12 October 2012

The sky was blue with a few clouds in the background as the Para-Commandos freefall into the Everbank Stadium for the Oct. 7, during the Jacksonville Jaguars game against the Chicago Bears with 67,000 fans in attendance. The half time demonstration had many fans cheering as the U.S. flag came in from the sky, followed by the POW/MIA Flag. Lt. Col. Ken Ates jumped in with the Jaguars Team flag. As the jump team was leaving the field, many fans let them know they enjoyed the demonstration.

5 October 2012

Geoff Barker received his second Outstanding Civilian Service Medal in a ceremony Sept. 10, in the Donovan room at USSOCOM’s headquarters, paying tribute to his work with the Special Operations Memorial Foundation from June 1997 to July 2012. Although the medal recognizes his work from the past 15 years, he has had a remarkable career for more than 50 years.

21 September 2012

Less than two months after winning the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, Calif., Army Master Sgt. Mike Morton traveled to Europe where he not only won the 24-hour world championship, but also shattered the United States record.

5 September 2012

Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Faris, the senior enlisted advisor for U.S. Special Operations Command, and his wife, Lisa, answer questions during a presentation to special operations personnel and their spouses at Joint Base Lewis McChord Aug. 23.

6 August 2012

Standing at 5 feet 4 inches, and weighing in at 130 pounds, Army Master Sgt. Mike Morton is a giant in the ultramarathon community.

2 July 2012

In support of Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC) attached to Naval Special Warfare Group 4 (NSW4), participated in a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) event in Uruguay May 15 to June 15.

22 June 2012

With the advice and assistance of Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) Civil Affairs planners, Paraguayan Military Civil Affairs soldiers teamed up with Paraguayan National Police units to provide medical attention and education to rural Paraguayans June 2-3. The two security services provided medical care to over 2,400 rural residents at the ’12 de Abril’ school, Arroyito, District of Horqueta, Department of Concepcion.

25 May 2012

Retired Air Force Master Sgt. and Pararescueman Scott Fales received U.S. Special Operations Command’s highest honor when he was awarded the 2012 Bull Simons Award in Tampa, Fla., May 23. This lifetime achievement award, named for Army Col. Arthur “Bull” Simons, honors the spirit, values, and skills of the unconventional warrior.

15 May 2012

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Tampa, Fla. – The United States Special Operations Command is inviting the public to watch U.S. and international Special Operations Forces (SOF) demonstrate their combined combat capabilities outside the Tampa Convention Center next Wednesday, May 23 at 1 p.m.

15 May 2012

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Tampa, Fla. – The United States Special Operations Command will host U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as keynote speaker for the International Special Operations Forces Week conference Gala Dinner at the Tampa Convention Center Wednesday, May 23.

11 May 2012

(FORT CAMPBELL, KY, May 10, 2012) – The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) will honor one of its own with the official compound naming ceremony in honor of former regimental commander, retired Gen. Bryan “Doug” Brown, May 14 at Fort Campbell, Ky.

9 May 2012

Colorado Springs, Colo. – Athletes with the U.S. Special Operations Command team took home eight medals during track, field and swimming events to close out this year’s Warrior Games. The joint service team doubled their awards over 2011 results, bringing home a total of 10 medals during competitions throughout the week.

2 May 2012

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Members of the U.S. Special Operations Command archery team beat out their U.S. Air Force rivals to take the bronze medal in the compound archery category May 2. The competition is just one of seven athletic events held during the Warrior Games, an annual wounded warrior competition taking place here this week.

1 May 2012

The joint U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Warrior Games team joined more than 200 other wounded warriors to kickoff the 2012 Warrior Games April 30. The opening ceremony was held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and featured speakers First Lady Michelle Obama and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.

18 April 2012

Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy class six graduates and instructors pose with their commencement speaker, the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, Marine Sergeant Major Bryan Battaglia, after the class six graduation ceremony at the Davis Conference Center, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., March 16. Battaglia addressed JSOFSEA's sixth and most recent graduating class and personally handed out diplomas to each graduate. Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Sun Vega.

16 April 2012

April 25, 1980, was a defining moment for Special Operations as the tragic news of the failed Desert One mission became known that day. President Jimmy Carter announced a secret rescue mission for the Iranian hostages had failed; eight American servicemen were dead and several others were seriously injured.

4 April 2012

TAMPA, Fla. –Once a week, Army Sgt. Maj. Kent Dolasky wakes up extra early to pack his kids’ lunches and homework while his wife Lana cooks a bulk amount of scrambled eggs and pancakes. Dolasky brews a pot of coffee, then packs it in a thermos alongside large foil containers of the freshly-made pancakes and eggs, plus disposable plates, cups and forks, syrup, sugar and creamer. He puts these items in a box and heads out the door for work.

13 March 2012

After more than 10 years of combat operations, Special Operations servicemembers and their families are feeling the strains and pressures of multiple deployments and busy training schedules. To ensure everyone within the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has the resources available to them to deal with those stresses, a special task force has been launched.

12 January 2012

In 1997, eight Special Forces Soldiers traveled to Bolivia to train and advise a battalion of Bolivian Army rangers. Beyond running the battalion’s light infantry certification training, the Special Forces team used their downtime to refine their own techniques and tactical proficiency; and they allowed a motivated 20-year-old Bolivian Army corporal to participate in their team training sessions.

6 January 2012

United States Special Operations Command hosted the Sovereign Challenge VIII conference in Savannah, Georgia, Dec 6-9.

22 December 2011

Admiral Bill H. McRaven, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, promoted Brig. Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, Joint Special Operations Command’s deputy commanding general, to major general during a ceremony here Dec. 22.

7 December 2011

Adm. Bill H. McRaven, USSOCOM commander, held his first All Hands call at Hangar 3, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Dec. 6. Adm. McRaven and Command Sgt. Major Chris Faris discussed their leadership philosophy and their focus on winning the current fight, strengthening the global SOF alliance and preserving the force. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Larry Carpenter, Jr.

6 December 2011

A new Vietnam Memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day in Hillsborough County near Tampa, Fla., and the expansive memorial and its surrounding grounds were based on concepts and sketches by USSOCOM artist Tim Lawn.

5 December 2011

Dr. Joe Kilgore, left, Joint Special Operations University Dean of Academics, receives the 2011 Learning Spotlight Award from Elliott Masie, who heads the MASIE Center, an international think tank focused on changing how the workforce learns and performs. The award is given to members of Masie's "Learning Consortium" who demonstrate exceptional performance in learning and development. JSOU received the award during Masie's recent conference in Orlando, Fla.

19 November 2011

Families, friends, volunteers and servicemen welcomed Sgt. Joel Tavera to his new home, Nov. 19 in New Tampa. Tavera, who was injured in Iraq over three years ago and has gone through 73 surgeries, received his house while hundreds of well-wishers looked on. “I think this house is wonderful,” said Tavera. “A lot of people came together to make this house for me, I couldn’t possibly name every single person that was involved, but I’d like to thank all of you.”