By Pat Carty.

Yet again, my imaginary global ball which prompts me about future Special Force exercises, came up with duff information. The reason being that whilst I had almost packed my bags and booked my flight to Cyprus, to cover the latest UK Special Force exercise; “Chameleon 23-2”, that was not to be the case.

Exercise Chameleon is a bi-annual Special Force exercise involving various members and units of the United Kingdom’s Special Air Service and Special Boat Service, together with other essential SF Ground and Support units.

Whilst exercise planning is demanding, I admit I had no idea how the planners were going to cope with a serious situation involving Chameleon 23-2. A situation which I have never experienced in all the years that I have been privileged to attend SF exercises – the loss of an airframe instrumental in military operations – especially SF. Plus, no known proven replacement! The reason is that on 14th June this year, three Royal Air Force Brize Norton based C-130Js saluted the nation in a farewell low-level flypast over the country. The route included RAF stations and places of significance to the Hercules. It sure was an eye-watering occasion and a very fitting goodbye in preparation for its total retirement on 30th June 2023. 

RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire is the largest RAF Station in the UK and encompasses some 5,800 Service Personnel, 300 civilian staff and 1,200 contractors. It is also home to the RAF Air Mobility Force. However, with the demise of the C-130, the UK Strategic and Tactical Air Transport element is now totally reliant upon the C-17 and the new “Atlas” A-400M, the final one delivered in May.

With regard to Para Ops from A-400s, the first trials took place a year ago this month and were performed by No. 206 Squadron, the RAF’s Heavy Aircraft Test and Evaluation Squadron. Assisting them were staff from the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit.

I then witnessed what I suspect was the very first HAHO drop from an RAF A-400, which took place during an SF exercise. I think the idea was not to draw attention to the event. However, I suspect the troops dropped were Para instructors, not SF personnel. Some months later, trials took place over Salisbury Plain Training Area, where non-SF troops from the 16th Air Assault Brigade made standard Para drops.

Photo: A-400 HAHO stick arriving over RAF Leeming (photo by Pat Carty 2023)

Whilst test para drops may have continued up until now, I have never seen any evidence that RIBS, along with troops, have ever been dispatched from A-400 aircraft. So, would the latest Chameleon exercise reveal the answer to this situation?

Just before Chameleon 23-2 StartEx, SD Northern River, a large multi-purpose Special Force auxiliary ship, operated by Serco Marine Services, headed towards the Welsh coast. It then moored up in anticipation of assisting with Chameleon Para drops.

Previously, Chameleon para-drops included SF troops dispatched during daylight from a C-130 over the sea, along with their RIB. The same sorties were then run at night. In addition to the sea drops, several drops were also made onto land, utilising both RAF C-130 aircraft and a Short SC-7 Skyvan, on long-term military hire from the Canadian company Summit Air.

However, for Chameleon 23-2, SF troops made just a few sea-drops over three days, from one of two RAF Chinook helicopters deployed for the exercise, and an A-400. But no RIBs were air-dropped!

Once in the sea, the jumpers were collected by SF jet-skies, accompanied by a small Royal Marine assault-craft, call sign CSB0012. Then, along with their chutes, were transported to the Northern River. A Royal Navy Auxiliary Patrol boat was also utilised to deter shipping from entering the DZ area.

Following those para drops, the exercise moved back to RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, where over the next few days, several para-drops were made from Chinooks, the Skyvan, a C-17, and two A-400 Atlas aircraft. The sticks ranged from standard height to High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) drops.

Once the Leeming para-drops had been completed, multiple insertion-points were created in Sweden, where over the remaining two weeks, an RAF C-17 and two RAF A-400s made numerous return flights from Leeming. The reason being that several Swedish military training areas near Karlsborg (22 flights), Kiruna (24 flights) and Orebro (20 flights), were used as DZ’s, or insertion points.    

Whilst I can accept that there was also another SF exercise running in Sweden at the same time, and supported by American C-130 Hercules, I find it unbelievable in this day of cost-cutting, that Chameleon 23-2 got away with some forty-four C-17 flights, one hundred and fifteen, yes one hundred and fifteen mostly long-distance A-400 flights. Plus, twenty-nine Shadow R1 ISTAR flights. Thus, making a total of two hundred and six flights over the three weeks. That total did not include the numerous Chameleon rotary sorties by Chinook and Apache helicopters. I would hate to have had to foot the fuel bill. I just hope the SF troops involved in Chameleon 23-2 reaped the benefit. The aircrew certainly added to their flying time.

As for the question “is the new A-400 cleared to perform over-sea para-drops with RIBs?” I guess I will have to wait until Exercise Chameleon 24-1 early next year, to find out.

***********

Top photo: UK SF troops on jet skis heading to SD Northern River after parachute infiltration. (photo by Steve Morris, 2023)

Author: Pat Carty is a NATO accredited journalist who covers military news, events, operations, and exercises; including special operations forces. He is a contributor to SOF News as well as several other military defense publications.

By Hannah Canales.

The 27th Special Operations Wing will be supporting the tenth and largest iteration of the biennial Australian-led exercise, Talisman Sabre 2023, running from mid-July to early August.

Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States, and provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships and interoperability amongst the key allies. The exercise is a demonstration of the strong alliance that is underpinned by deep levels of cooperation and trust built over decades of operating, training, and exercising together. Training together enhances the U.S. and Australia’s collective capability to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.

From the 27th Special Operations Wing, AC-130J Ghostrider gunships with the 17th Special Operations Squadron, an MC-130J Commando II with the 9th Special Operations Squadron, and the Mission Sustainment Team with the 27th Special Operations Support Squadron will participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre. Additionally, MC-130J Commandos with the 1st Special Operations Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, will participate.

The 17th SOS AC-130Js are already in the Indo-Pacific theater supporting exercise Teak Action, another Australian-U.S. bilateral exercise. Their presence in Australia marks the first time AC-130s have ever flown to Australia and operated there, highlighting one of our most critical alliances in the region.

Several other units from across the Wing, to include members of the 27th Special Operations Maintenance Group and the 27th Special Operations Mission Support Group, will be providing the munitions, maintenance, and logistics necessary for effective deployment to the region.

“The 27th Special Operations Wing’s support to Talisman Sabre is historic. It reaffirms Air Force Special Operations Command’s commitment to the region and our partnerships to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jeremy Bergin, 27th Special Operations Wing commander. “The ability to rapidly project power into the region from Cannon AFB not only builds trust with our allies and enhances our collective capabilities, but it intentionally prepares Cannon’s Air Commandos to respond to our nation’s call…any time, any place, anywhere.”

The 27th SOW’s participation in the upcoming iteration of Exercise Talisman Sabre is a testament to AFSOC’s shift to align with National Defense priorities.

While Talisman Sabre is jointly sponsored by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Australian Defence Force Headquarters Joint Operations Command, other nations participating are: Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and United Kingdom.

**********

This story by 1st lt. Hannah Canales was first published on July 22, 2023 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: Two RAAF PC-21 aircraft conduct sorties over the Newcastle region with the US Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider from 17th Special Operations Squadron. Photo by Leading Aircraftman Samuel Miller, July 16, 2023.

By Jon Soucy.

The wind danced through the trees as pewter-colored clouds hinted at heavy rain. Soldiers went about their duties at a rocket launcher site on a hillside clearing in an otherwise thickly forested area. Aside from the trees, all was quiet. But as the wind gusted again, Soldiers with the 19th Special Forces Group suddenly appeared from the woods in a coordinated assault to seize control of the site.

Located deep in the West Virginia hills, the launcher site and the attack were part of the culminating exercise for one training lane in exercise Ridge Runner, a two-week special operations training exercise hosted by the West Virginia National Guard and the Irregular Warfare Center.

The exercise included more than 420 troops, primarily with the 19th Special Forces Group headquartered in the Utah Army National Guard, and allies and partners from 16 nations. Training scenarios focused on core Special Forces mission sets, including working with foreign forces, counterinsurgency operations and irregular warfare.

“Irregular warfare is actually a difficult term to describe because there’s no doctrinal [definition] for irregular warfare,” said an operations sergeant major with the 19th SFG who oversaw one of the exercise’s training lanes. “It’s designed to be very broad because it includes hybrid threats, it includes security force assistance and doing not only counterinsurgency and unconventional warfare, but also doing foreign internal defense.”

Many of those mission sets were tied together throughout the training scenario. Exercise participants — mostly made up of Special Forces ODAs, or operational detachment alpha teams, the basic SF tactical element — assimilated into West Virginia communities in two simulated nations and met with actual local government officials, law enforcement and emergency services personnel.

They monitored simulated economic and political situations in each “nation” through simulated newscasts and media engagements, and mirrored responses to them with procedures and operations that would be used during actual deployments.

Information from those engagements drove the training and resulting missions, eventually countering a simulated invasion by hostile forces from neighboring nations.

“The change in the scenario replicates what our forces would experience if they were in a friendly country about to be invaded by a hostile force,” said the sergeant major. Teams acting as the opposing forces, or OPFOR, also had to shift in line with those scenario changes — and their actions often caused other shifts by the ODAs.

“What the OPFOR brings to the exercise is kind of a realistic aspect to it,” said a staff sergeant with the 19th SFG on an OPFOR team. “We’re able to do our own planning against what we know or think that the partner force of the ODA is doing. And so, it’s more realistic of how an enemy would react to those situations.”

The exercise also tied into larger service-wide shifts as the Army and Army National Guard move from counterinsurgency operations to preparing for near-peer threats and potential large-scale operations.

“You’re getting away from what for the last 20 years has been the main effort [counterinsurgency operations] and you’re now supporting the warfighter in different capacities,” said the sergeant major. “During the Global War on Terror, special operations, we were doing direct action. We were doing FID [foreign internal defense], we were doing counterinsurgency and going after specific terrorist cells.”

Some tasks and mission sets may be similar in future operations, but their large-scale application has changed.

“This is different,” said the sergeant major. “This is full-spectrum warfare. It’s preparing for invasion or preparing the territories that we would operate in, in order to facilitate conventional battle lines.” Training and ensuring high readiness for that shift is key, he said. “Irregular warfare is our way to do that through more low visibility operations and our ability to work around the civilian populace and provide that support to the conventional military.”

