World War II paratrooper Tom Rice talks about why he joined the Army, exploring the jungles of Panama, and how being a risk taker led him into the Airborne prior to the Normandy invasion. He also explains the curious history behind the jump… [Read more…]
Interview with a WWII paratrooper: Jumping into Normandy
World War II paratrooper Tom Rice talks about why he joined the Army, exploring the jungles of Panama, and how being a risk taker led him into the Airborne prior to the Normandy invasion. He also explains the curious history behind the jump towers at Airborne school. While training for combat, Tom also gets into some trouble with his company commander for sneaking out of the … [Read more…]
The DEVGRU files: Behind the scenes video with SEAL Team Six founder Dick Marcinko
Years ago we had a chance to sit down for an interview with Richard “Demo Dick” Marcinko when he was in town for an event in New York City. It was great to get his candid take on why he joined the U.S. Navy, UDT/SEAL training, combat in Vietnam, how SEAL Team Six started, women in the SEALs and much more. For the first time in more than three years, this content is now free … [Read more…]
Interview with a WWII paratrooper: Tom Rice discusses life in the 1930s
World War II veteran Tom Rice jumped into Normandy with the 101st Airborne Division's 501nd Parachute Regiment. In the first segment of our interview, Tom talks about what it was like growing up in Coronado in the 1930's, catching gofers for 25 cents for the fire department, and then using the money to go watch Buck Rogers movies and buy lollipops. For the first time in more … [Read more…]
Secret Diplomacy and Future Wars: The unknown drama behind the Global Positioning System
The GPS (Global Positioning System), which had its first launch in 1978, has entered daily speech as a term. Yet few have heard of Galileo, the EU’s state-of-the-art next-generation Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and even fewer are aware of its transatlantic significance. Galileo, named after the Italian astronomer of the 16th CE, is expected to reach full … [Read more…]
New Russian stealth drone: Threat or liability?
In January, NEWSREP covered leaked images of Russia's "stealth" combat drone, the Su-70 Okhotnik-B, in an effort to assess the validity of Russia's claims regarding the platform. At the time, it seemed clear that the aircraft likely had the power required to carry some serious firepower (thanks to what appears to be a fourth generation, afterburning jet engine). However, the … [Read more…]
AR-10 vs. AR-15: What’s the difference?
I’ve spent the last couple of days analyzing (and firing) both the AR-10 and AR-15 to better understand the nuances between them. Specifically, I examined and measured each individual attribute like caliber, barrel length, muzzle velocity and more. In short, if you want to know the difference between the AR-10 and AR-15 (and which one is for you), then you’ll love this … [Read more…]
‘We have a problem’: Top Navy SEAL partially acknowledges cultural issues but ignores reality
U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Collin Green has distributed a letter to the leadership within the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) command structure in which he acknowledges, “We have a problem.” CNN was the first news outlet to obtain the letter in which Admiral Green states, "Some of our subordinate formations have failed to maintain good order and discipline." He adds that the SEAL … [Read more…]
‘The Red Sea Diving Resort’: How Hollywood ruined a great spy story
This is a film I was anxiously anticipating since it was based on an amazing – and true – story. Israeli Mossad agents operated a diving resort in Sudan for three years as a front operation while they whisked Ethiopian Jews out of danger and into Israel. “The Red Sea Diving Resort” is directed by Gideon Raff ("Homeland"), with a solid acting cast including Chris Evans … [Read more…]
Before the AR-15, there was the FN FAL
The Fabrique Nationale Fusil Automatique Leger (Light Automatic Rifle), or FN FAL as it is more commonly known, began life in 1946 when FN and Great Britain created a piston-operated prototype rifle that utilized the German intermediate 7.92x33mm cartridge. This new round was a first attempt at a cartridge that could do the job of both the short-range submachine gun and … [Read more…]
Fleet protection and counterterrorism: European task force to deploy outside Iran
On July 19th the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero sailing in Omani waters through the Hormuz Strait was captured by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. The move came nearly two weeks after British Royal Marines Commandos seized an Iranian supertanker, near Gibraltar, believed to be carrying oil to Syria – a contravention of European Union sanctions. Britain responded by … [Read more…]
Is Trump jeopardizing national security by appointing supporter in key intelligence position?
In a move many had been predicting for months, Dan Coats, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) will step down on August 15. In his stead, President Trump has selected U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, a Republican from Texas, as Coats’ replacement. Coats had been on the job for two years as the DNI, a relatively new post established by Congress in 2004 in the fallout of … [Read more…]
Invade Iran? Not any time soon
Many hawks in Washington are wondering why the United States hasn’t already responded with military force against Iran in the Middle East. The Iranians are increasingly bellicose in Syria and in the Persian Gulf. They’ve seized oil tankers and sabotaged others with mines in international waters. Most importantly, they’ve openly violated the uranium enrichment and storage … [Read more…]