Sometimes, even the bravest need saving. It’s up to the highly trained Airmen who make up Pararescue (PJs) to provide those rescues. Combining medical skills with elite combat skills, these Airmen are experts in personnel recovery and combat search and rescue. Watch this pararescue video to learn more.

“U.S. Air Force Special Warfare – Pararescue”, USAF Recruiting, YouTube, Oct 19, 2023, 2 mins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3vVPalcGNS8

This video provides a history of Army SOF – Special Forces, Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, ARSOF aviation, and the Rangers. It covers the period of World War I to the present. The video was produced by the U.S. Army Special Operations History Office, United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) at Fort Liberty, N.C.

History of U.S. Army Special Operatons Forces, ARSOF History, YouTube, July 10, 2023, 13 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHQtj7B9UwY

Watch these three very excellent videos about the training one has to go through to become a Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC) in the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community.

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SWCC: Making an Operator, All Hands Magazine, July 4, 2023, YouTube

Episode 1, 16 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvVyDhGuSTw

Episode 2, 24 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d399gVkbU5c

Episode 3, 16 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q470w6HMoGQ

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Image by Austin Rooney, Defense Media Activity, July 5, 2023.

The Belfer Center of Harvard University and the Irregular Warfare Initiative of the Modern War Institute held a virtual panel discussion entitled Resistance to Russian Aggression: Irregular Warfare in Eastern Europe on Thursday, November 10, 2022.

Panelists include:

• LTG Antonio Fletcher, Commander NATO Special Operations HQ (NSHQ)
• BG Riho Uhtegi, Commander Estonian Defense League
• Petri Tuivonew, Secretary General Finnish Security Committee
• Nataliya Buguyova, Institute for the Study of War
• Doug Livermore, LTC, Special Forces officer

The topic of the Ukraine – Russia conflict was a constant topic through the discussion. The implementation of the Resistance Operating Concept (ROC) was also woven through the online event as well as the importance of ‘total resistance’, ‘territorial defense’, ‘whole of society approach’, and ‘resilience’. Also recognized was that preparation is needed prior to conflict to be able to resist an aggressor, the use of special operations forces helps to enable an effective resistance, and the importance of the total integration of all of society into a resistance and / or resilience movement.

The changing nature of ‘resistance’, as demonstrated by the Ukrainian forces, was noted by panelists as well. LTG Fletcher cautioned against characterizing the Ukraine Russian conflict as one of just ‘resistance’; the Ukrainians have incorporated a variety of means to fight the Russians – using information operations, modern tank killing methods, guerrilla resistance in occupied areas, networked communications, air defense, OSINT, and more.

Resistance to Russian Aggression: Irregular Warfare in Eastern Europe, YouTube, one hour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uH8JD-9SZXI

The commander of NATO Special Operations Forces Headquarters (NSHQ), LTG Antonio Fletcher, is the guest of a USSOCOM SOFCAST episode. He discusses his career in U.S. Army Special Forces, the role of NATO Special Operations Forces, leadership development, diversity of SOF, the evolution of missions for SOF over time, and the current state of the world.

Fletcher, one of the most respected leaders in U.S. Army Special Forces, talks about his journey to West Point, deciding to go the Special Forces route, and his early days on an ‘A-team’ with 7th Special Forces Group. He gives credit to his early success in the Army to mentors, fellow soldiers, officers, and senior NCOs he was associated with. Fletcher shares his insight on how to develop ‘teams’ and interacting with other colleagues.

He compares Special Forces ODA’s from the pre-GWOT era, during GWOT, to the Special Forces ODA’s post-GWOT. This includes the differences in soldier development, training, planning, preparation, missions, and deployments during these eras. He provides excellent insight into 7th Special Forces Group’s missions in South American and the employment of the group in Afghanistan for almost two decades.

Fletcher notes that the impact of SOF in the contemporary operational environment has shifted – to one of achieving short-term objectives to setting goals that provide a long-term effect. During the discussion the conversation shifts from U.S. Army Special Forces to the role of North Atlantic Treaty Organization Special Operations Forces Headquarters (NSHQ).

He explains the role of NSHQ and how it engages with European SOF. The Ukraine conflict has NATO special operations forces engaged in various activities. However, NSHQ is also engaged in many activities not related to the Ukraine conflict – as there are numerous other requirements as well. NSHQ has a critical role in building ‘partnerships’ and ‘relationships’ among SOF of Europe in a very complex security environment.

His views on how to interact with colleagues and approach to working with other nations is valuable insight. The host of SOFCAST, Sergeant Major Matt Parrish, and ‘Tony Fletcher’ have a discussion that is wide-ranging, informative, and interesting . . . and worth the time to watch.

