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Operation EAGLE CLAW Presentation at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum on 20 April 2022

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022

Please join the 3rd Special Forces Group Warrior Fund Team on Wednesday, 20 April at the U.S. Army Airborne & Special Operations Museum for a special event commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Operation EAGLE CLAW, the rescue of the Iranian Hostages.

0900-1600 hrs. – ASOM open for Visitors

0900-1600 hrs. – Special “Operation EAGLE CLAW” Exhibit viewing

Presentation #1, Focused Toward a Primarily Active-Duty and Retired Military Audience

1600-1610 hrs – Commemorative Video in the Theater with simulcast to auxiliary rooms

1610-1650 hrs.- Keynote Speakers to include Mr. Wade Ishimoto, in the Theater

1700-1730 hrs. – Questions and Answers Discussion with Audience in the Theater

1730-1900 hrs. – Social “Meet and Greet” with the Honored Guests and Refreshments in ASOM Lobby

Presentation #2, Focused Toward a Primarily Civilian and Fayetteville Community Audience

1900-1910 hrs. – Commemorative Video in the Theater with simulcast to auxiliary rooms

1910-1950 hrs. – Keynote Speakers to include Mr. Wade Ishimoto in the Theater

2000-2030 hrs. – Questions and Answers Discussion with Audience in the Theater

2030 hrs – Event Conclusion in ASOM Lobby

Please RSVP for either session by 31 March at 910.643.2775 or at volunteer@asomf.org

Posted in History, SOF | 2 Comments »

Air Commandos Earn ACA Honors

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2022

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. —

Past and present Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen were recognized for their dedication and hard work by the Air Commando Association.

Due to COVID-19, the Air Commando Association’s Heritage Seminar Breakfast and the Awards Banquet were not held.

The following Airmen were recognized for receiving Commander’s Leadership Awards:

Technical Sgt. Andrew T. Flynn, 23rd Special Operations Weather Squadron, Det 1

First Lt. Brittany K. Brown, 4th Special Operations Squadron

Technical Sgt. Adam C. Long, 720th Operational Support Squadron

First Lt. Erik A. Lolland, 720th Operational Support Squadron

Technical Sgt. Arthur W. Mapp, 27th Special Operations Group

Captain Jonathan C. Edwards, 27th Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Staff Sgt. James R. Evans, 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Major Jacob L. Wiseman, 58th Special Operations Wing

Master Sgt. Robert T. LeMay, 352nd Special Operations Squadron

First Lt. Ryan M. Laube, 352nd Special Operations Support Squadron

Technical Sgt. Jeremy D. Morlock, 353rd Special Operations Support Squadron

Captain Zachary R. Maginnis, 1st Special Operations Squadron

Staff Sgt. Trevor L. Rohrer, 524th Special Operations Squadron

Captain Riley A. Feeney, 492nd Special Operations Training Support Squadron

Technical Sgt. Keith A. Proze Jr., 2nd Special Operations Squadron

Captain Jason M. Morris, HQ AFSOC/A3

Technical Sgt. Brett E. Rush, Data Masked

Major Michael J. Lintz, Data Masked

The following awards were presented:

Chief Hap Lutz AFSOC Commando Medic of the Year – Tech. Sgt. Stephen M. Sauer, Data Masked

Senior Airman Julian Sholten Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operator of the Year – Tech. Sgt. Nicholas A. Lord, 25th Intelligence Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, U.K.

Operational Squadron of the Year – 7th Special Operations Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, U.K.

Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element Member of the Year – Staff Sgt. Ethan C. Pierce, 352nd Special Operation Support Squadron, RAF Mildenhall, U.K.