Ridge Runner, and similar exercises, help teams refine those skills.

“It allows you to be very creative,” said the sergeant major. “You have to get very resourceful and kind of adapt to the changing environment and realize that you don’t have the freedom of movement that we did in other places. It’s no longer about having air supremacy. It’s no longer about having open comms with higher [headquarters].”

And the exercise also helped teams focus on basic tactical elements.

“We’re able to work on some of our small unit tactics that we’re doing together as this six-man contingent as well,” said the staff sergeant. “We’ve been able to have those discussions, work on basic patrolling as well and all those things that are in the Ranger handbook and are the fundamentals of success for an ODA.”

That’s critical, as the 19th and 20th SFGs — the two Army Guard Special Forces groups — are integrated into special operations missions worldwide.

“The 19th and 20th Group guys get to do that just as much as their active-duty counterparts,” said the sergeant major. “They deploy to the same areas, they go to the same schools, they work with the same partners.”

And for the sergeant major, that capability is part of the uniqueness of Army Guard Special Forces units. “[It’s] an opportunity to serve in a special operations capacity, wearing a Green Beret and operating in some of the highest missions,” he said.

*********

This story by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy was first published by the National Guard Bureau on July 7, 2023. DoD content is in the public domain.

Photo: A Soldier with the 19th Special Forces Group, headquartered in the Utah Army National Guard, leads his team, which includes Latvian special operations elements, in an assault on a simulated emplaced missile launcher site while taking part in exercise Ridge Runner near Jolo, West Virginia, June 15, 2023. The two-week exercise brought together Soldiers with the 19th SFG and special operations troops from Latvia, Poland, and other allied and partner nations and focused on interoperability in unconventional warfare tasks. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy)

By Edwin Wriston.

The West Virginia National Guard’s Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise 23-01, co-hosted by the Irregular Warfare Center, wrapped up June 16, 2023, at Camp Dawson, Kingwood, West Virginia.

The nearly two-week long exercise that spanned throughout West Virginia brought more than 420 members of the U.S. military, special operations community, allies and partners from 16 different nations, and observers to provide validation for deploying special forces elements in a dynamic and realistic irregular warfare scenario.

The Department of Defense’s summary of the Irregular Warfare Annex to the National Defense Strategy defines irregular warfare as the struggle among state and non-state actors to influence populations and affect legitimacy.

Key components of the exercise concentrated on building long-term interoperability between U.S. and foreign national special operations and conventional forces, enabling mission essential tasks, and assessing readiness while enhancing strategic and operational irregular warfare capabilities.

Participants from Charlie Company, 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne); 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne); Bravo Company, 6th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne); and the United States Marine Corps 193rd Special Operations Group, 4th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, 4th Civil Affairs Group, and 4th Marine Corps Advisor Company Alpha trained alongside forces from the United Kingdom, Latvia, Lithuania, Polish Territorial Defense Force, Polish GRYF, and Polish JKW.

Observers from Canada, Georgia, Moldova, Qatar, Hungary, Germany, Finland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Australia, and the United Kingdom Special Air Service were also present.

“The Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare exercise helps provide critical cross-training and preparation of both special operations and joint forces to conduct irregular warfare activities while deployed into potentially hostile or contested environments,” stated Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, Adjutant General for the West Virginia National Guard. “Today’s complex environment demands we look to this type of realistic training to prepare our forces to combat malign and malicious activities by adversaries and peer competitors.”

He continued, “Our partnership with the IWC is allowing us to expand and enhance the Ridge Runner program to become a premier training venue for domestic and international forces right here in West Virginia all while supporting national security objectives. In addition, we were able to work with other state Adjutants Generals through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program to bring partner and allied forces to train in West Virginia on irregular warfare tasks. ”

During the exercise, participants assimilated into communities throughout West Virginia within two simulated nations spanning the northern and southern portions of the state. Participants met with real-world local government officials, law enforcement and emergency services personnel, and monitored simulated economic and political situations developing in each nation through simulated news casts and media engagements, mirroring procedures and operations they would conduct during actual deployments.

Data collected from these engagements was then used to drive additional training and operational missions sets during the exercise, leading up to culminating missions to counter a simulated invasion by hostile forces from neighboring nations.

“The West Virginia National Guard continues to prove that they are among the best in the world,” said Senator Manchin, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “I applaud everyone involved with successfully restarting the Ridge Runner exercise, which develops and executes realistic training environments for irregular warfare across our great state. These simulations are critical to ensuring America and our allies are prepared and ready to handle the destabilizing tactics we’re seeing Russia and China employ through organizations like the Wagner Group. I was proud to secure $4 million through the FY 2023 federal budget to support the Ridge Runner exercise, and I will continue advocating for projects like these that strengthen and defend America’s national security.”

Prior to the actual exercise play, attendees participated in a three-day irregular warfare academics program of instruction through the Joint Special Operations University (JSOU). This academics program provided participants with advanced concepts and doctrine of irregular warfare and emphasized the importance of resistance and resiliency lines of effort to combat current and emerging threats on and off the battlefield.

