I’m no big deal within Special Forces, but I am Special Forces. That is to say, I am SF qualified, Class 1-83, and have spent time on SF teams, active duty and reserves, and thus carry certain skills and orientations that are unique to most Americans. I have three boys, one who is mid twenties and two who just entered their twenties. Over the years, starting when they were … [Read more...] about The Challenges of Being a Special Forces Dad
Bars and booze have, since the dawn of time and warfare, been a staple of the warrior's lifestyle. That remains true to this day. Some select bars provide not only frosty ales, but also a familiar and safe (depending) environment where one can relax, see old friends and comrades, pass and share information about other friends and comrades, and blow off steam. Photo: What … [Read more...] about The Worldwide Directory of Army Special Forces Haunts: Bars, Clubs, and Pubs
On 11 September 2001 2,996 people were killed by terrorist attacks. 246 of those killed were passengers on the four crashed commercial aircraft. 2,606 died in the towers of the World Trade Center. 125 died at the Pentagon. The victims included 343 NYFD firefighters and 71 police officers. 19 of those killed were the terrorists (may they rot in hell). Photos: … [Read more...] about 9/11 Forever Changed Special Operations: We Will Not Forget
Note: This is part of a series. You can read parts one, two, three, four, and five here. In 2001, the Army opened the Combatives School at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and began formulating training and protocols for this new mixed martial arts-based combatives system, further analyzing and preparing the soldier for close-quarters battle. In 2002, the U.S. Army officially adopted … [Read more...] about SOF Hand-to-hand Combat (Pt. 6): Modern Era
Note: This is part of a series. You can read parts one, two, three, and four, here. The late '70s and '80s was a time of expansion and experimentation as U.S. SOF units digested the lessons of Vietnam and reveled in the Reagan presidency, which meant increased funding for all of the U.S. military, and especially special operations. But, still, hand-to-hand training lagged. … [Read more...] about SOF Hand-to-hand Combat (Pt. 5): 1980s and ’90s
Note: This is part of a series. You can read part one, part two, and part three here. During the Vietnam War it became very clear that the U.S. military needed to revise their hand-to-hand training. This was particularly apparent amongst SOF units, especially Army Special Forces, LRRPs, and Navy SEALs; each often sent their people in small teams deep into enemy territory for … [Read more...] about SOF Hand-to-hand Combat (Pt. 4): Vietnam
Note: This is part of a series. You can read part one and part two here. World War II saw the advent of modern special operations, and thus the need for special hand-to-hand fighting skills for special operators. The foremost of these units were the British Commandos, the OSS, the First Special Service Force (1SSF), Army Rangers, Marine Raiders, and Alamo Scouts. There were … [Read more...] about SOF Hand-to-hand Combat (Pt. 3): World War 2 and the ’50s
Note: This is part of a series. Read part one here. At the onset World War I, there was very little in the way of hand-to-hand training, or special operations forces for that matter. The only notable guerrilla forces during the war were led by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and the German, Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, and both of them commanded indigenous forces whose only … [Read more...] about SOF Hand-to-hand Combat (Pt. 2): World War I
Since the dawn of warfare, so since the very beginning, man has sought the ability to subdue or kill his opponents with his bare hands. Weapons have changed, but not alleviated, that search. Bones and shafts break. Arrows and bullets run out. Swords and rifles get dropped and lost. Then, the warrior has only his wits and whatever barehand skills he possesses to prevail over his … [Read more...] about SOF Hand-to-hand Combat (Pt. 1): In the Beginning