Special Tactics Operator of the Year (Enlisted Category 2020) – Tech. Sgt. Adam Anderson, 17th Special Tactics Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, Ft. Benning, Georgia

Special Tactics Operator of the Year (Operator Category 2020) – Capt. Brandon Farrell, 320th Special Tactics Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan

Special Tactics Heart of the Team Member of the Year – Master Sgt. James A. Olk, 720th Operational Support Squadron

The following recipients were inducted into the ACA Hall of Fame:

Colonel (ret.) Timothy Hale – Hale excelled as an MC-130E/H crew commander and instructor/evaluator and an AC/MC-130J instructor. From his first combat mission as an MC-130E pilot in the lead aircraft over Point Salinas, Grenada, Hale led from the front with professionalism, courage, a keen sense of humor, and respect. He commanded an Expeditionary Group and Wing, flying missions and riding resupply convoys during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Upon retirement, he continued to serve Air Commandos as an aircrew accession instructor with the 58th Special Operations Wing.

Lieutenant Col. Bill Schroeder (posthumously) – As an officer-in-charge and then commander of the Special Operations Weather detachment at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, his steadfast leadership of low-density, high-demand Special Operations Weather Team (SOWT) operators was critical in ensuring premier weather support to the 3rd and 7th Special Forces Groups as they deployed during Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM. He later led the effort to modernize the Battlefield Airman training program and played a role in establishing the Special Warfare Training Wing. Schroeder laid down his life after confronting an armed assailant determined to inflict harm to the men and women under his charge. He was posthumously awarded the Airman’s Medal and honored by the Air Force Portraits in Courage for his valor and selfless sacrifice.

Major (ret.) Dan Turney – Turney was an MH-60 initial cadre pilot in the 55th Special Operations Squadron, the first H-60 unit in the U.S. Air Force. He was the first MH-60G special mission planner for the 1st SOW and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). He deployed as an MH-60G Combat Search and Rescue mission manager during Operations JUST CAUSE and DESERT STORM, coordinating over 40 combat missions. After retirement, Turney served as an AFSOC operations analyst and developed the first formal Aviation Foreign Internal Defense Concept of Operations and Roadmap for the 2006 and 2009 Quadrennial Defense Reviews.

Chief Master Sgt. (ret.) William C. Markham – Markham served as the senior enlisted leader of the Joint Special Operations Air Detachment and Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component in combat. He was the first U.S. Airman on the ground in Afghanistan a mere five weeks after September 11, 2001. Then-Sergeant Markham controlled close air support that decimated the ranks of the Taliban, and ultimately liberated Bagram Air Base and Kabul International Airport, and returned the U.S. Embassy to American control. For gallantry in action, he received the Silver Star. As an AFSOC Command Chief, he led the growth and re-missioning of the 352nd Special Operations Group integrating the MC-130J Commando II and CV-22B Osprey weapons systems. Markham personally enabled hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarship funding and pro-bono legal support to American service members and their families.

Senior Master Sgt. James Lackey (posthumously) – Lackey’s outstanding professionalism and personal leadership were vital to building the readiness of the 8th Special Operations Squadron, AFSOC’s first operational CV-22B squadron, and prosecuting the squadron’s mission during the global war on terrorism. From 1992-2006, Lackey served with distinction as an Instructor and Flight Examiner for the MH-53 Pave Low Models J/M. His leadership, courage, and superior airmanship were evident during Operations PROVIDE PROMISE, UPHOLD DEMOCRACY, BEVEL EDGE, ALLIED FORCE, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism as well as the Meritorious Service Medal and Air Medal. He excelled as a CV-22 flight engineer during combat deployments supporting OIF and OEF. Lackey gave his last full measure on April 9, 2010 during a combat mission in Afghanistan.

The ACA recognizes retired and active duty Special Operations Forces Airmen by honoring their achievements as well as providing support to Air Commandos and their families.

By SSgt Brandon Esau, Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

Posted in AFSW, Air Force, Guest Post, Profession of Arms, SOF | Comments Off on Air Commandos Earn ACA Honors

Duke Field Airman Among Newest DAGREs

Saturday, March 19th, 2022

DUKE FIELD, Fla. —

A lone security forces Airman ran through plumes of purple smoke while fighting off opposing forces before taking cover behind a building with their own ammunition flying through the streets of the mock village.

The sound of gunfire consumed the “city” comprised largely of shipping containers while the determined service member rejoined his wingmen to get a wounded Airman to an evacuation point. This was a small taste of what any DAGRE needs to be prepared for in a contingency environment.

Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Elements provide security for Air Force Special Operations Command assets and personnel in environments where security is unknown or deemed inadequate. They are highly specialized security forces members that receive more training than their counterparts and can perform a variety of defensive operations in remote environments.

“I joined initially because I thought it was one of the coolest slots in my unit,” said Senior Airman Amahd Rasheed, 919th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron member. “Everybody wanted to be ‘that guy’ so they could do those missions and wear that DAGRE tab.”

The first step for Rasheed in achieving his goal was passing the 919th SOSFS assessment. In this phase of training, DAGRE candidates learn and perform many of the tasks they will have to demonstrate during their qualification course. The assessment involves ruck marching, sleep deprivation, shooting, land navigation, and a multitude of other tasks and skillsets.

He pulled through and advanced to the next step of his DAGRE training at Hurlburt Field with the 371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron. Here, Rasheed went through the Air Commando Field Skills Course, the first stop for all Airmen supporting Special Operations Forces.

“Most of the Airmen in this course are learning how to hold their own while supporting special operations,” said Dirk Baier, course director for ACFSC. “In this course, they’re learning how to go downrange, shoot, move, communicate, and get themselves out of a bad situation.”

The Airmen in this course work in support functions such as medical, communications, logistics and other career fields that provide for AFSOC’s special operations forces.
At ACFSC, Air Commandos from bases around the command learned advanced weapons tactics, participated in Tactical Combat Casualty Care training with robotic lifelike dummies, learned Defensive driving, practiced combatives, and mastered some security techniques.

“This course is geared towards on-the-ground tactics,” said Baier. “It gets them used to remote locations typical to DAGRE.”

According to Baier, the DAGRE program is relatively new. Leadership recognized the need for a capability similar to the Ravens (a team that provides security for Air Mobility Command airframes) to protect AFSOC assets and personnel.

“The difference is our security teams tend to operate in more remote environments,” said Baier.

For Rasheed and his fellow DAGRE candidates, they combined the skills they learned from the ACFSC course with their DAGRE qualification training.

“When they come to us, we sharpen the skills they learned in ACFSC and their time in security forces,” said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Geerts, NCO in Charge of the DAGRE qualification course. “We expect a lot from them and train them in a whole new range of skill sets.”

The qualification course moved the trainees to various locations across the Eglin Range over the course of five weeks. Some days are devoted to academics and some days they covered their combat boots with Florida’s red clay.

“Every day was like the night before Christmas where you just stayed up all night,” said Rasheed. “I never knew what to expect next with all the different classes and training that was planned for us.”

Students learned advanced tactics on weapons many had never used before and were required to complete tasks associated with higher skill levels such as mission planning.

The DAGRE trainees took on close quarter battle exercises, small unit tactics, tactical security details, and incorporated some of the lessons of their experienced instructors into their operations.

“They spent a lot of time doing urban operations and recovery, normal security forces also possess these skills but we sharpen them,” said Geerts. “As we transition into a new style of warfare, these small specialized teams are going to become more important.”

Rasheed and his wingmen’s training culminated in a field exercise, where instructors validate the knowledge students were expected to retain over the past several weeks.

During the exercise, they defended airframes from oppositional forces, de-escalated tensions with local nationals, and secured a Forward Operating Base tucked in the woods where they planned their mission.

At one point, they had to secure and protect the encampment from enemy fire while providing emergency medical care to a wounded local.

After the team successfully completed their culmination exercise, instructors decided who went on to graduate and wear the DAGRE tab, and who went back home to their units without one.

Two months of training, demonstrations, and academics for the team going through the courses culminated with a graduation ceremony December 2021. Rasheed was the first 919th Special Operations Wing Citizen Air Commando to graduate the full course and earn the tab in four years.

“My family and my team motivated and pushed me through the training,” said Rasheed. “I felt like I was cloud nine, I was so excited to have pushed through and finally graduated. I would highly recommend this training course to others”

While one journey ended here, another one began for Rasheed and other newly minted DAGRE team members who are fully trained and ready to defend AFSOC assets and SOF members wherever the Nation needs them.