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LTG Antonio Fletcher – Commander of NATO Special Operations Forces Headquarters (NSHQ), SOFCAST, USSOCOM, November 2, 2022, YouTube, one hour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3y-LlxQ1Xk

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Mark Grdovic shared stories about his time in Iraq with Task Force Viking while assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in 2003. While conventional and special operations forces were pushing northward from the south and west of Iraq towards Baghdad, the 10th SFG(A) infiltrated Northern Iraq to open up a northern front against the forces of Saddam Hussein.

The 10th Special Forces Group formed the nucleus of Task Force Viking – more officially known as Joint Special Operations Task Force -North (JSOTF-N). Also assigned to JSOTF-N was an element of the Special Boat Service (UK SBS). The mission was to disrupt Iraqi forces in Northern Iraq.

A significant portion of Iraq’s military forces were deployed north of Baghdad and a front opened up in the north would tie down some of these forces and prevent their movement south to reinforce against the attacks coming from the south. Much of those forces were protecting oil reserves located between Kirkuk and Mosul. Saddam Hussein was worried about losing Kirkuk and Mosul and he had two Republican Guard divisions along with other divisions to protect the region. Part of Task Force Viking’s mission was to prevent the Republican Guard divisions from deploying south of Baghdad.

The presentation includes important aspects of the detailed planning that took place prior to the invasion, the insertion of a pilot team prior to the invasion, working with the Central Intelligence Agency, coordination with the Kurdish resistance, Turkey’s role, Romania’s role, the “Ugly Baby” infiltration, and more. A lot of the coordination that took place prior to the invasion saw a lot of twists and turns – and Grdovic presents an entertaining version of these events.

Mark Grdovic’s presentation took place at the Special Forces Association Convention held in the Colorado Springs area near Fort Carson in October 2022. The convention was held to honor, remember, and recognize Green Berets and enablers with multiple special events, panels of speakers, and Special Forces Medal of Honor guests.

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Special Forces Association Convention 2022 Task Force Viking LTC (Ret) Grdovic, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), DVIDS, posted October 28, 2022, one hour and 15 minutes.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/862289/special-forces-association-convention-2022-task-force-viking-ltc-ret-grdovic

The Joint Special Operations University or JSOU is the “Think-Do Tank” center of U.S. special operations. JSOU was founded in 2000 by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) to serve as the academic center of excellence for special operations studies and research.

It offers 69 residence courses and 17 international courses. JSOU supports scholarly research and publishes monographs through the JSOU Press. It provides cutting-edge knowledge on the worldwide employment and applications of special operations forces.

Watch the video – Joint Special Operations – About JSOU, Think JSOU YouTube, October 21, 2022, 2 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBmagKmYHLE

The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services heard testimony on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, from special operations commanders on efforts to sustain special operations force readiness and transform the force for future security challenges. Witnesses included:

• Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan P. Braga, commander of Army Special Operations Command;
• Air Force Lt. Gen. James C. Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command;
• Navy Rear Adm. Hugh W. Howard III, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command;
• Marine Maj. Gen. James F. Glynn, commander of Marine Forces Special Operations Command.

Watch the video here:
Special Operations Commanders Testify on Force Readiness, DVIDS, April 27, 2022, 1 1/2 hours.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/841040/special-operations-commanders-testify-force-readiness

This video was published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: LTG Jonathan Braga, commander of United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). Image is a still from DVIDS video cited above on April 27, 2022.

This video depicts scenes from the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre (NMIOTC) course held in Greece in April 2021. The course is designed to improve the accuracy of snipers engaging stable or moving targets from land, air, and naval vessels.

The video was produced by Sgt. Patrik Orcutt of the U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR). The video was originally posted on the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on June 16, 2021. DVIDS content is in the public domain. Video is two minutes long.

Watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y3IwL8zBsk

U.S. Air Force Combat Aviation Advisors assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command conducted a three-month long training event with members of the Kenyan Air Force. This video depicts scenes from a culmination exercise that showcases the wide range of capabilities of the C-145A Combat Coyote aircraft. This light mobility aircraft is used for a variety of missions to include airdrop of supplies, medical evacuation, combat search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief operations, and transport of personnel and equipment. The aircraft was originally procured in 2009 to conduct non-standard aviation special air mobility missions. In 2010, AFSOC selected the C-145A to be operated primarily by CAAs.

U.S. Air Force video by Senior Airman Victoria Hadden, May 29, 2021, 3 minutes. Originally published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution System.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7diCEtkEUc