Sections

Jamie Read

Expert in: james-reed

Jamie Read is a former British Army Reconnaissance specialist, after leaving the military he went on to work as Close Protection Officer (CPO) and surveillance specialist in the United Kingdom. Jamie would later join 3035 Special Operations Regiment in Ukraine and played a key role in establishing this regiment. With over 10 years military & security experience, having worked in the most demanding environments from the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and South America.

Jamie Read Articles

Breaking down the British elite forces: 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery Royal Artillery

The 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery Royal Artillery frequently deploys surveillance and target acquisition patrols, which often operate far from the primary force, behind enemy lines. They deploy fire support teams to brigade reconnaissance forces or other reconnaissance elements to aid in calling in accurate artillery strikes. The unit was established in 1982 … [Read more…] about Breaking down the British elite forces: 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery Royal Artillery

by · · Expert Analysis

5 members of the UK’s Special Boat Service wounded fighting Britain’s secret war in Yemen

At least five British servicemen from the Special Boat Service (SBS), an elite naval counterterrorism unit, have been wounded during ongoing operations in Yemen. The proxy war in the country has left more than 60,000 dead and 13 million people subject to famine. The operators’ activities in the war-shattered region are cloaked in mystery. Around 30 of these crack British … [Read more…] about 5 members of the UK’s Special Boat Service wounded fighting Britain’s secret war in Yemen

by · · The Middle East

Breaking down the British elite forces: 148 (Meiktila) Battery Royal Artillery

Note: This is part two of a multi-part series exploring elite components within the conventional British forces. 148 Battery (Meiktila) is a unit comprised of specifically qualified men from the British Army and Royal Navy. Tasked with calling in artillery and airstrikes to support United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) and 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines. The men of … [Read more…] about Breaking down the British elite forces: 148 (Meiktila) Battery Royal Artillery

by · · Europe

Breaking down the British elite forces: The Royal Marine Commandos (RM)

In a recent series we examined the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) spectrum. In this series we’ll review the elite components within the conventional British forces. We will start with one of the U.K.’s most renowned units: the Royal Marines, an elite amphibious commando force of the Royal Navy. The Royal Marines (RMs), or Bootnecks as they call themselves, are a … [Read more…] about Breaking down the British elite forces: The Royal Marine Commandos (RM)

by · · Europe

UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Air Service (SAS)

Note: This is part five of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The Special Air Service (SAS) is the British Army’s most distinguished and renowned special forces unit. From the moment operators of the 22 SAS emerged on the balconies of the Iranian embassy in London in 1980, the SAS became famous both at home and overseas. … [Read more…] about UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Air Service (SAS)

by · · Europe

UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG)

Note: This is part four of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) is a fairly new special forces unit. Officially formed on 3 April, 2006, the SFSG is based on a core segment of the soldiers from the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment (1 PARA), with added servicemen from the Royal Marines … [Read more…] about UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG)

by · · Europe

UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Boat Service (SBS)

Note: This is part three of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The Special Boat Service (SBS), one of the oldest Special Forces regiments, is the U.K.’s premier naval counter terrorism unit (CT). The unit is tasked with addressing assaults on U.K.’s maritime interests. Over the years the SBS has established techniques for … [Read more…] about UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Boat Service (SBS)

by · · Military

UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)

Note: This is part two of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The United Kingdom’s prolonged involvement in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) has created the demand for an increase in the country’s number of special forces operators. From that need emerged the United Kingdom’s newest special operations unit, the Special … [Read more…] about UK Special Forces breakdown: The Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR)

by · · Europe

UK Special Forces breakdown: 18 (UKSF) Signals Regiment

This is the first part of a multi-part series exploring the various units within the U.K. Special Forces (UKSF). The Special Air Service (SAS) is widely recognized the world over and is often erroneously considered the only special operations unit Britain has. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In this series, we’ll cover the entire UKSF spectrum.  18 (UKSF) … [Read more…] about UK Special Forces breakdown: 18 (UKSF) Signals Regiment

by · · Europe

Operation Sickle and Hammer: Ukraine prepares to take back Donbass from Russia

Fears continue to mount in eastern Ukraine as the country nears all-out war with Russia. Reports show that Russia has prepared a large strike force on the border of Ukraine. Some would claim this is a frozen war, as all attempts at resolving the conflict with diplomacy have failed. Since the start of this year, Europe and the U.S. have paid close attention to the war in … [Read more…] about Operation Sickle and Hammer: Ukraine prepares to take back Donbass from Russia

by · · Foreign Policy

The art of plausible deniability: Russian mercenaries supporting Libyan National Army

Recent reports have indicated the Russian private military firm Wagner Group has reinforced Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) with 300 personnel in Libya. The report also suggests the mercenary group has delivered artillery, tanks, drones, and ammunition to the LNA. What is the Wagner Group? Wagner Group is an unregistered Russian paramilitary company that is … [Read more…] about The art of plausible deniability: Russian mercenaries supporting Libyan National Army

by · · Africa

Did the Islamic State just kill one of its own leaders?

The Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has replaced its commander and chief, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, naming Abu Abdullah Ibn Umar al-Barnawi as the new region commander. The former commander’s father was none other than Muhammad Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram. It raises the question: has the Islamic State just killed al-Barnawi? Mamman Nur and al-Barnawi created … [Read more…] about Did the Islamic State just kill one of its own leaders?

by · · Expert Analysis