Books Archives - SOF News

Congressman Mike Waltz – Green Beret in Congress

SOF News — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 13:25:23 +0000

Mike Waltz, a Green Beret, has been elected to serve as a Congressman from Florida’s 6th congressional district. He has had a varied and interesting career. He served in U.S. Army Special for many years to include two tours in Afghanistan.

He is also a book author, Fox News Analyst, and small business owner. Previous jobs saw him working at the policy level at both the Department of Defense and Department of State.

He attended Virginia Military Institute and served for over 21 years in the Army attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Among his decorations are four bronze stars – two for valor. In addition to being a graduate of the Special Forces Qualification Course he was a graduate of the Ranger School.

He understands foreign policy from different perspectives – at ground level through his experience in Special Forces as well as at the policy level. He served as a counterterrorism advisor in the White House and at the Pentagon as a policy director in the Department of Defense during the Bush Administration.

He is also well versed on domestic issues. He co-founded a small business – Metis Solutions – with over 400 employees working in the United States, Europe, and in the Middle East.

As a Fox News contributor Mike Waltz provided his perspective on a regular basis on events around the world. His objective insight was always informative and accurate.

In addition to all of the above Waltz is a book author. Based on his experiences in the White House and the Department of Defense – as well as his time in combat on the ground in Afghanistan – he wrote the book Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret’s Battles From Washington to Afghanistan (2014).

With his business, government, and military experience he will do well in Congress representing his Florida district in his role as Congressman.

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Read more about Congressman Mike Waltz:
https://michaelwaltz.com

What Makes a Green Beret Special?

SOF News — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 15:07:11 +0000

By Steven Boyd Newman, MSG (R), SF

For the last five years I’ve been working on a screenplay, Kill or Capture, a true story about a team from 7th Special Forces Group. The men on this team and their story reached into my soul and took command of my thoughts, of my life. Their story launched me on a journey that led me to discover a great deal about myself as I struggled to answer the one question that seems to elude us all. “What makes a Green Beret special?”

Since I started working on their story, I have written a thousand pages of screenplay about their lives, about life as a soldier. This all started with my desire to see one of my books made into a film and so I adapted both of my books into screenplays. That took a great deal of effort. I spent hours and hours reading how-to-books, writing, researching the film industry. Let me tell you, the skills I learned in Operations & Intelligence course (O&I) came in handy. I went through before it became part of ANCOAC, but I digress. One lesson I would like to pass on… What we call “Operationalizing Intelligence” is called “Stalking” in the civilian world. Seems there is a fine line we shouldn’t cross. Who knew?

After seven months of full-time effort, I finished the first draft of their story. Shortly after that, I was on the phone with a friend in Los Angeles and I told him, “I’m done, stick a fork in me… I’ve got nothing left.” He simply replied, “Well Steve, there is always room for another Christmas story” and I was pissed. “I don’t write Christmas stories, I write war stories!” We chatted for a while longer as he tried to convince me, but after he hung up, I started thinking about it. I came to realize, Soldiers have Christmas. In fact, Christmas can be the most difficult time of year for the troops. It’s hard to be away from home in a war-torn land any time of year, let alone at Christmas. Some of us found it difficult to go home after returning from far off lands, especially at Christmas. Nobody understands, they’re so different. Nothing will ever be the same. I just can’t face them now.

In my research, I found inspiration from the Charles Dickens short story, “What Christmas is as We Grow Older”. ^(Dickens). So, I wrote a screenplay, One More Christmas, which is loosely based on Dickens’ work. My screenplay is a story about a wounded warrior who struggles with recovery until he finds true love and discovers his purpose in life. We all want the opportunity to go home, to see the people we love and care about the most. Some will get the chance, others won’t, but we’ve all been there, struggling with the decision. We’ve all struggled with the emotions that spring up during that time of year. It means something different to all of us, as was the case with our protagonist in One More Christmas. At least he had the chance, he had survived, but all he wanted was to get back to his unit, back on his team. Can anybody out there relate to that?

Long story short, I submitted One More Christmas and Kill or Capture to a screenwriting competition at the GI Film Festival in the summer of 2015. ^{(GIFF 15)} Kill or Capture didn’t get into the festival, but One More Christmas did, primarily because it fits perfectly into the festivals mission; which is dedicated to supporting the war to peace transition for veterans.

I was very proud of what I had accomplished and at this point, I had been writing for almost six years with some success. Nothing monumental, and I certainly hadn’t found a way of making a profit. Getting into the festival was a milestone of success and I wanted to celebrate. My way of doing that was to attend the festival and I enjoyed every minute of it. It was the first and last film festival I’ve attended. I went to every event. It was a lot of fun for many reasons, but one of the best reasons was I made a new friend. He is an SF Brother many of you may know, Kevin Knapp? In fact, there is a picture of him and me on the home page for the 2015 festival. Couple of barrel-chested freedom fighters out having fun.

