SOF News

More on Kunduz Hospital Attack. Information about the AC-130 aerial attack on the MSF medical facility in Kunduz City seems to be slowly coming out. New reports indicate that about 35 members of the 3rd Special Forces Group were located 1/2 mile away at the governor's compound when they came under attack by a large group of Taliban fighters during the Afghan counteroffensive to retake Kunduz City. The SF element called in air support to hit a number of Taliban positions to include suspected Taliban command and control nodes. The Afghan forces insisted that the MSF hospital was one of these command centers and urged it to be destroyed. The SF element did not know the target was a functioning hospital until the attack was over. Read more in a news report by Associated Press, November 12, 2015.

AAN Report on MSF Hospital Attack. In October 2015 a U.S. Air Force AC-130 gunship attacked a Doctors Without Borders medical facility during the Afghan security forces offensive to retake Kunduz City from the Taliban. The Afghanistan Analyst Network (AAN) provides their perspective on what happened to cause 30 medical providers and patients to die. Read "MSF Investigation: US hospital strike looking more like a war crime", Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN), by Kate Clark, November 10, 2015.

Delta Force. One of the U.S. Army's most specialized units has had many names. "Delta", "Combat Application Group (CAG)", "The Unit", "Army Compartmented Element (ACE)", etc. Delta is one of the most effective counterterrorism units in the world. Read more in "Delta Force: Speed, Surprise and Violence of Action", Newsweek, November 8, 2015.

Video of BG Bolduc - Cdr SOCAfrica. BG Bolduc provides his perspective on the new era of special operations at "The Age of Everything" - Defense One Summit 2015.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY4THCpv75g

Project Diane. A University of Kansas study examines gender integration of Army Special Forces. The ". . . researchers recommend interventions to overcome barriers in policy implementation and daily operations". Reminds of the old days when we had to endure classes on "Consideration of Others" (COO). Oh my.  (KU, Nov 10, 2015).

Estonia Special Forces Selection - Video. A short (90 secs) video details the selection process fo the Estonian Special Forces. www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8-rVID-u04

Ukrainian SF Fight On With Limited Trng & Supplies. Ukraine's Special Forces are still heavily engaged in countering the proxie forces of Russia in the eastern part of the country. However the SF units are hampered in their fight. Read more in "Ukrainian Special Forces Fight On Despite Lack of Training and Supplies", Task & Purpose, November 13, 2015.

Gulf Allies Need SOF More than 'Fancy' Jets. "In an interview, the U.S. defense secretary says that America's Arab allies need fewer high-end fighter jets and more training of ground forces and special-operations troops."  The real threat to Middle East security is not from nations states and their large armies but from the hybrid warfare conducted by Iran and other nations - a type of warfare that requires SOF forces to defeat. Read more in a news report by Defense One, November 6, 2015.

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