“The benefit of what the IWC and Ridge Runner brings the knowledge of the non-kinetic skills and base knowledge to operate in an environment that is presenting the greatest non-kinetic threat to freedom around the world,” stated 2nd Lt. Marek Zaluski, Polish Territorial Defense Forces. “Freedom of not only the United States, but also its partners and allies. And that is why as partners we feel it is very important for us to participate in an expanded exercise model which includes academics from JSOU and the IWC. Only as a package does this create a full tool to combat the threat facing the world.”

“The West Virginia National Guard is a proven leader in the U.S. Special Operations community, and for allies and partners seeking expertise in Irregular Warfare. This summer’s Ridge Runner program, completed in partnership with the Department of Defense’s Irregular Warfare Center, shows the strength and leadership of West Virginia authorities across all levels of government and allowed our Special Operators to train in unique settings across the entire state. I look forward to continuing my support for this program, and the training opportunities it provides for our Special Forces to meet some of the most complex threats we might face,” Senator Capito said.

Another key component of the exercise that was developed through the partnership between the West Virginia National Guard and IWC was the inaugural Ridge Healer event. As forces transition to preparing to face a near peer adversary, medical competency and capability must shift to address the needs of the theatre, which includes practicing higher levels of medical care in austere locations with limited supplies and equipment.

This medical-centric exercise was developed to build resilience, resistance, and irregular warfare medical subject matter experts by incorporating the strategic and operational research through academia to tactical practical application. The 193rd Special Operations Medical Group, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, participated in the exercise to test their capability and capacity to support irregular warfare medical tasks performed in an austere environment.

The efforts of everyone involved in the complete planning and execution portions of the exercise were tremendous and the lessons learned will help to build even better scenarios and training opportunities for future iterations, stated U.S. Army Maj. Mikael Susick, Ridge Runner director.

The IWC and Ridge Runner program will be hosting numerous iterations of large- and small-scale exercises in the year, tailored to fit the needs of participating units. Focus areas will include irregular warfare activities including full-spectrum and multi-domain operations in denied areas, non-standard logistics and clandestine communications in a maritime environment.

**********

This story by Edwin Wriston was first published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on June 21, 2023. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: Participants observe an LOC during Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise 23-01 in West Virginia. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jake Seawolf, WV NG, June 15, 2023.

By Pat Carty.

Since 2006 I have attended a particular exercise in the UK, which has been very special for me. The reason being it has involved only helicopters from a foreign Air Force.

Exercise TAC Blaze, run by the Dutch Defence Helicopter Command (DHC), is based at Carlisle Airport. However, as TAC Blaze aims to train and qualify aircrew in low-level flying techniques, it utilises the vast areas of Cumbria and Northumberland. In addition, as its other aim is to train crews in Electronic Warfare, it centres itself on the Electronic Counter Measures Range at the nearby Royal Air Force Spadeadam.

The latest TAC Blaze, which incidentally has not been run in the UK since 2019, due to a reorganisation within the Dutch military, and then the outbreak of Covid, flew missions’ day and night and over the hilly terrain, and at very low altitudes. It also involved a variety of scenarios which simulated missions against potential adversary threats, whilst performing evasive manoeuvres and other tactics to defeat the enemy.

The first indication that TAC Blaze 23 was going ahead, was reports that 2 AS532U2 Cougar helicopters, call sign Wildcat (300 Squadron), 5 AH-64D Apache helicopters, call sign Knife (301 Squadron) and 4 CH-47F Chinook helicopters, call sign Sabre (298 Squadron) had departed from their Gilze-Rijen Air Base in Holland. After quick refuels at Northolt and Mildenhall, the formations arrived at Carlisle, delighting the locals and aviation enthusiasts who had gathered to welcome their arrival.

Photo: “Sabre” and “Wildcat” enroute to the IP during Exercise TAC Blaze 23. (photo by Duane Hewitt)

Ground support for the exercise had arrived previously by road, having crossed the North Sea. It consisted of up to 250 troops and 80 vehicles. Air support also arrived at Newcastle International Airport, using T-057, a Dutch Air Force A-330 (MMF39). 

Once established at Carlisle, the Dutch aircrews flew a complex variety of day and night missions, co-ordinated with RAF Spadeadam. Incidentally, Spade covers some 9,600 acres (38.8km2) and was available from 14.00 to 23.00 hours. 

Once the “Familiarisation Brief” had been completed each Monday, morning and afternoon missions were flown. Mondays were also used as “range familiarisation” by the weapons instructors, who then trained any new crews.

Between Tuesday and Thursday, afternoon and evening sorties were flown. However, Fridays were scheduled for daytime flying only. 

The second week tended to be a copy of the first, with the addition of new crews joining the exercise. These also needed to get familiar with the terrain, the systems, the hazards and the numerous antennas at Spadeadam.

Whilst at Spadeadam, crews flew evasive manoeuvres against the range radar systems. This consisted of the helicopter flying at higher altitudes, thus giving radar systems a chance to lock-on to the helicopters. Once the radar had locked- on, crews would fly much lower to attempt to lose the radar lock. Crews also practised how and when to deploy “chaff”. These aluminium-coated glass fibres stripes can either swamp a radar screen with multiple returns, or confuse guidance systems.