Before I attended the festival, the organizers recommended that I join a group called, Veterans in Film and Television, LA. ^(VME) It was free for veterans and provided an opportunity to network with other veterans in the film industry. * Note VFTLA is now VME, Veterans in Media and Entertainment. Later I realized, having me sign up as a member of this non-profit was an easy way for the festival to vet me as a selectee. The good folks at VME asked for a DD-214 and I appreciated that. One thought, “I am who I say I am, nothing more and nothing less.” That said, I attended the festival and while there I met a bunch of film fans. I also met a great many producers, directors, actors… film makers in general and the experience was fantastic. One question I kept getting asked, “So you have a screenplay in the festival, what film school did you go to?” Well, I hadn’t been to film school and that seemed to be a non-starter for many. It meant I was an outsider, a nobody who just got lucky.

I like to think there was some talent involved, but the truth was, I hadn’t been to film school. So, I did a dangerous thing. I started thinking again. I started thinking about going back to school and that started me on another journey that seemed to give inspiration to a great many brothers and friends. I started film school at 53 years-old. I went to Oklahoma City Community College and received a Certificate of Mastery in Digital Cinema Production. Thank God for the Post 911 GI Bill.

Now, before you scoff at a community college in Oklahoma City, stop and think about this for a minute. I was taking classes from Oscar-winning producer, Gray Frederickson, God Father Part II. ^(Oscars) By the way, go to the link, Gray is the tall blonde headed guy in the video accepting the award on behalf of the crew. So… One of my first classes was screenwriting and when it was over, I rewrote Kill or Capture during the Christmas break, in the hope I might be able to submit if for consideration to other film festivals, or perhaps I might find a producer for it.

Fast forward to January 2016, I was back in school, learning cinematography, sound, lighting and spending a lot of time on Facebook. Just enjoying life in general. Oh, Facebook is the only way to keep up with kids these days. Anyway, I received a FB notice from VME… They were sponsoring a pitch fest for screenwriters at Lionsgate and were taking submissions; They wanted true stories about men, title and loglines only. A light bulb went off in my head. “Hey I have a story that fits those categories.” Therefore, I sent an email exactly in accordance with the instructions, something I learned to do in Phase I… you know, to follow instructions. I wrote, “Kill or Capture, a true story about a team of Green Berets and their Afghan Commandos who fought shoulder to shoulder against a hardened Taliban force.”

In February, I received an email asking for the specific setting and date. I wrote back, “Afghanistan – 2006.” That is all I wrote, nothing more, nothing less. Weeks passed, then on March 18th, 2016 I received a phone call from the founder of VME and she said in her whiskey-raspy voice like Janice Joplin, “Congratulations! You’ve been selected to pitch; can you be in Santa Monica on the 27th?” Without hesitation, I said “Sure!” I found out later that she was actually Angelina Jolie… I’ll save that one for our next visit to Charlie Mike. Tell it to you over a beer. Deal?

So, I called my wife at work and asked for permission to go… uhemmm…, I told her I was going to California. She said “Hold on, I’ll call you back.” I waited impatiently. Finally, she called and said, “Plane tickets are 1600 bucks, hotels are $500 a night.” That ruled out my trip… I’m sure she could hear the disappointment in my voice, but after a moment she said, “Hold on,” and hung up.

I waited all day, disappointed that I couldn’t go. Then she called back. “I have a plan. Lodging at the Los Angeles Air Force Base is only $60 a night, and we’ll drive.” Actually, what she meant was, “She would drive and I will sit there bored out of my mind the whole way.” I’m not sure how, but since I got remarried I have lost my privileges to my new wife who is always scared to death when I drive. I’m quick to remind her that, in my day, I had been through all kinds of tactical driving courses with SF, the State Department, 3cgi, even the Postal Service, you name it. Apparently, she doesn’t appreciate anti-lock brakes, or a good reverse out, J-turn with guns blazing. Hey, we’ve got to maintain our skills… right? I don’t know what her problem is.

Anyway… We went. I pitched. Then after waiting for six months I learned that we were selected out of over a thousand submissions and two dozen pitches at two separate pitch fests. We were selected for an opportunity to get Kill or Capture looked at by Lionsgate. I spent a year working with their acquisitions director just to prove I could write for them, and then another year and half working with the producer and director to figure it all out. In the meantime, I started a Master’s in Fine Art – Film program. Post 911 GI bill. Thank God, again!

I have spent the months since graduating in May, traveling the country, meeting all the guys who were on the team and rewriting the script and creating character descriptions, only to be asked by the folks in LA, “What makes this team, their story worthy of film versus any one of the other thousands of stories of valor and sacrifice emanating from this war?” I… I… I said; “Let me give it a think.” I know, dangerous thing to do, right? They weren’t challenging me by asking. I knew right away, they need to know the answers for their investors and well, I started working on the answers… It took me longer than I thought to come up with them.

