Leader of ISIS in Afghanistan Killed by U.S. An airstrike in July by the United States killed Hafiz Sayed Khan, the head of the Islamic State’s branch in Afghanistan. Read more in a news report by USA Today, August 12, 2016.
How are Things Going in Afghanistan? Not so good. Read one perspective of the current situation in that troubled country by Kenneth Katzman – a specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs. He has penned a 81-page report entitled Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy, Congressional Research Service (CRS), June 6, 2016.
SOF Professionals Preparing for Transition. The time to think of life after your military service is before you leave the service – not after. John Klapperich, a retired Special Forces Sergeant Major, offers transition advice in a article posted online. Read “4 Reasons SOF Professionals Should Prepare Now for Transition”, Cleared Jobs Net, August 12, 2016.
Jetboots for Navy SEALs. The SEALs have a lot less work to do underwater on their long swims. Now they can glide along with the Jetboots Diver Propulsion System. Jetboots is essentially a pair of small thrusters that attach to a divers leg. Wish I had these on my timed, navigation underwater swims at Key West! Read more in “Check Out the Underwater Jet Boots Used by Navy SEALs”, Task and Purpose, August 12, 2016.
SSR – Challenges and Lessons Learned. Security Sector Reform (SSR) is intent on improving existing structures and methods in a country’s security sector with the objective of improving security for the population. However, it is important that the well-trained and equipped security forces are controlled by a democratically elected government so as to avoid repression by security forces against the country’s population. Read more in The Challenges and Lessons Learned in Supporting Security Sector Reform, Global Public Policy Institute, July 13, 2016.
Taliban’s New Commando Force – “Red Group”. The Taliban have a new fighting force operating in Helmand province. Read more in a news story in The Diplomat, August 12, 2016. Other news sources say that the name of the group – translated into English – is “Danger Group”. Hmmm.
Paper on the Islamic State – 2011-2014. Jonathan S. Baker has wrote a tract entitled Harbingers of the caliphate: Islamic State revolutionary actions 2011-2014, July 2016. It is a 106-page long thesis done for the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). https://calhoun.nps.edu/handle/10945/49330
Story of Force Recon Marine Who Killed 18 Enemy Fighters in a Single Battle. Read this amazing story of an eight-hour engagement with the Taliban in Farah province, Afghanistan in August 2008. (Task & Purpose, August 11, 2016).
Book by Israeli Special Forces Commander. Gal Hirsch writes an autobiography of his life in the Israeli military. Read the review at Defense News, August 12, 2016.
Preparing for Ranger School. The U.S. Army’s Ranger School is one of the toughest the military has to offer. It is one of the most physically and mentally demanding courses in the Army. Read “Properly Preparing For the Rigors of Ranger School”, Infantry Magazine, January-March 2016.
Australian Security Contractor Released from Afghan Prison. A former Australian soldier working in Afghanistan on a security contract was convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. He served over 7 years in an Afghan prison before being released. Read more of this story in The Advertiser, August 13, 2016.
House Report on Central Command Intel Analysis. The U.S. House of Representatives has released its report with the initial findings on U.S. Central Command Intelligence Analysis. You can read the 17 page document posted on Public Intelligence, August 13, 2016.
Fires Magazine. The School of Artillery at Fort Sill publishes its Fires bulletin every few months. The July – August 2016 edition is now online.