The Wednesday and Thursday sorties saw all three aircraft types flying together, starting with relatively small formations. For example, a single Apache would initially enter the landing zone, whilst attempting to evade radar detection. During these sorties, the Spade jamming facilities could also be used to disrupt the aircraft’s FM, VHF or UHF radios (and GPS if required). With the landing zone secure, Cougars or Chinooks could then touch down, simulating the insertion of Special Forces troops.

Photo: Lt Col Bob Oostrom, Exercise TAC Blaze 23. (photo by Duane Hewitt)

During TAC Blaze, I had what I thought would be the pleasure of interviewing Lieutenant Colonel Bob “Sleeer” Oostrom; Head of the Helicopter Warfare Centre at Gilze-Rijen Airbase and the TAC Blaze Exercise Commander. However, when I asked him what types of aircraft he had flown during his military career, the RAF Spadeadam Media Communications Officer raised her eyebrows and said: “You don’t want to go into personal things like that”! Due to her interruption, no way did I wish to continue the interview, especially discuss his units SF future. So, I thanked Lt Col Oostrom for the interview, and for providing one of each aircraft type for myself, a TV News cameraman and a local BBC radio reporter, to photograph. Then, after thanking Wing Commander Andrew Tidmarsh, the Station Commander, RAF Spadeadam, also Officer Commanding the Spadeadam Aggressor Squadron for attending, I left!

Incidentally, Lt Col Bob Oostrom’s flight name – Sleeer, is Dutch for a sleigh. Hence Bobsleigh.

All was not lost, the reason being that after talking unofficially to several crews, I now know TAC Blaze taught them a lot. That they enjoyed the exercise, and also enjoyed both meeting both the local people and seeing the local area.    

Were SF troops involved in this Tac Blaze? The previous exercise saw SF troops embedded within the exercise and based at Spade. However, as I did not venture into Spade this year, I cannot comment. I will also not mention those troops inserted by helicopter into Spade during this TAC Blaze, whilst gunfire could be heard. Then extracted! 

As for the 300 Squadron. They were scheduled to disband in 2011. However, that decision was gradually rolled-back due to the delayed entry of the NH Industries NH90 helicopter, and the planned mid-life update of the Dutch Boeing CH-47 Chinook. Both of which created a shortage in the Dutch transport helicopter capacity. In 2017, it was decided the squadron would remain operational until at least 2030 and, depending on future decision-making, receive a new dedicated mission; Special Operations Forces Air (SOF-Air). Since then, they have worked very closely with Dutch SOF.

On the 6 June 2023, the Dutch State Secretary Christophe Van Der Maat announced that 14 new H225M Caracal helicopters have been ordered, replacing the Cougars from the beginning of 2028.  So, there are now a lot of happy faces within SOF.

**********

Author: Pat Carty is a NATO accredited journalist who covers military news, events, operations, and exercises; including special operations forces. He is a contributor to SOF News as well as several other military defense publications.

Top photo: “Wildcat 1” and “3” into Spadeadam during TAC Blaze 23. Photo by Duane Hewitt.

By Capt. Angelica White.

U.S. Marines and Sailors of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26 MEU), embarked aboard the three ships of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (BAT ARG), successfully completed ARG/MEU exercise (AMX). During AMX, the 26th MEU successfully achieved C5ISR capabilities, capacities, and battlestaff competencies across MEU Mission Essential Tasks (METs), to include the ability to integrate with elements of Naval Special Warfare and NATO partners, from distributed locations within the littorals of eastern North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, April 13 to May 3, 2023.

Assessors and evaluators from Carrier Strike Group Four (CSG 4) and II Marine Expeditionary Force Expeditionary Operations Training Group (II MEF, EOTG), responsible for exercise design and control, established a realistic threat-based scenario reflective of the Sixth Fleet and Fifth Fleet areas of operations enabling the BAT ARG / 26 MEU the ability to hone warfighting readiness and increase lethality. AMX is the sixth of seven large scale pre-deployment events within the 26 MEU pre-deployment training continuum that ensures the 26th MEU properly task-organized and capable of executing all MEU Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) METs prior to the final Composite Unit pre-deployment training exercise (COMPTUEX).

Photo: A U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) assigned to the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) lands during an amphibious assault as part ARG/Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Exercise (ARGMEUEX) on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 30, 2023. Lance Cpl. Rafael Brambila-Pelayo.

Within a realistic threat-based scenario, AMX provided an opportunity for the 26th MEU to replicate MAGTF operations on-land and from-the-sea including Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Defense of the Amphibious Task Force (DATF), Expeditionary Advanced Based Operations (EABO), Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), multiple live-fire raids, information operations (IO), strikes, long-range reconnaissance, focused collection operations and operational preparation of the environment, an Embassy/Consulate reinforcement with a security force (SECFOR), to the rapid deployment of the 26th MEU Forward Command Element (FCE) led by the 26 MEU Executive Officer, Lt. Col. Josef Wiese in order to liaise with several Department of State representatives, a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO), and culminating with a dynamic amphibious assault to seize key terrain in preparation for follow-on operations associated with the scenario. In addition to these core MAGTF mission sets, the 26th MEU demonstrated the ability to conduct rapid planning and contingency operations by serving as the “Treasure Coast” theater TRAP (Tactical Recovery of Aircraft and Personnel) force and standing missions requiring a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) supporting other forces within the scenario. More so, this exercise provided another opportunity for the 26th MEU to codify common tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) and standard operating procedures (SOP) with the BAT ARG and SOF elements supporting the exercise.

