SPECIAL OPERATIONS NEWS
3/75 Rangers Recognized For Heroism
FORT BENNING, Ga. – Eleven Rangers from 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment were honored in a ceremony Feb. 27 for their heroic actions in combat Oct. 4-5, 2008.The Rangers were recognized for a mission in northern Iraq targeting a high valued individual and the simultaneous destruction of his immediate network.Elements of 3rd Bn., operating as ... FULL STORY
SOF Soldier remembers fallen MARSOC corpsman
The men and women who serve together in our armed forces go to the furthest lengths to protect each other at home and in combat. So it is no wonder when we lose a fellow servicemember we go to great lengths to honor their sacrifice. Whether it is through awards, plaques, buildings with their namesake ... FULL STORY
Air Commando saves lives in Afghanistan
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- An Air Force Special Operations Command Air Commando saved lives in Afghanistan April 6 during a lengthy battle by calling in air strikes to protect his team. Staff Sgt. Zachary J. Rhyner, a special tactics combat controller assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., was deployed ... FULL STORY
SWCC Sailors Complete Advanced Jump Qualifications
KEY WEST, Fla. (NNS) -- Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) from Special Boat Team 20 (SBT-20), completed multiple free-fall parachute jumps Feb. 22-March 6, in preparation for an upcoming deployment. ... FULL STORY
SF Master Sgt. Joseph D. Newell Acquitted
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Master Sgt. Joseph D. Newell, accused of killing an unarmed Afghan and then cutting off the man’s ear was found not guilty on all counts by a military jury yesterday, here. The charges stemmed from an incident near Hyderabad, Afghanistan, occurring on or about March 5, 2008. Jurors ... FULL STORY
Emerald Warrior Trains Over 700 Joint Forces in Special Operations Multi-National Exercise
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Emerald Warrior '09, a U.S. Special Operations Command multi-national tactical exercise here, wrapped up Feb. 13 after 12 days. The exercise trained more than 700 joint and interagency special operators and conventional active duty and Reserve forces from Air Force Special Operations Command, Marine Special Operations Command, U.S. Army Special Operations ... FULL STORY
AFSOC Airman KIA in Afghanistan
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- An Air Force Special Operations Command combat control journeyman died Feb. 20 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sgt. Timothy P. Davis, 28, of Aberdeen, Wash., died near Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, Hurlburt ... FULL STORY
Two US Special Forces Soldiers KIA
FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Two Army Special Forces Soldiers were killed Feb. 20 while conducting combat operations in the vicinity of Khordi, Oruzgan province, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Jeremy E. Bessa, 26 and Master Sgt. David L. Hurt, 36, were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while conducting a mounted combat reconnaissance patrol. Bessa ... FULL STORY
Ranger Rendezvous 2009
FORT BENNING, Ga. — More than 1,000 Rangers from the 75th Ranger Regiment will conduct a mass tactical airborne operation here to kick-off Ranger Rendezvous, August 3-6.Rendezvous is a unit tradition to bring the entire Regiment together for the Regimental change of command. The days leading up to the ceremony are filled with Ranger demonstrations ... FULL STORY
US, Poland sign Special Ops Memo of Understanding
KRAKOW, Poland — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich signed a memorandum of understanding Feb. 19 that will increase cooperation between the two countries' special operations forces. The two men signed the document during a ceremony before the start of the NATO defense ministers meeting here. Gates said the memorandum ... FULL STORY
When pigs fly... with Ospreys
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- What do you get when you cross an osprey with a warthog? For a zoologist, the question may seem preposterous. In Air Force terms, instead of an odd looking winged-swine hybrid, the result is immense firepower and unparalleled close air support capability for the rapid infiltration and exfiltration of troops in ... FULL STORY
Marines, Thai Special Forces partner up during Cobra Gold
BASE KHUN NEN, CHIANG MAI, Thailand -- A detachment of seven U.S. Marines and 26 Thai special forces service members began combined training here Jan. 31 as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2009. The U.S. Marine detachment from Special Operations Training Group, Special Missions Branch, III Marine Expeditionary Force, is here to share their expertise ... FULL STORY
Exercise Demonstrates Special Ops Capabilities
DESTIN, Fla. (AFNS) -- Air Force Special Operations Command officials are hosting a field exercise at Hurlburt Field Feb. 2 through 13 designed to train forces in combat scenarios. ... FULL STORY
SF Soldier becomes the first amputee to complete Jumpmaster Course