A few days ago, I came across a Ted Talk . . . Love those, don’t you? I came across this Ted Talk , by a psychologist who sought to define what makes people successful and she came to the conclusion that it was grit. “What makes a child successful is not social intelligence, not good looks, not IQ, it is grit. It takes grit to become successful. Grit is passion and perseverance in achieving long-term goals. Grit is having stamina, sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years. Grit is working really, really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life-like it is a marathon not a sprint.” ^(TED)

Here is part of my answer. Green Berets demonstrate grit by following through on their commitments. They understand failure is not a permanent condition. A Green Beret is a leader. He has tested himself against the most difficult challenges the Army has to offer and he moves through life with confidence in his own abilities, even if he stands alone. He knows that no matter how bad things get, he always has that little something extra to give. He has the ability and desire to go the extra mile. He loves his country and his fellow Soldier. He is a warrior, comfortable in his own skin. He is a quiet professional. (Quiet, not silent.)

But what makes this team and their story worthy of film? Well, this is a true story about the sacrifices for one another made by the men on a team of Green Berets. If not for their individual heroic actions and dedication to each other, the team would have been overrun. With fearless personal example they inspired their Afghan brothers to continue the fight against overwhelming odds. After defeating a multitude of determined enemy attacks, saving the lives of their comrades and preventing the destruction of the team, they lead their Afghan brothers to safety in order to live and fight another day. This is the true story of a Special Forces team, a team of Green Berets in combat. But that’s not the complete answer.

What makes their story worthy of film? These men exemplify the warrior spirit and once again prove that one man with courage can make a difference. Let me reiterate that. These men had the courage to stand up against overwhelming odds and make a difference. A difference in not only their lives, but in the lives of many, many people, most of whom will never know or understand what they did or why. That is what makes their story worthy of film. That is what makes their story so compelling to me. That is why I have spent five years, sustained only by hope, working on their story, working to bring it to life on the big screen. And you know what? It might just happen if we have the grit to see it through. It has only been five years, that’s smoking it from what I hear.

One last word, all you brothers out there sitting in your basement under a lamp in your underwear cruising the internet and eating Cheetos need to stop complaining about this generation of millennials. You need to get off your asses, get some sunshine and learn to live a little. They got this if you’ll have their backs. If you don’t believe me, just wait till Kill or Capture comes out, you’ll see.

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Works Cited

Dickens, Charles. http://www.free-short-stories.org.uk/charles-dickens-what-christmas-is-as-we-grow-older.htm. n.d. 15 August 2018.

GIFF 15. http://giff15.com/screenwriting-competition/. 18 May 2015. 15 08 2018.

VME. http://www.vftla.org/veteran/steven-b-newman#.W3RLgpNKiu4. n.d. LA Veterans in Film and Television. 15 08 2018.

Oscars. The Godfather Part II Wins Best Picture: 1975. n.d. Frederickson Gray. 08 2018. .

TED. Angela Lee Duckworth / Ted Talk Education, Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. n.d. TED. 15 2018. .

Photo

Pulling security at Camp Price, Afghanistan, August 11, 2007. U.S. Army Photo by Specialist David Gunn.

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Steven Boyd Newman is an accomplished writer with a lifetime of real-world experience to draw from. His perspective as a Green Beret combat veteran brings truth and realism to the characters he creates. He is a screenwriter and filmmaker who reveals the heart and spirit of our nations’ greatest warriors and shows them for who they really are; the young men and women who grew up next door and went on to become something extraordinary.

A graduate of the United States Army Special Forces Qualification Course, Steven served 21 years in the Green Berets. He holds a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration from Columbia College where he graduated Cum Laude while still on active duty. He has also gained a Certificate of Mastery in Digital Cinema Production from Oklahoma City Community College where he studied film production under Oscar-winning Film Producer, Gray Frederickson, “God Father Part II.” Steven also holds a Masters in Fine Art – Film, from Watkins College of Art in Nashville, TN where he graduated Cum Laude in May 2018. Steven currently resides in Tennessee where he continues to write about life as a soldier while helping others, especially veterans, achieve their creative dreams.

Modern Political Warfare – RAND (2018)

SOF News — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 03:17:02 +0000

RAND Corporation has published a 355-page paper entitled Modern Political Warfare : Current Practices and Possible Responses (April 2018). Those readers in the special operations community will recognized the names of many of the co-authors of this paper: Linda Robinson, Todd C. Helmus, Raphael Cohen, and several others.

This study examines political warfare as practiced today by nations and nonstate actors. The research was sponsored by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) G-9. The contents of the paper are listed below by chapter.

