DoD Photo of the Day: A U.S. Marine assigned to a Special Operations team fires an M240B machine gun during night training in Helmand province, Afghanistan, March 28, 2013. Team members are deployed in Helmand province to train and mentor Afghan security forces. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau
Panteao Productions presents “Battle of the Black Sea” a documentary look at the events leading up to and including the combat operation in Mogadishu, Somalia on 3-4 Oct, 1993. The interview-style video features MSG Paul Howe (USA, Ret), a Veteran of that battle. I spent the weekend watching the video’s many chapters and I can say that it is excellent. He points out instances where the movie “Blackhawk Down” incorrectly depicts the events and speaks very frankly about subjects that few are willing to broach even in private. If you want a look behind Howe’s mindset and experience on planning and executing combat operations, this is a must see. I highly recommend it.
It’s available now for subscribers at www.panteaoproductions.com
The US Army has two Mountain Schools. One is run by the Vermont National Guard, located in Jericho, and has been around for decades. The other is a more recent creation. The Special Forces Advanced Mountain Operations School is located at Fort Carson, Colorado and operated by A Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne). although initially founded out of necessity by the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).
Master Mountaineering Course students at the Special Forces Advanced Mountain Operations School conduct a one-day operation in the Colorado Rockies, bringing an ODA-sized element up Longs Peak.
Here members of Company F (Pathfinder), 5th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) conduct FRIES training at a deployed location. The 101st has two Pathfinder Companies with the second being Company F (Pathfinder), 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Aviation Brigade which was created from the Long Range Surveillance Detachment formerly assigned to the now disbanded 311th Military Intelligence Battalion.
Photo – SPC Steven Young, USA
A 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (7 SFG (A)) ODA conducts Special Purpose Insertion Extraction (SPIE) training with a CH-47 at Eglin Base Air Force Base, FL last month.
The French 27e bataillon de chasseurs alpins (27e BCA) or 27th Mountain Infantry Battalion recently conducted high altitude mountaineering training in Chamonix. This unit has seen extensive action in Afghanistan. Take a few minutes to check out their equipment. The Overwhites are an Arktis design.
