR.

Hungarian Special Operations Forces, U.S. SOF from the 352d Special Operations Wing and 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conducted training in Szolnok, Hungary October 25-31 to improve interoperability and integration between the NATO SOF allies.

Earlier this year, Hungarian and U.S. SOF participated in the U.S. Special Operations Command Europe-led exercise, Trojan Footprint 19, co-hosted by Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.

“We enjoyed Trojan Footprint very much, but we wanted to train with U.S. forces again with a focus on us. We always learn a lot from working with each other,” said a Hungarian SOF soldier.

Leaders of both SOF groups determined a need for additional partner training, especially Special Operations air task group capabilities for Hungary.

“Most of our engagements with U.S. Special Operation Forces were land heavy and we had limited interaction with U.S. SOF aviation,” said Brigadier General Tanas Sandor, Commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces. “The joint training with 352d SOW provided a unique opportunity for Hungarian SOF operators and provided a tool to build personal relationships and trust among participants.”

352d SOW flew U.S. Air Force CV-22B Ospreys from RAF Mildenhall, England to Szolnok to help train Hungarian SOF on infiltration and exfiltration operations, along with night combat mission profiles and low-level flight training.

“U.S. CV-22B Ospreys are capable of these missions any time day or night, and we look forward to opportunities to train with our NATO partners on these types of capabilities,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Horton, Vice Wing Commander of the 352d Special Operations Wing.

As part of the exercise, key leaders discussed developing the special operations aviation and personnel capabilities within each command in addition to participating in a CV-22B familiarization flight over the Danube River and Budapest.

“The flight was excellent. It was my first time to fly with CV-22. I have read a couple of articles about this aircraft previously but it exceeded all my previous expectations. It is fast, agile, maneuverable and I think perfectly fits to SOF support,” said Sandor.

This exercise enabled leaders from Hungarian SOF and 352d SOW to learn from each other, minimize communication barriers and familiarize war-fighting techniques.

“If we continue to come back here, not only do we gain access to our partner’s ranges and airspace, but we also develop a strong relationship with the Hungarian people,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Keith Snook, Commander of the 7th Special Operations Squadron. “We start to work more efficiently together but more importantly, we’re able to create a model to do it in the future with other allies and partners.”

Collective training events like this not only create unified SOF, but they enhance NATO’s overall ability to respond to threats from any direction.

“Opportunities like this not only showcase the cooperation between our countries, but also strengthen our capabilities, because when we exercise, we both end up stronger,” said Marc Dillard, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Budapest. “The coordination to make this event happen has been excellent. We look forward to other opportunities like this one to train with our NATO partners. Seeing the CV-22B Osprey in action was truly impressive!”

“Training with the Hungarian Defence Forces has been an amazing opportunity to share our best practices and gain that cooperation we need if we are called to respond as NATO partners,” said Horton. “During Trojan Footprint and now with the units here at Szolnok, we’ve enjoyed their (Hungary’s) hospitality and hard work throughout the exercises.”

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This article by Spc. Monique O’Neill was first published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on October 25, 2019. DVIDS content is in the public domain.