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Dec. 6, 2008) – For most Soldiers when they join the Army there are a set of schools they set their eyes on as goals to complete. Schools like, Air Assault, Ranger and Pathfinder. For any airborne qualified non-commissioned officer the natural goal would be the Jumpmaster Course. For one ... FULL STORY
AFSOTC offers college credits and expands training
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The Air Force Special Operations Training Center here is now offering college credits to Airmen and expanding training opportunities, allowing warfighters more time to concentrate on their mission. The U.S Air Force Special Operations School here, under the umbrella of AFSOTC, offers 20 Community College of the Air Force accredited courses ... FULL STORY
SB(SO)(A) re-designated as 528th Sustainment Brigade
FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Effective Feb. 2, the Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne), of Fort Bragg, N.C., has official been re-designated as the 528th Sustainment Brigade (Airborne). Today, Soldiers from the newly-renamed brigade will begin wearing a new distinctive unit insignia, beret flash and airborne wing backing on all uniforms. A new shoulder sleeve ... FULL STORY
SRT Marines Rehearse Building Takedown Procedures, Hone CQB Skills
CAMP LESTER, Okinawa, Japan -- Military policemen with Marine Corps Base Camp Butler Provost Marshal's Office call in their own 'quick reaction force' when faced with situations requiring specialized capabilities. ... FULL STORY
Afghanistan's "Best Commando" Competition
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - More than 190 Afghan National Army commandos from the 203rd Corps vied for the right to be crowned the ‘Best of the Best' during a competition Jan. 10-11 at a combined military outpost in Khowst Province, Afghanistan. ... FULL STORY
The Passing of 'First SEAL,' Roy Boehm
Punta Gorda, FL -- Lieutenant Commander (Retired), Roy Boehm, who played a primary role in the formulation of today's US Navy SEAL Teams, passed away on 30 December 2008 after 84 years. Much of Boehm's experiences were documented in his book, "First SEAL."Boehm was a mustang officer. He rose up through the enlisted ranks, eventually becoming a commissioned officer. Boehm ultimately developed and ... FULL STORY
MARSOC Operators Train Dominican Forces, Enhance Relationships
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic -- U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Advisor Group, Marine Special Operations Team-Eight recently provided training to the Dominican Republic Secretary of State Counter Terrorism Armed Forces or SEFA CT, as part of a Joint Combined Exchange Training program.Aside from learning the basics of marksmanship, SEFA CT was instructed in a ... FULL STORY
Air Commando saves lives in Afghanistan
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- An Air Force Special Operations Command Air Commando saved lives in Afghanistan April 6 during a lengthy battle by calling in air strikes to protect his team. Staff Sgt. Zachary J. Rhyner, 22, a special tactics combat controller assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., was ... FULL STORY
CV-22s Complete First Operational Deployment
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- The final two CV-22s broke across the Florida horizon just in time for Thanksgiving dinner. And after a 5,300 nautical mile flight across the Atlantic ocean, they had surely worked up an appetite. The aircraft, from the 8th Special Operations Squadron, arrived home Nov. 26 on the heels of two other CV-22s, all ... FULL STORY
Medal of Honor Recipients Honored at San Clemente Park
SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (NNS) -- Officials from the city of San Clemente, Calif., honored three deceased Medal of Honor recipients during a rededication ceremony Oct. 25 at Park Semper Fi Marine Monument. The ceremony paid tribute to two Navy SEALs, Lt. Michael Murphy and Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (SEAL) Michael Monsoor, and Marine Cpl. Jason Dunham. ... FULL STORY
Special Operations enablers ready for combat
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (Oct. 24, 2008) – Coming in the same month the Marine Corps authorized Rifle Combat Optics for range qualification, Marines from Marine Special Operations Support Group, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, participated in the Trainer’s Course of Instruction with the RCO and other optical devices at Stone ... FULL STORY
Marines conduct first MARSOC HRST Masters course
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – In a sign of its ever-advancing capabilities, Marines from 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command conducted the first MARSOC Helicopter Rope Suspension Training Masters course at Camp Margarita, aboard Camp Pendleton, Oct. 27 to Nov. 7.Before implementation of the new course, operators ... FULL STORY
GEN III ECWCS
The multi-layered insulating system of the Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (GEN III ECWCS) allows the wearer to adapt to varying mission requirements and environmental conditions. ... FULL STORY