Chapter 1 – Introduction
Chapter 2 – History of U.S. Political Warfare
Chapter 3 – Case Study: Russia
Chapter 4 – Case Study: Iran
Chapter 5 – Case Study ISIL
Chapter 6 – Attributes of Modern Political Warfare
Chapter 7 – Influence Communications Lessons for the United States
Chapter 8 – Effective Statecraft and Integration of Measures Short of War
Chapter 9 – Conclusion

This paper is a good read for those in the SOF community. Chapter 8 provides eight recommendations for the U.S. military and U.S. special operations forces (SOF) in particular as they provide many of the capabilities used in political warfare.

www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1772.html

Special Operations News Update 20171204

SOF News — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 06:00:42 +0000

SOF News Update 20171204 – USSOCOM 2018 Fact Book, Metz on the demise of COIN, book review No Front Line, award for “Spooky 43” aircrew, more to do in Iraq, armed drones over Niger, SOCSouth cdr promoted, USASOC birthday, Mattis abroad, ‘SFA / TAA’ not the answer, Thompson sub-machine gun in Vietnam War, AFSOC hurricane support, and more.

USSOCOM 2018 Fact Book. Each year the United States Special Operations Command provides a publication highlighting the commands and missions of USSOCOM. It is a glossy presentation that provides some facts and figures on the worldwide activities of U.S. special operations. Worth a look.
www.dvidshub.net/publication/issues/36757

Book Review – No Front Line. Chris Masters new book – No Front Line – is a comprehensive history of Australia’s Special Forces involvement in the Afghan War for over 12 years. (The Australian, Dec 2, 2017).

Armed Drones over Niger. The African country of Niger exploded onto the headlines when four U.S. Soldiers of the 3rd Special Forces Group were killed in an ambush by a terrorist group operating from across the border in Mali. One aspect of the mission that received criticism was the apparent lack of timely air support for the small patrol operating in a dangerous region. It appears that the Niger government has given approval for the U.S. to operate armed drones in their airspace. This will be a significant improvement for the force protection of U.S. special operations (and other units as well) that are operating in Niger. Read “Armed US Drones to Start Flying Over Niger”, Voice of America, November 30, 2017.

More to Do in Iraq. Emma Sky, a Brit Middle East expert, has wrote up reasons why the United States should not leave Iraq. ISIS still exists, although in a different form, but it still retains the capacity to conduct attacks internationally. The state of Iraq still needs to be strengthened and the U.S. would leave a vacuum if it left now. Sky provides us with a little bit of history on how we got from 2003 to 2014. She then maps out the political landscape of where we are now after the three year battle against ISIS (2014 – 2017). Most important, she offers ways for the United States to continue to be engaged in Iraq. Read “Mission Still Not Accomplished in Iraq”, Foreign Affairs, December 2017.

USASOC Birthday. On December 1, 1989 the United States Army Special Operations Command was activated. The was activated just prior to Operation JUST CAUSE (Panama) and Operation DESERT SHIELD and Operation DESERT STORM.

AFSOC Hurricane Support. The 27th Special Operations Wing responded very quickly to the ravages of Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean. Medics from the 27th SOW were some of the first medical professionals on the ground in the initial days. (USAF Schriever Air Force Base, Nov 29, 2017.

History of Thompson SMG in Vietnam. A short history of the Thompson submachine gun used during the Vietnam War. Read “The Tommy Gun ‘In Country’: The Thompson SMG in Vietnam”, American Rifleman, December 1,2 017.

SOCSouth Commander Promoted. A Navy SEAL has been promoted to the rank of rear admiral (upper half). Collin Green has been the commander of Special Operations Command South since 2016. (DVIDS, December 1, 2017).

Award for “Spooky 43” Aircrew. In November 2016 an AC-130U Gunship provided close-air-support to a U.S. Special Forces team and 43 Afghan soldiers near Kunduz, Afghanistan. During the course of two hours of intense combat the AC-130U repeatedly fired its weapons against ground targets threatening the Green Berets. Read “Heroic Spooky 43 aircrew receives the Mackay Trophy”, U.S Air Force, December 1, 2017.

Opinion – Review of SFQC Needed. A local North Carolina paper stepped out and commented on the controversy surrounding the Special Forces Qualification Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Read “Our View: Special-ops review is wise”, The Fayetteville Observer, December 2, 2017.

Mattis Traveling Abroad. Secretary of Defense is (was) overseas hitting a number of countries during a five day trip. First up was Egypt (with 1/3 of the Arab population and a terrorist problem in the Sinai. The next stop was in Jordan to attend the Aqaba Process (current concern is West Africa). Then its on to Pakistan (love to hear those discussions) and finally Kuwait. Much of his trip is to coordinate and support the ‘network’ of countries in the fight against ISIS and other insurgent / terrorist groups.

Metz on the Demise of COIN. Steve Metz, of the Army War College, writes about the failures of counterinsurgency doctrine as a way of stopping terrorism. He advocates limited COIN operations to fight terrorism – utilizing a “clear” methodology – and skipping the “hold” and “build” aspects of COIN. Read “Abandoning Counterinsurgency: Reviving Antiterrorism Strategy”, Parameters, Autumn 2017.