Photo: U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embark a simulated enemy ship while conducting a visit, board, search and seizure during Amphibious Ready Group/MEU Exercise (ARGMEUEX), Atlantic Ocean, April 17, 2023. LCpl. Rafael Brambila-Pelayo.

AMX provided another opportunity for the 26th MEU to exercise enhanced interoperability with East-coast-based Naval Special Warfare units strengthening the habitual relationship between the 26th MEU and Naval and Marine Corps Special Operations Forces and building upon the MEU/SOF integrated lessons learned throughout the entire MEU pre-deployment training program. Elements of the 26th MEU’s Maritime Special Purpose Force completed an advanced MEU/SOF integrated raid course during the first week of AMX, enhancing MEU/SOF-I3 and serving as a culminating event to finalize MEU/SOF tactics, techniques, and procedures and standard operating procedures. The MEU/SOF integrated training continued throughout AMX and provided a more realistic training environment. More so, the integration and partnership between the 26th MEU and SOF throughout the pre-deployment training “work-ups” has enhanced the overall training for small unit training across each element of the MAGTF.

“We have a habitual relationship with East-coast-based Naval Special Warfare units. They truly have integrated into the 26th MEU and are a part of the Team. The MEU is a natural partner for NSW and MARSOC units. During AMX, we were fully integrated and operating as one force on the objective. We have ability to integrate with, complement, and set conditions for SOF and our partners and allies in the region. We used AMX as another opportunity to strengthen our robust SOF-I3 design through the execution of multiple direct actions during advanced MEU/SOF advanced raid training in Fort Story, followed by two full-mission profile MEU/SOF direct action raids against a live aggressor force during AMX.”

Maj. Michael Lowery, Commanding Officer of 26th MEU MSPF

“A forward-deployed Marine Expeditionary Unit is [truly] the natural partner for Naval Special Warfare, Marine Special Operations Teams, and other [U.S. or Allied] Special Operations Forces. AMX provided the 26th MEU with a great opportunity to showcase the relevance, flexibility, and all-domain operational capability the ARG/MEU Team provides a Geographic Combatant Commander, Fleet Commander, or Joint Special Operations Task Force Commander. AMX also highlighted the importance of having a forward-deployed MEU, embarked aboard Navy amphibious ships. The MEU MAGTF, when combined with the Amphibious Ready Group, is the nation’s premier crisis response force capable of responding across the full spectrum of military operations and capable of exploiting the asymmetric advantages the sea provides as maneuver space over our potential adversaries.”

Col. Dennis Sampson, Commanding Officer of the 26th MEU

During AMX, the Navy-Marine Corps Team successfully completed their first integrated live-fire exercise (ILFE), demonstrating the firepower and flexible response options the ARG/MEU team has for offensive and defensive operations within the littorals.

“The live-fire event demonstrates the Navy and Marine Corps team’s ability to defend the amphibious task force and engage the adversary using combined arms fires. During ILFE, the BAT ARG / 26 MEU integrated all three ships, UH-1Ys, AH-1s, MH-60s from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, and other ground elements of the 26th MEU. Moreover, the ship’s force enhanced the capabilities of the BAT ARG to defend themselves against an asymmetrical threat.”

Lt. Cdr. Jesse Packard, Operations Officer, Amphibious Squadron 8

Lastly, AMX culminated with an amphibious assault under the direction of STRIKFORNATO to strengthen relationships prior to the BAT ARG / 26 MEU’s deployment to the Tri-COCOM area of operations – EUCOM, AFRICOM, and CENTCOM. “We’re certainly looking for opportunities to integrate and work with our allies and partners, here at home but more importantly when we are forward-deployed,” said Sampson, “AMX provided our Team with an opportunity to work with STRIKFORNATO, ultimately setting conditions for our success during our upcoming deployment.”

The 26th MEU serves as one of the Nation’s premier rapid response forces capable of conducting amphibious operations, crisis response, and limited contingency operations, to include enabling the introduction of follow-on forces and designated special operations, in support of theater requirements of the Geographic Combatant Commander. Coupled with the BAT ARG, the 26th MEU serves as a premier stand-in force with a breadth of all domain capabilities to operate persistently within the littorals or within the weapons engagement zone of an adversary.

For more than 50 years, the 26th MEU has provided Geographic Combatant Commanders with a highly adaptive, potent, rapid response force capable of conducting missions across the full spectrum of military operations – its performance over the years has marked the 26th MEU as “A Certain Force in an Uncertain World.”

**********

This story by Capt. Angelica White entitled “26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Completes AMX” was first published on May 4, 2023 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: A U.S. special operations forces soldier practices sniper rifle marksmanship aboard an airborne Hellenic UH-H1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter during Hellenic SOFEX ORION 23, April 28, 2023, near Megara, Greece. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob Dunlap)

Special operations forces from Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and the United States took part in a multinational SOF exercise known as Hellenic SOFEX Orion 23 during April 2023. The exercise increased interoperability and strengthened international stability in an ever-evolving security environment.

