Threats

Today's D Brief: US forces, attacked; China’s Mideast wins; SecDef summoned to Hill; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

As irregular warfare comes to a crossroads, Congress chips in

IW proponents are wrestling with how to bring their domain into a new era—and to convince others it’s still needed.

  • Patrick Tucker
Threats

Pentagon grounds all Ospreys, one week after deadly crash

Investigators suspect a “potential materiel failure” may have caused the Nov. 29 mishap off Japan.

  • Audrey Decker
Threats

Today's D Brief: Deadly Osprey crash; Drone developments; Trump’s authoritarian vows; NDAA talks underway; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Audrey Decker and Bradley Peniston
Threats

Pentagon flying unarmed drones over Gaza to help recover hostages, officials say

Flights are part of U.S. ‘advice and assistance’ in the effort, spokesman says.

  • Audrey Decker
Threats

Today's D Brief: Shutdown deal clouds Ukraine aid; Incursions spike near Taiwan; New drug tests for SEALs; Milley’s last message to troops; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

Lawmakers, Army headed for a fight over cuts to special operations forces

“It doesn’t pass the smell test,” said one Senate staffer.

  • Patrick Tucker
Policy

Women face misogyny, barriers to promotion in special operations forces, US Army study says

The “very small percentage” of respondents who espoused such views included officers and senior enlisted leaders.

  • Sam Skove
Policy

Future wars will turn on space-cyber-special operations triad: Army SOF chief

The success of information ops is “the most important lesson learned from Ukraine right now.”

  • Patrick Tucker
Policy

Army Mulls 10-20% Cut to Special Operations Forces

Lawmakers and Army officials have discussed cuts through decade’s end, including to Green Berets, psyops, and enablers.

  • Caitlin M. Kenney
Ideas

Defense One Radio, Ep. 125: The Army’s recruiting crisis; the science of special forces; and NATO’s Mircea Geoană

Can the Army pull itself out of a two-year recruiting slump? And what sort of gear is drawing the attention of America's special operators?

  • Ben Watson, Sam Skove and Patrick Tucker
Ideas

DOD Managers Need a New Approach. SOCOM Can Lead the Way

The Pentagon's McNamara-era philosophy is woefully insufficient to a world that changes daily. U.S. Special Operations Command is working to craft a better one.

  • Dan Folliard
Exclusive Ideas

How Special Operations Forces Must Meet the Challenges of a New Era

To the commander of U.S. SOCOM, what matters most is whether we solve the problem our nation needs solved.

  • Gen. Bryan P. Fenton
Science & Tech

US Military Now Has Voice-Controlled Bug Drones

And next year, they might talk back.

  • Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech

Tomorrow’s Special Operator? Less Iron Man, More 007

But first, SOCOM must reverse a trend of “falling behind, not just linearly but exponentially” to Chinese and Russian tech.

  • Patrick Tucker
Threats

With Lessons from Ukraine, US Special Forces Reinvents Itself for a Fight with China

A recent exercise was Army SOCOM’s first to explicitly name China as the adversary.

  • Sam Skove
Policy

Special Operations Seeks 20% R&D Budget Bump

Collaborative autonomy and better contested communications top the wish list, while supply-chain risk becomes a top concern.

  • Patrick Tucker
Science & Tech

The Reaper UAV Is Getting Its Own Drone Swarm

Air Force special operators are rigging the venerable uncrewed aircraft with an ISR swarm that may take just one person to control.

  • Patrick Tucker
Policy

Army Special Operators Seek to Reduce Suicide with ‘Bottom-Led’ Approach

Units have been ordered to develop anti-suicide efforts based on the USASOC's new strategy.

  • Lauren C. Williams
Policy

Ukraine, Irregular-War Changes Are Reshaping Pentagon’s Info-Ops Strategy

Civilians reporting military movements and a return to proxy war will inform the first IO update in seven years.

  • Lauren C. Williams
Previous
Next