News page dedicated to Special Operations Forces news
page provides summary and links to articles, sampling provided below
Special Operations News Update – Saturday, April 4, 2020
https://sof.news/update/20200404/
SOF and Coronavirus
There are thousands of articles posted online each day about coronavirus. About 40 of these are about what the military is doing or not doing about COVID-19. Below are a few of the more interesting articles about SOF and coronavirus. Plus some stories about the military in general and the Wuhan virus.
US SOF Withdraws From Around the World. The coronavirus pandemic has forced some drastic action on the part of the U.S. military. One of these is the withdrawal of special operations troops from some conflict zones and the shuttering of longstanding missions. The directive to redeploy will help reduce the strain on a small but often-deployed portion of the U.S. military and to contend with the risk of operating alongside local forces in countries flooded with coronavirus. Read “U.S. Commanders Cite Pandemic as They Pull Back Elite Units Around the World”, The New York Times, April 3, 2020.
COVID-19: Rumor Control. Rumors can easily circulate within communities during a crisis but there are some trusted sources of information to go to. Coronavirus: Rumor Control, U.S. Department of Defense, March 31, 2020. (I mean, yes, there is a certain DoD spin, but still useful).
1st SFGA Making Face Masks. Medical professionals, logisticians, and riggers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are manufacturing personal protective equipment for the COVID-19 pandemic. The equipment includes respirator masks, face shields, and surgical masks for Madigan Army Medical Center and its regional partners. (Army.mil, Apr 2, 2020).
Marine Raiders: Adjusting Training. The Marine Corps elite special operations unit headquartered in North Carolina is being forced to adjust training to comply with state, defense, and federal health guidelines. Read “Marine Raiders adjust training, add online courses to weather COVID-19”, Marine Corps Times, April 2, 2020. (USAF, Apr 1, 2020).
Air Force Relaxes a Bit. The fly boys – on a temporary basis – have relaxed grooming and fitness guidance. Common sense prevails?
More U.S. Military and Coronavirus News. Over 540 additional troops will deploy to the U.S. – Mexico border over COVID-19 concerns. The Pentagon confirms it has been asked to provide 100,000 body bags to FEMA. Morale is dipping in the Army for various reasons associated with the Wuhan virus.
Disbanding CRF’s? This article says that U.S. SOCOM has ordered the disbanding of the five Crisis Response Force companies of U.S. Army Special Forces. The article may or may not be entirely correct. Read “Special Operations: Evolution in Action”, Strategy Page, April 2, 2020.
Armed Overwatch Demo. The US Special Operations Command will conduct a flight demonstration of light-attack aircraft prototypes in November 2020. The result may be the award of a production contract for 75 aircraft to be delivered over several years. (FlightGlobal.com, Apr 2, 2020).
nternational SOF
Lithuanian SOF. The Lithuanian Special Operations Forces are celebrating the12th anniversary of becoming the fourth branch of the Lithuanian Army.
National Security
Casualty in Iraq Identified. The Department of Defense announced the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve. SFC John Hilty, age 44, of Bowie, Maryland died on Monday, March 30, 2020 in Erbil, Iraq from a non-combat related incident. He was a member of the 227th Aviation Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division. (DoD, Apr 1, 2020).
US Hostage Families Slighted? Is the government supporting US hostage families? The families say more can be done. (Federal Times, Apr 2, 2020).
New USMC Body Armor. The Marine Corps is fielding a next-generation protective vest – Plate Carrier Generation III. (DVIDS, Apr 2, 2020).