Marines and Sailors from 1st and 3rd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Companies conducted a live jump with members of the British Army’s 148th Forward Observer Battery (Commando) at Edwards Air Force Base, CA, on June 15th. Years ago, when I was in the Army I went drinking with some of the members of the 148th when they and I were, by happenstance, all at Camp Lejeune on TDY. It resulted in one of the most epic hangovers of my life. The dive trip I took the next day at Topsail Beach basically sucked but I must say, those boys could hold their liquor and were some really great guys.
According to the British Army’s website, “The Army is to be reduced by 23 Regular units since the Strategic Defence and Security Review as part of Army 2020. The changes are due to be implemented by 2015, with the overall mandate to reach the capacity of 82,000 for the Regular Army and 30,000 for the Reserves by 2018.”
Here, members of the 23rd STS (I was the S2 of this Squadron in the late 90s) conduct airborne training. The Water DZ is in the Santa Rosa sound off of the Florida panhandle.
This video originally came out last month showcasing Russian Special Forces troops. This is an English translation and it’s very interesting to see the improvements in individual equipment afforded these troops.
On June 1st, to little fanfare, the US Air Force activated it’s newest wing, the 24th SOW. It is comprised of the 720th Special Tactics Group and the Special Tactics Training Squadron based at Hurlburt Field, FL, the 724th Special Tactics Group, Pope Field, NC and 16 recruiting locations scattered around the country. It’s also the third wing under AFSOC alongside the 1st Special Operations Wing also located at Hurlburt Field and the 27 Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, NM.
Capabilities of the Wing include airfield reconnaissance, assessment and control. Special tactics Airmen also engage in joint terminal attack control, personnel recovery, weather and environmental reconnaissance.
“Establishment of the 24th Special Operations Wing allows a single commander to lead the recruiting, training and development of our special tactics warriors and ultimately provide combatant commanders with world-class Airmen to accomplish their mission,” said Lt Gen Eric Fiel, AFSOC Commander.
By creating the 24 SOW, not only is a single Special Tactics commander enabled to lead, but pressure is alleviated by removing the responsibility of logistical planning from the groups so they can concentrate on the operational mission. No word yet on what the additional Wing structure will consist of.
According to AFSOC, with Col Armfield’s assumption of command of the new 24th SOW, Col Kurt Buller assumed command of the 720 STG. I’m glad to see the ‘Bull’ get this command and I hope we see stars on Col Armfield and his Vice Wing commander, Col Eric Ray soon as well. I’ve worked for or with everyone of those men and they are an amazing bunch.
Having been assigned to the 720th STG and the 21st STS, I can tell you that the men and women assigned to Special Tactics are some of the finest Americans I have ever known and the most competent Special Operators I have served with throughout a variety of Army, Air Force and Joint SOF assignments.
MilitaryNotes Channel put together a pretty good video montage of the separate SOF capabilities vignettes demonstrated at this year’s Special Operations Forces Industry Conference and associated International Special Operations Forces Conference in Tampa, Florida. The demo was performed by SOF personnel from Australia, Canada, Brazil, Colombia, Jordan, Norway, Poland, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.
This is a video showcasing a training mission for the Polish Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue (called in Poland GOPR- Gorskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe) groups along with the Polish division of HEMS – Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (in Poland called LPR – Lotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe) during an April day in the Bieszczady Mountains. While GOPR is not a military force, they certainly appear to be well equipped and trained.
Last week, the US Army unveiled the new branch of service insignia for Electronic Warfare Warrant Officers and Noncommissioned Officers.
Approved March 1st by the Institute of Heraldry, the collar insignia is already available for sale along with additional WO items. The branch’s colors are Golden Yellow with Black piping.
In 2009 the Army established AOC 29A (EW Officer), Military Occupational Specialty 290A (EW Technician) and Military Occupational Specialty 29E (EW Noncommissioned Officer). EW Officers serve in a functional area and will continue to wear their basic branch insignia.
