SOF News Update 20180305 -PSYOP and Consumption Theory, SFABs, OSS Gold Medal, CT strategy, Confederate SF, OSS X-2, spies in Boston, Niger SF mission, and more.
PSYOP, TAs, and Theories. A member of the 5th PSYOP Battalion at Fort Bragg, NC discusses the role of brand loyalty with target audiences (TA) by analyzing the relationship between Consumption Theory and TA behavior. (Small Wars Journal, March 3, 2018).
SFABs and SF. The 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade is now deployed to Afghanistan. It will field about 36 combat advisor teams to brigade and kandak level for the “Train, Advise, Assist, Accompany, and Enable” (TA3E) mission. Read more on the relationship between the SFABs and Special Forces in “On the Security Force Assistance Brigade”, Partisan Source, March 2, 2018.
Book on Confederate SF. A new book available on March 5th highlights a Confederate Special Forces unit that operated behind lines (in Union Army-held areas) during the Civil War. Author D. Michael Thomas has penned Wade Hampton’s Iron Scouts. (Fairfax County Times, Mar 2, 2018).
Trump’s CT Strategy. A former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council (2015-2017) – Joshua Geltzer – examines the President’s counterterrorism strategy. “Whatever Happened to Trump’s Counterterrorism Strategy?”, The Atlantic, March 1, 2018.
OSS X-2. On March 1, 1943 the director of the Office of Strategic Services created the Counterintelligence Division. Read the history of this secretive organization in “OSS Creates First CI Division”, Central Intelligence Agency, March 1, 2018.
North Korea’s Infiltration Subs. An interesting story about two submarines dispatched by North Korea to land commandos on South Korea territory. Both missions ended in tragedy. See “Iron Coffin: Inside North Korea’s infiltration submarine”, Asia Times, March 4, 2018.
Testimony on Niger SF Mission. A U.S. general who led the investigation into the ISIS-linked ambush of four Special Forces Soldiers in Niger will be testifying before the U.S. House on Tuesday, March 6th. See “General faces questions over Niger ambush that killed four US soldiers”, Washington Examiner, March 3, 2018.
FBNC Combatives Tournament Invitational. Fort Bragg held a combatives championship for Army members from across the United States. Several of the fight categories were won by SF Soldiers. Ft Campbell did well. Some of the events were held in the 3rd Special Forces Group Close Quarter Combatives Facility. Read “Fort Campbell prevails in Fort Bragg Combatives Tournament Invitational”, The Fayetteville Observer, March 3, 2018.
SF Soldier Remembered. A Special Forces soldier who died more than 20 years ago in a training accident is remembered by his daughter. “Fallen Fort Bragg soldier’s legacy lives on”, The Fayetteville Observer.
Spies in the Boston AO. A Professor of International Relations at Boston University and retired intelligence officer has written an article entitled “A Spy’s Guide to BU”. Some interesting history of noteworthy people in the Boston area with an intriguing intelligence background. (BU.edu, Mar 1, 2018).
Gold Medal for OSS. On Wednesday, March 21, 2018, leaders of the U.S. House and Senate will present a Congressional Gold Medal in honor of the members of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) for their historic contributions during World War II. (Speaker Paul Ryan Press Office, Mar 1, 2018).
Rev. Billy Graham’s Funeral. Donald Trump was greeted at Billy Graham’s funeral by the grandson of the religious leader – who is currently a major in the U.S. Army. (The Daily Caller, Mar 2, 2018).