Book on Afghanistan – In the Warlord’s Shadow by Dan Green

John Friberg — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 06:00:56 +0000

Dan Green has provided us with a book that details the U.S. special operations forces (SOF) participation in an innovative method to combat the insurgents in Afghanistan. The Village Stability Operations (VSO) and Afghan Local Police (ALP) were programs to energize local support for the Afghan national, provincial, and district government institutions in remote and inaccessible areas where conventional U.S., NATO, and Afghan security forces were scarcely distributed.

The Village Stability Operations program was designed to work along three lines of effort – security, governance, and development. A big part of the VSO program was the establishment of a local police force called the Afghan Local Police. Special operations forces from the U.S. Army Special Forces, U.S. Navy SEALs, and U.S Marines (MARSOC) were embedded in villages, communities, or district centers to work the three lines of effort of VSO and to help establish and train the ALP. In his book, Dan Green provides a detailed history of how SOF was able to stabilize the southern Afghan province of Uruzgan.

Dan Green is the author of two previous books – Fallujah Redux and The Valley’s Edge. Dan Green is a Defense Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy focusing on counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and stability operations in the Middle East and Central Asia. He is a reserve officer with the U.S. Navy with several deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq as both a Naval officer and various civilian agencies. His time in Afghanistan includes a stint as a tribal and political engagement officer in Uruzgan province (2012), as a ISAF Liaison Officer to the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Interagency Provincial Affairs in Afghanistan (2009-2010), and as a civilian with the State Department as the political advisor to the Tarin Kowt Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Uruzgan province (2005-2006). Dan Green has also served two tours in Iraq (2007) and (2015-2016).

The book by Dan Green is now available on Amazon.com at the link below.

www.amazon.com/Warlords-Shadow-Special-Operations-Afghans/dp/161251815X/

Terrorism Update – News, Papers, Pubs, Analysis, & Commentary

SOF News — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 06:28:51 +0000

Terrorism Update 20170110 – U.S. Department of Statement CT Bureau notes for 2016, Perspectives on Terrorism (December 2016), CTC Sentinel, book review of Blood Year: The Unraveling of Western Counterterrorism, and more.

DoS CT Bureau Update 2016. The U.S. Department of State’s Counterterrorism Bureau has been busy for the past year. Some of the highlights of the CT Bureau’s counterterrorism diplomatic initiatives include the designation of five new Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and numerous individuals. A core aspect of the U.S. Counter-ISIL strategy is to prevent the travel of foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) to and from the conflicts in Iraq and Syria. Read more in “2016 in Review: Advancing Counterterrorism Policy”, DIPNOTE, January 3, 2017.

CTC Sentinel Nov / Dec 2016. The Combating Terrorism Center’s CTC Sentinel (of West Piont) is now available online. Numerous articles about terrorism.
www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/november-december-2016

How to Counter Violent Extremism. One observer says it needs to be a comprehensive approach. Read “Future Counter Terrorism Modeling”, by Jack Gaines, LinkedIn Pulse, December 23, 2016.

Book Review – Blood Year: the Unraveling of Western Counterterrorism. A review of a new book on terrorism. James Dobbins, a former intel guy, provides his thoughts on David Kilcullen’s newest book . (Prism, Dec 2016).

Perspectives on Terrorism. Volume X, Issue 6, December 2016 is now available online from the Terrorism Research Initiative (TRI). Articles include “Jihadi Terrorism in Europe: The IS-Effect”, “Foreign Fighters in Syria”, “Jihadism in Norway”, “The French Iraqi Networks”, and many others.
www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot

JSOU Publications – Good Reading for the SOF Operator

SOF News — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 00:00:43 +0000

JSOU Publications – for the intellectual special operations operator who is still out there on the ground and the former action guy (FAG) who now works on staff. The Joint Special Operations University or JSOU located at the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill Air Force Base has an extensive library. The JSOU also publishes papers, books, and reports about special operations. Many of these documents are available to the public online. Some of the JSOU publications presented during 2016 include:

IS and Cultural Genocide: Antiquities Trafficking in the Terrorist State

Cultural Intelligence for Special Forces Personnel

The Evolution of Global SOF Enterprise from a Partner Perspective

SOF and a Theory of Modern Terrorism

A Comprehensive and Proactive Approach to Unconventional Warfare

You can visit the JSOU Press Publications site:

https://jsou.libguides.com/jsoupublications/home

Green Beret Explores the Art and Science of Open Fire Cooking

SOF News — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 07:05:58 +0000

Cooking with fire – William Oatis, a U.S. Army Special Forces soldier, has been on a one-person mission to travel the world and figure out the best way to reintroduce Mankind to the dying craft of cooking with an open fire. Oatis, a native of Mississippi, was a Green Beret in 20th Special Forces Group of the Mississippi Army National Guard from the early 2000s to 2013. He currently is assigned to Special Operations Command South in a reserve billet.

Oatis has spent the last five years traveling through over 70 countries on six continents researching the many different ways to cook. A lifetime hobby of cooking has led him to explore the art of outdoor cooking. He is now focused on traveling the world, researching the history of cooking, writing books, and designing tools to make live-fire cooking practical.