By Senior Airman Dylan Gentile, 919th Special Operations Wing

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, LE, SOF | Comments Off on Duke Field Airman Among Newest DAGREs

SOFWERX – Special Reconnaissance Virtual Assessment Event Series

Friday, March 18th, 2022

SOFWERX, in collaboration with SOF Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L) Special Reconnaissance (PEO-SR), will host a series of Virtual Assessment Events (AEs) 31 May – 03 June 2022, to identify technologies and techniques to aid two (2) Program Management (PM) Offices with four (4) Technology Focus Areas (TFAs).

1 PM Integrated Sensor Systems (ISS): Tactical data exfiltration (SR-FY22-01)

2 PM Remote Capabilities (RC): Articulating small-UAS legs and motors paired with obstacle avoidance capabilities (SR-FY22-02)

3 PM Remote Capabilities (RC): Rucksack-portable small-UAS charging hive (SR-FY22-03)

4 PM Remote Capabilities (RC): UAS Signature Reduction Techniques (SR-FY22-04)

Submit NLT 15 April 11:59 PM ET

Learn more at events.sofwerx.org/srae.

Posted in Comms, Recce, Research, SOF | Comments Off on SOFWERX – Special Reconnaissance Virtual Assessment Event Series

7th Annual Whiskey & War Stories “Operation Acid Gambit” on 4 June, 2022 in Scottsdale

Tuesday, March 15th, 2022

The Silent Warrior Foundation would like to announce their next Whiskey & War Stories™, “Operation Acid Gambit”, to be held at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, Scottsdale, Arizona on June 4th, 2022.

Today is the 32nd Anniversary of the first successful hostage rescue by “The Unit” which was conducted on December 20, 1989.

The Silent Warrior Foundation will host participants of Operation Acid Gambit including:

Kurt Muse

Annie Muse

Kimberly Muse

COL Jim Ruffer, USAF, Ret.

CWO4 James Dietderich, USA, Ret.

MSGT Larry Vickers, USA, Ret.

SGM Kelly Vendon, USA, Ret.

SGM Steve Dawson, USA, Ret.

Special auction items are being prepared relating to the operation, including two period correct clones of 1989-era Unit weapons, including a Colt 723 clone with period correct Aimpoint and a custom 1911 with 1989-era features. A shooting adventure package is also being constructed involving MD helicopters and Dillon Aero for the auction.

Individual tickets and table sponsor tickets are on sale now at:

7th Annual Whiskey & War Stories | Auction Frogs (afrogs.org)

Individual tickets are $175 per person

Patriot Tables are $3750

Freedom Tables are $5500

To book rooms at the resort for the event ( A Daily Resort Charge WILL NOT BE ADDED )

Posted in Charity, Guest Post, History, SOF | 4 Comments »

1st SFC(A) Stands Up Special Operations Forces Training & Experimentation Center at White Sands Missile Range

Friday, March 11th, 2022

1st Special Forces Command (A) officially activates SOF-TEC as a formal command directorate, March 8, 2022, at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

The Special Operations Forces Training & Experimentation Center will serve as a leading installation for irregular warfare readiness for both USSOF and our partners around the world.

SOF -TEC will test cutting edge designs, equipment, and techniques, and facilitate cyber, electronic warfare, and Space training.

SOF-TEC is headed by Special Forces Colonel Theodore Unbehagen.

Posted in Forces Focus, Guest Post, SOF | 1 Comment »

Army Special Operations Forces Use Project Origin Systems in Latest Soldier Experiment

Friday, March 11th, 2022

DUGWAY, Utah — Army Green Berets from the 1st Special Forces Group conducted two weeks of hands-on experimentation with Project Origin Unmanned Systems at Dugway Proving Ground. Engineers from the U.S. Army DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center were on site to collect data on how these elite Soldiers utilized the systems and what technology and behaviors are desired.

Project Origin vehicles are the evolution of multiple Soldier Operational Experiments. This GVSC-led rapid prototyping effort allows the Army to conduct technology and autonomous behavior integration for follow-on assessments with Soldiers in order to better understand what Soldiers need from unmanned systems.