Some of the training events included a mock raid under the cover of night near Ippokratios Politia, Greece and SOF snipers conducted practice sniper rifle marksmanship aboard an airborne Hellenic UH-H1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter.

By Pat Carty.

I wish I had a globe which enabled me to look into the future. There again, I guess if I had paid more attention to the current weather charts, and used them to predict the future weather, I would have had more luck attending the latest British Special Forces Exercise; Chameleon 23-1. The reason being that I had the intention of heading to Scotland to view the exercise from there. However, the weather necessitated changing the exercise location.

Like its predecessor, I anticipated that Chameleon Exercise Planners, who for obvious reasons like to keep relevant details from exercise participants until the last moment, had planned the exercise to be located at the ex-Royal Air Force airfield at Leuchars in Scotland – now home to the British Army. However, as they forecast gale force winds and torrential rain – conditions not suited to “High Altitude High Opening” (HAHO) or “High Altitude Low Opening” (HALO) parachuting – a major component of Chameleon, the exercise was again repositioned to the warmer climes of Cyprus.

Exercise Chameleon is a bi-annual Special Force exercise, which has previously involved various members and units of the United Kingdom’s Special Air Service and Special Boat Service, together with other essential SF ground and support units. 

Due to recent changes to the UK SOF structure, which involved the Royal Marines transforming the new Future Commando Force (FCF), and two new “specialized units” (ASOB and SFOB) and coming under the control of the British Army; not the Director Special Force, who is responsible for the Special Air Service, Special Boat Service, Special Forces Support Group, Special Reconnaissance Regiment, 18th Signal Regiment, and Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing,  I was hoping to take my usual “close look” at the new structure. The idea being to see what if anything had changed – other than an overall attempt to reduce the size of the armed forces, and increase their capabilities with additional training and modern equipment – therefore, make them more responsive to events around the world. I should add that those are the Ministry of Defence’s words, not mine!

Just prior to StartEx, one of the few remaining but trusty C-130 Hercules left RAF Brize Norton, bristling with SOF equipment, for the British sovereign base at Akrotiri in Cyprus. Then, after a brief pause, continued onwards to Jordan.

Two CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the Special Forces Flight at RAF Odiham, also departed for Cyprus, followed by two C-130 Hercules, manned by aircrews from the Royal Air Force 47 Squadron Special Forces flight, and based at RAF Brize Norton.

Two days later, two Shadow R.Mk 1 aircraft followed, crewed by 14 Squadron at RAF Waddington. However, unlike the Hercs, who routed direct to Akrotiri, the Shadows took a more leisurely route via Marseille, and then Gibraltar, where they overnighted.

The following morning, the Shadows departed Gib for Akrotiri. Then, completed their journey to their exercise Forward Operating Base (FOB); King Feisal bin Abdul Aziz Air Base in southern Jordan. Incidentally, all the aircraft involved, transited using the British Military international ICAO call sign “Ascot” (RRR). 

Following StartEx, Chameleon continued with several Para-drops, both standard static line and freefall, made into the Mediterranean Sea off Akrotiri Air Base. The Chinooks and Hercules aircraft were supported by SD Northern River, a large multi-purpose auxiliary ship, operated by Serco Marine Services. This is their largest, both in terms of dimensions and gross tonnage, and specializes in SF support. Northern River was in turn supported by two Royal Marine craft; callsigns CSB 0005 and CSB0012.

Following the sea jumps off Akrotiri, almost daily static-line and freefall HAHO and HALO jumps were then made into Jordanian training areas.

For the SF troops, these covert insertion sorties were supported by the Shadow R.Mk 1 aircraft, who provide invaluable “Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance” (ISTAR) by using their high-definition electro-optical and electronic sensors, this data enabling analysts to prepare comprehensive intelligence reports. The Shadows Satellite communications links also enables information to be downloaded to troop commanders on the ground, and also provide up-to-the-minute Forward Air Control support. I should add that the Shadows are also fitted with a defensive aid suite.

Several Herc flights also transited into Amman, enabling the SF troops to use the nearby King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre (KASOTC) – if needed.

Whilst there, I have found it to be a one-of-a-kind facility, covering some twenty-five square kilometres. It was safe, secure and isolated and equipped with multiple distance ranges; from a 1300-meter unknown distance range to a 300-meter, moving target range, which accommodates most firearm requirements. It also has a four-story; close quarters battle (CQB), live-fire structure and the largest mock city in existence; 67 buildings, which include numerous arrangements from an Afghan village to an embassy compound, driving ranges, an Airbus A-300 aircraft with targets to simulate hostage scenarios. Special battlefield effects also provide live fire compatibility throughout, with a fibre optic network connecting the Range Operations Control Centre (ROC) to the hundreds of cameras, microphones, target systems, and simulators, all testing the user’s creativity in tactics, techniques and procedures. Together with on-site lodging, dining, gym, pro shop, weapons/equipment rental and storage; it is easy to see why KASOTC is the ideal place to do what is necessary to prepare forces for the challenges of armed conflict. Finally, KASOTC is also the venue for the annual SF Warrior Competition – a contest where the best Special Forces teams from around the world participate in live fire exercises and drills.