Oatis is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi (1997) with a BA in History. He has had several vocations to include Green Beret (3 tours in Afghanistan), professional portrait photographer, book author, outdoor cook, and more.

Listen to a one-hour long podcast where he talks about outdoor cooking and his research on cooking with live fire in William Oatis – Open Fire Cooking.

Visit William’s website:

http://www.asador.co

Asador – Mastering the Craft of Cooking with Fire

The photo above is republished with permission of Asador.

PRISM Dec 2016 – “Special Operations in a Chaotic World”

SOF News — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 18:36:28 +0000

PRISM Dec 2016 – The latest release of Prism Dec 2016 (Volume 6, No 3) is entitled “Special Operations in a Chaotic World”. The publication is from the Center for Complex Operations of the National Defense University. There are a number of interesting and informative articles in this issue – some are listed below:

“Special Operations Doctrine: Is it Needed?”

“Need Authorities for the Gray Zone”

“The Limits of Special Operations Forces”

“Regional Understanding and Unity of Effort”

“Context is King”

“Special Operations and Conventional Forces Integration, Interoperability, and Interdependence”

“Reaching Forwad in the War Against the Islamic State”

“Resistance Dynamics and Social Movement Theory”

“The SOF Experience in the Philippines and the Implications for Future Defense Strategy”

Also three book reviews, an interview with Stan McChrystal, and foreword by General Tony Thomas (COMUSSOCOM).

http://cco.ndu.edu/PRISM-6-3/

SOF in 2016 – The Year That Was . . .

SOF News — Sat, 31 Dec 2016 08:00:38 +0000

2016 – “The Year That Was”. A collection of articles that look back at 2016 in terms of national security, defense, Middle East, Afghanistan, India, Africa, books, war, conflict, and . . . of course . . . special operations.

Middle East in 2016

The Middle East . . . Read more in “The Year that Was in the Middle East”, Lawfare, December 21, 2016. See also “Brookings expert’s takes on the biggest Middle East stores of 2016”, Brookings, December 28, 2016.

Syria. Russia (as well as Iran) embraced Syria and saved the Assad regime – one of its (Russia) best achievements was using its SOF and airpower to help capture Aleppo. The U.S. has been sidelined, a peace treaty negotiated in late December, and the Syrian Kurds are wondering when the U.S. will sell them out (as has happened many times before).

Iraq. ISOF has taken a leading role in the capture of Mosul (and previously other cities as well) but suffered 50% casualties in the 1st phase of the Mosul campaign. The tide has turned against the Islamic State as it suffers from territorial losses but the conflict with ISIS is far from over. The Kurds of Iraq are looking at a more autonomous future but it isn’t assured.

Turkey. A failed-coup, purging of many of its senior military officers, intervention in Syria (a defense against Kurdish gains), and a drift from the U.S. and NATO.

Yemen. If there was a conflict off the radar it is the one in Yemen. Activity of U.S. SOF in Yemen seems on again and off again. Our national interest, military and political objectives, and commitment seems to be either unknown or misunderstood by many. However, the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Penisula (AQAP) organization is considered extremely dangerous (in terms of striking the homeland) and U.S. drone strikes in Yemen against al-Qaida continue. To that end (it seems) the U.S. is supporting the Saudi coalition fighting the Houthi rebels (who are supported by Iran).

Jordan. Three Green Berets lost their lives in an armed attack by a gunmen in November. They were members of 5th Special Forces Group from Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Jordan is a close ally and one of the more stable Middle East countries.

South Asia in 2016

South Asia. Things don’t seem to be getting better in this part of the world. Afghanistan is still a mess and the India-Pakistan conflict may be heating up again.

Afghanistan – 2016 and Upcoming Challenges. For Afghanistan, 2016 was another year of good and bad. On a good note the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) have stayed loyal to the government, have not collapsed with the withdrawal of most of the Coalition forces from Afghanistan, and continue to improve in some functional areas. The government revenue – strangely – went up from taxes and other revenue sources. However, there is lots that has gone sour. The National Unity Government of Ghani and Abdullah can be counted as a failure and the Afghan security forces made no headway in degrading or defeating the Taliban. The Taliban control more territory since 2001. The Taliban mounted offensives in several areas of the country including Kunduz, Uruzgan, Farah, and Helmand province. Read “Challenges and Opportunities for Afghanistan in 2017”, The Diplomat, December 29, 2016.

Afghan Special Security Forces (ASSF). The one bright spot about the conflict in Afghanistan has been the performance of the special operations kandaks of the Ministry of Defense and the special police units of the Ministry of Interior like the Crisis Response Unit (CRU). The Afghan government is seeking U.S. funding to expand the Afghan Local Police (ALP) from 30,000 to 40,000 – if the Afghans can institute the needed ALP reforms this could happen (a positive thing). There is something to be said about having competent Train, Advise, and Assist (TAA) teams working on a daily basis with tactical units. Unfortunately, the U.S. special forces community was hit hard with SF casualties this year in Afghanistan. Killed were Green Berets from 1st, 3rd, 7th, 10th, and 19th Special Forces Group.

