Tag Archives: Special Operations

Votel: U.S. Still Needs to Keep Pressure on ISIS After Syria Exit

Votel: U.S. Still Needs to Keep Pressure on ISIS After Syria Exit

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Cavalry Regiment watch an illumination round in the distance that was fired from their M777 Howitzer for an indirect fire mission in Southwest Asia on Dec. 2, 2018. US Army Photo

The U.S.- led military coalition needs to keep military pressure on the Islamic State even after the American withdrawal from Syria. And the U.S. needs to be prepared to still provide $4 billion yearly to Kabul after a troop drawdown in Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command commander Army Gen. Joseph Votel told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday. Read More

USNI News Video: Sea Base USS Lewis B. Puller Finding Its Way in 5th Fleet

USNI News Video: Sea Base USS Lewis B. Puller Finding Its Way in 5th Fleet

An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the ‘Easyriders’ of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 37 delivers cargo to the expeditionary mobile base USS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3). US Navy Photo

ABOARD EXPEDITIONARY SEA BASE USS LEWIS B. PULLER – U.S. 5th Fleet is experimenting with one of the Navy’s newest warships with a mission to support amphibious, special forces and mine countermeasures operations at sea. USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) is the Navy’s first purpose-built expeditionary sea base in decades, and sailors and Marines are hard at work learning how to innovate with a wide cross-section of U.S. and international military partners. Read More

USS Ponce Returns From Final Deployment Ahead of Decommissioning

USS Ponce Returns From Final Deployment Ahead of Decommissioning

Sailors and civilian contractors assigned to Commander, Task Group (CTG) 56.1 aboard a rigid-hull inflatable boat carrying underwater unmanned vehicles are craned onto the ship during mine countermeasure training operations aboard the Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce (AFSB(I)-15) in 2015. US Navy Photo

The converted amphibious warship that served as an experimental platform for special operations forces, minehunting helicopters and the Navy’s first operational laser weapon is back in the U.S. after more than five years operating in the Middle East. Read More

Navy to Commission Middle East-based Expeditionary Sea Base Lewis B. Puller as a Warship

Navy to Commission Middle East-based Expeditionary Sea Base Lewis B. Puller as a Warship

The Military Sealift Command expeditionary mobile base USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB 3) departs Naval Station Norfolk to begin its first operational deployment on July 10, 2017. Puller is deploying to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. Navy and allied military efforts in the region. US Navy photo.

The Navy will re-designate its first Expeditionary Landing Base ship a warship this week, converting the Military Sealift Command ship USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3) into USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) so it can better meet operational needs abroad, USNI News has learned. Read More

Expeditionary Sea Base USNS Lewis B. Puller Departs for Maiden Deployment

Expeditionary Sea Base USNS Lewis B. Puller Departs for Maiden Deployment

The Military Sealift Command expeditionary mobile base USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB 3) departs Naval Station Norfolk for its first operational deployment. Puller is deploying to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. Navy and allied military efforts in the region. US Navy photo.

The first-in-class Expeditionary Sea Base USNS Lewis B. Puller (T-ESB-3) departed Norfolk on Monday for the Middle East for its first full operational deployment. Read More

WEST: Former NATO Commander Stavridis Says Integrating Women Into Special Operations Might Not Be a Big Deal

WEST: Former NATO Commander Stavridis Says Integrating Women Into Special Operations Might Not Be a Big Deal

 Pfc. Christina Fuentes Montenegro prepares to hike to her platoon's defensive position during patrol week of Infantry Training Battalion near Camp Geiger, N.C. on Oct. 31, 2013. US Marine Corps Photo

Pfc. Christina Fuentes Montenegro prepares to hike to her platoon’s defensive position during patrol week of Infantry Training Battalion near Camp Geiger, N.C. on Oct. 31, 2013. US Marine Corps Photo

SAN DIEGO — When asked for his thoughts about the pending integration of women into the military’s male-only special operations forces, retired Adm. James G. Stavridis thought back a generation. Read More

Funding Issues Threaten U.S. Special Operations ISR in Africa, Asia

Funding Issues Threaten U.S. Special Operations ISR in Africa, Asia

MQ-9 Reaper UAV. US Air Force Photo

MQ-9 Reaper UAV. US Air Force Photo

“The shortage of ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) is not limited to Africa,” the senior Pentagon official for special operations and low-intensity conflict told a Senate subcommittee Tuesday. “The number of orbits is decreasing” in monitoring terrorist activities in all combatant commands. Read More