For the two-week experiment, Soldiers with the 1st Special Forces Group attended familiarization and new equipment training in order to develop Standard Operating Procedures for Robotic Combat Vehicles. The unit utilized these SOPs to conduct numerous mission-oriented exercises including multiple live-fire missions during the day and night.

The live-fire operations employed the M240 and M2 machine guns and the MK19 automatic grenade launcher.

“These live fire operations were critical to determining the military utility of the Robotic Combat Vehicle unmanned technology,” said Todd Willert, GVSC’s project manager for Project Origin. “The unit was successful with integrating the systems into their formation for both offensive and defensive operations.”

The Green Berets incorporated numerous Origin modular mission payloads to assist with long-range reconnaissance, concealment, electronic warfare and autonomous resupply operations.

A senior medical sergeant with the 1st Special Forces Group said the modularity of payloads provides flexibility for use in a variety of mission sets: “The upscaling of capabilities for a direct heavy-weapon system gives us the advantage we’ve never had before in typical dismounted roles.”

Willert stated the inclusion of Special Operations Forces into technology assessments provides more depth in understanding what is needed to mature unmanned systems for the Army’s Operating Force.

In addition, this experiment supports the continual development of the Army’s Robotic Technology Kernel — the Modular Open System Architecture-based library of software that can be used for ground autonomy — along with the Warfighter Machine Interface, the Army’s library of modular software used by Soldiers to control robotic vehicles. This open systems architecture approach will enable common unmanned maneuver capabilities across the ground vehicle fleet.

“We are in the process of tailoring software packages to meet the needs of end users,” Willert said. “Autonomy — at various levels — offers great opportunities for different mission sets that improve Soldier safety and reduce cognitive burden. The professional and thoughtful comments from these Soldiers will greatly assist us with developing behaviors for future unmanned systems.”

1st Special Forces Group Detachment Commander added, “The robots are best employed to maximize the standoff between Soldiers and enemy threats.” He went on to say, “The Project Origin system, for any type of dismounted operations we conduct, would provide us increased capabilities to recognize and identify individuals on target from a much greater standoff while decreasing the risk to the force as our Soldiers accomplish their mission.”

Maj. Cory Wallace, the RCV Requirements Lead with the Next Generation Combat Vehicle Cross Functional Team, said: “Working with an Operational Detachment Alpha enabled us to understand new use cases and consider new approaches to integrating robotic and autonomous systems into future experiments.”

“The feedback from the operators gave us a completely new perspective as to how we need to shape our future development efforts in order to provide the most effective unmanned systems possible to Army formations, Wallace said.

A senior weapons sergeant summed up the event by saying, “The Project Origin system allows us an ability to operate the system outside of enemy fire. This allows an ability to focus on advanced tasks such as terrain analysis, developing enemy courses of action, and thinking ahead of the now, rather than seeking cover and returning fire.”

By Jerome Aliotta

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Research, Robotics, SOF | 1 Comment »

SOFWERX – Security at the Edge Virtual Collaboration Event

Thursday, March 10th, 2022

SOFWERX, in collaboration with SOF Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate Network and Data Management Capability Focus Area (NDM CFA), will host a series of events starting 5 April 2022, to identify technologies with automated capabilities that provide edge device endpoint security, cloud security to protect data at the edge, and network edge security within SOF operational environments.

In austere environments, edge computing devices provide the ability to handle processing on the device or local server and transmit only the relevant data by eliminating latency, which is essential for SOF Operators. Unfortunately, edge computing devices are designed to prioritize functionality and connectivity over security. This makes SOF Operators’ edge computing devices extremely vulnerable to sophisticated nation state threat actors’ cyber attacks. Edge computing devices can take essentially any form and endpoints are everywhere due to the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The SOF Operator needs to ensure they are making decisions based on trusted data and have protections against zero day attacks. The need for protection against advanced persistent threats (APTs), nation state sponsored cyber attacks, data integrity capabilities, and overall zero trust solutions for the main three components of edge computing devices are critical for the current and future SOF operational environments.

RSVP NLT 29 March 11:59 PM ET.

Find further details at events.sofwerx.org/security

Posted in Comms, Research, SOF | 1 Comment »