India – Year in Review. India’s SOF units were busy and the military forces (including SOF) saw steps toward modernization. Read “From surgical strike to 80 martyred personnel, 2016 a mixed year for Army”, Business Standard, December 29, 2016.

Pakistan. A continuing thorn in the side of India (Kashmir) and a direct threat to Afghanistan (support of Haqqani Network and Taliban) – Pakistan also suffers from terrorism. Some would say a ‘self-inflicted wound’. Read more in “Pakistan’s Counterterrorism Failures”, Gandhara Blog (Radio Free Europe), December 29, 2016.

Africa in 2016

AFRICOM’s Top Stories in 2016. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) has had a busy year. Read more in “Year in Review – AFRICOM’s tops stories in 2016”, United States Africa Command, December 28, 2016. Poaching has emerged as a big issue – this problem never seems to go away and the U.S. is taking (perhaps half-hearted) some efforts to assist in the anti-poaching effort. China seems intent on continuing its presence in Africa and its military base in Djibouti (next to the French and U.S. base) should assist it in this objective. But what has AFRICOM’s attention is the Islamic State, Boko Haram, and Al-Shabaab . . . and to a lesser extent . . . the LRA. AFRICOM has big plans for the next year – see “New in 2017: Bigger exercises, more engagements in Africa”, Army Times, December 29, 2016.

SOCAFRICA Spread Thin. AFRICOM’s special operations component that handles SOF missions and operations for the African continent has been extremely busy. With 54 countries on the continent there is a lot of area to cover. There is lots of terrorist activity, security training and cooperation, and JCETs to occupy SOCAFRICA.

Everyone is in the Fight. MARSOC FID teams and 3rd Special Forces Group teams have had a leading role in SOCAFRICA’s operations, exercises, JCETs, and training events. 10th Special Forces Group has a piece of North Africa (heads up the FLINTLOCK annual exercise, which is a far cry from the FLINTLOCKs of old that took place in Germany in the 60s and 70s). 19th Special Forces Group stays busy with JCETs and exercises in Africa as well. 20th Special Forces Group heads up the effort against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) as they fill the ranks of SOCFWD-CA. NSW and AFSOC are also spread across the continent. Lots of former SOF have found some meaningful contract work in Somalia, Kenya, and other African locations working for SOCAFRICA, AFRICOM, or other governmental agencies.

Somalia. There is a U.S. SOF presence in Somalia – sort of a ‘shadow war’. In 2016 the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) made progress in its operations against al Shabaab. However, Ethiopia (a member of AMISOM) has been withdrawing its troops and the AMISOM mission may come to a close. Some former SOF are working in a contract basis there and the State Department may be stepping up its involvement soon.

Libya. The U.S. (and other European allies) have quietly assisted various factions in Libya to defeat the Islamic State enclave in Sirte with airpower (Navy fix-wing and Marine Cobras took part), ISR, and SOF on the ground. A big question is what happens next in Libya. Can a strong central government (Government of National Accord in Libya) emerge that can reconcile the various political entities and militias? In order to do that a strong security force has to be built that is professional, non-political, and competent. Certainly a classic Security Force Assistance (SFA) mission ideal for European nations like Britain and Italy (with a little help from U.S. SOF).

Nigeria & Lake Chad Basin. SOCAFRICA has been in the fight against Boko Haram – probably one of the most dangerous groups in the world at this time. U.S. SOF and conventional units as well have provided assistance to Niger, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Chad to develop a unified effort against this terrorist and insurgent group. Exercises like FLINTLOCK continue to improve the regional cooperation among various African military organizations in this part of Africa. Nigeria’s attempt to buy the A-29 Super Tucano counterinsurgency aircraft from the United States failed and it is now in talks with Russia and Pakistan for a viable close air support fixed wing aircraft. While AFRICOM says Boko Haram is weakened it is still a threat.

Uganda Region. SOCFWD-CA’s mission continues against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Although its ranks have been severely diminished it still has managed to survive. In October 2011 a 100-man U.S. Army Special Forces contingent deployed to help defeat Joseph Kony and his vicious band. A good information operations campaign (MISO folks can count this as a success) encouraging LRA fighters to defect (“come home”) has helped reduce the ranks of the LRA.

Other Spots. We won’t go into Ethiopia, Kenya and other locations.

Terrorism in 2016

The Big Two. The two biggest terrorist organizations currently posing a threat to U.S interests are the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. Both have done well in mastering the information domain or terrorist use of social media. In addition they continue to pose a long-term threat to the U.S. homeland as well as to our allies on the European continent. A big part of the U.S. strategy is to target the leaders of these groups and to deny them sanctuary where they can plan, prepare, and launch attacks against U.S. interests.

A Resurgent al-Qaeda. The Islamic State is getting a lot of press. Al-Qaeda, on the other hand, seems content with staying off the radar screen. Publicity draws counter terrorism resources. The terrorist organization was severely hurt during the post-9/11 decade and, in part, replaced by the Islamic State in many areas of the world. But al-Qaeda is making a come-back. Read more in “A more dangerous long-term threat: Al-Aaida grows as ISIS retreats”, The Guardian, December 29, 2016. See also Bruce Hoffman’s (Georgetown University) article “Al Qaeda: Quietly and Patiently Rebuilding”, The Cipher Brief, December 30, 2016.

Islamic State in Decline? ISIS has seen its territory in Iraq reduced significantly. It has taken some losses in Syria as well (thanks to the Syrian Kurds). Libyan government and militia factions have chased ISIS out of Sirte, Libya (wonder where they went to?), and the ISIS footholds in Afghanistan have been reduced (by U.S. drones, U.S. SOF, ANASF, and the Taliban). But ISIS is adaptive and will still be around for a long time. While progress has been made some critics are hesitant to declare victory. See Rita Katz’s article “2016 in Review: Barack Obama’s War on the Islamic State has Failed”, INSITE Blog on Terrorism & Extremism, December 30, 2016.

How to Fight Terrorism in 2017? Matthew Olsen, former director of the National Counterterrorism Center, was recently (Dec 30) interviewed by The Cipher Brief on how to confront terrorism over the next year.

Defense Topics in 2016

DoD’s Top 10 Issues in 2016. The U.S. Department of Defense published a report that highlighted the Defense Department’s top ten issues for 2016. They included delivering ISIL a lasting defeat, building the force of the future, rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific region, standing with our European allies, thinking outside the five-sided box, Resolute Support for Afghan security forces, investing for the future, recognizing our best, a new generation of defense leaders, and taking care of our people. See 2016 Year in Review, Department of Defense, December 22, 2016.

Gender Integration. Putting women into combat training and combat units and the integration of females into SOF has had mixed results. While three women graduated from the demanding Ranger School in 2015 – it appears that none have achieved the coveted Green Beret or SEAL Trident. The Marines gender integration plan seems uncertain as well.

Navy. According to one observer NAVSPECWARCOM continues to wield a disproportionate amount of influence within the SOF community – especially at USSOCOM. On a positive note the Sailors no longer have to wear those ‘blueberry’ uniforms that so effectively camouflage those who venture overboard. Former SEALs continue their leading role in the entertainment business with more movies, TV documentaries, books, and speaking engagements as a result of their past successful exploits like the Bin Ladin operation.

2016 is Another Big Year for SOF. The nature of conflict over the past several years and most likely into the foreseeable future has seen an increased use of special operations forces in the ‘Gray Zone’. Using SOF and drones helped keep the Obama administration from putting ‘boots on the ground’ in many of the overseas conflicts. Read more in SOF, Obama, and the Light Footprint. Of course, the U.S. isn’t the only nation to use special operations forces effectively. Our SOF allies can be found fighting alongside U.S. SOF in Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, and a few other places. And, of course, Russia has its SOF units working hard in Crimea, Ukraine, and Syria as a component of their strategy of political warfare.

NATO: Aghanistan, Russia, and Immigration. NATO reaffirmed its support for Afghanistan with positive outcomes from the Brussels Conference (fall) and Warsaw Summit (summer). The Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan will continue until 2020. In addition, NATO has been occupied with the potential threat of Russia to the Ukraine, Poland, and Baltic States. Finland, Norway, and Sweden are feeling the pressure. NATO is responding with an increase of NATO exercises in Eastern Europe and positioning of NATO units forward into Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Conventional forces stationed forward may help but NATO needs to increase its ability to stem the use of hybrid warfare by Russia. Immigration is a side issue with implications for maritime assets of NATO.

Intelligence in 2016

Biggest Spy Stories of the Year. Intelnews.org brings us the “Year in review: The 10 biggest spy-related stories of 2016”, December 29, 2016. Russia’s military intelligence organization is making a comeback – see “The GRU: Putin’s No-Longer-So-Secret Weapon”, The Daily Beast, 31 Dec 2016.

Books Archives - SOF News

Congressman Mike Waltz – Green Beret in Congress

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What Makes a Green Beret Special?

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Modern Political Warfare – RAND (2018)

Special Operations News Update 20171204

Book on Afghanistan – In the Warlord’s Shadow by Dan Green

Terrorism Update – News, Papers, Pubs, Analysis, & Commentary

JSOU Publications – Good Reading for the SOF Operator

Green Beret Explores the Art and Science of Open Fire Cooking

PRISM Dec 2016 – “Special Operations in a Chaotic World”

SOF in 2016 – The Year That Was . . .

Middle East in 2016

South Asia in 2016

Africa in 2016

Terrorism in 2016

Defense Topics in 2016

Intelligence in 2016

Other Topics in 2016