During this latest Chameleon SOF exercise, there were a total of ninety-one C-130 Hercules sorties, forty-three Shadow R.Mk 1 sorties, and numerous Chinook sorties. The new-to-the-SF-roll C-17 and A-400 aircraft air and ground crews were also put through their paces – due to the forthcoming demise of the ageing RAF C-130 Hercules. The C-17s achieved a total of sixty-three sorties, and the A-400 sixty, during the three-week exercise. Thus, the exercise total overall was some two hundred and forty-seven sorties!

As usual, I look forward to attending the next Exercise Chameleon, weather permitting, be it located in either Cyprus or Scotland.

*********

Author: Pat Carty is a NATO accredited journalist who covers military news, events, operations, and exercises; including special operations forces. He is a contributor to SOF News as well as several other military defense publications.

Photo: Beechcraft Shadow R.Mk 1 (14 Squadron RAF)

LAPLAND, Finland – Conducted north of the Arctic Circle, the Finnish Special Operations Forces Utti Jaeger Regiment hosted Exercise Talvikotka 23 from March 12 – 16, 2023, to enhance and exchange winter warfare tactics and techniques with U.S. Army 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

“Working with U.S. forces, I’m really [impressed] with how we went straight from shaking hands to conducting missions in a very short amount of time, which tells a lot about our forces being interoperable and well suited for combined missions together,” said a special forces soldier assigned to Special Jaeger Battalion, Utti Jaeger Regiment. “The mentality and the intensity with how we conducted these missions and how well we’ve actually been able to cooperate [speaks to that].”

Talvikotka means “winter eagle” in Finnish, a fitting name for the Arctic environment where the exercise was performed.

“We see [Utti Jaeger Regiment] as mentors because they operate in this environment, they live here; they’re very good at winter warfare, so we look to them on how to do things the right way,” said an assistant detachment commander with 10th SFG (A). “That one mistake you made with your socks or your glove liners on day one is now making you combat ineffective come day five.”

The U.S. Special Forces team proceeded directly from a five-week winter warfare course at the Swedish Subarctic Warfare Center in Lomben, Sweden, to then applying those skills to tactical missions during the exercise.

“We became better Soldiers because operating in this environment requires a higher level of discipline and attention to detail,” he continued. “The facilities procured were some of the best I’ve ever seen because…this whole area is basically a 360-degree live-fire range where you can patrol and snowmobile entirely within.”

The exercise served both as a proving ground for maneuvers in deep snow and an opportunity to refine standard operating procedures (SOP) between nations.

“Our elements linked up and focused on interoperability and SOP synchronization,” said the 10th SFG (A) assistant detachment commander. “The exercise focused on deep strike operations, or neutralizing a target deep behind the front line.”

Like U.S. Special Forces, Finland’s Special Jaeger Bn. have the same core missions: special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and direct action.

“I’d consider us to be a Leatherman [multi-tool], more or less…a solution to many problems,” said the special forces soldier with Special Jaeger Bn. “[Talvikotka] ensures our interoperability in bilateral operations – either in training or real life – for the future.”

**********

This story by Staff Sgt. Anthony Bryant of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) was first published on March 16, 2023 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS content is in the public domain.

Photo: Finnish Army special operations soldiers with Utti Jaeger Regiment posture on a helicopter landing zone alongside U.S. Army Green Berets with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Lapland, Finland, March 15, 2023. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Bryant)

Story by Daisy Bueno.

Special Operations Forces (SOF) from the Army, Navy, Air Force worked with the U.S. Coast Guard, international partners, local and state police, interagency and Alaskan natives to execute extreme cold weather training, expand survival skills and test arctic equipment during exercise Arctic Edge, Feb. 28 – March 17, 2022.

Arctic Edge is an arctic-focused U.S. Northern Command biennial exercise hosted by Alaskan Command. This year, Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH) not only amplified its participation and training scenarios, but it was the first time it tested its capability to quickly mobilize its headquarters from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. The ability to mobilize, deploy and establish a Joint Force Special Operations Component Command (JFSOCC) to command-and-control SOF units is a critical task for SOCNORTH’s homeland defense mission.

Exercises like Arctic Edge, give SOCNORTH the platform to demonstrate its proficiency to rapidly deploy, operate, and conduct command and control of SOF units in the Arctic. The exercise also provided an opportunity to test tactics and field equipment in severe cold temperatures.

“Special Operations Forces tested equipment and looked at innovative ways to not just survive in the Arctic but thrive in the Arctic,” said Brig. Gen. Shawn Satterfield, commander, Special Operations Command North. “They also developed relationships within local communities to include Alaskan natives, gaining knowledge from their techniques, practices and procedures on how they succeed in the cold weather.”

In northern Alaska, also known as the ‘The High North’, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conducted a series of long-range snowshoe and snow machine movements along the North Slope, Arctic Ocean, and Bering Strait while integrated with state/local law enforcement and Alaskan tribal organizations in harsh weather. Additionally, both units worked heavily with local and federal agencies to provide integrated deterrence under a homeland defense scenario. 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Green Berets then utilized 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment MH-60 Blackhawks to exfiltrate after a multi-day movement through the intense Arctic environment.

In southern Alaska, operating on Kodiak Island, U.S. Navy SEALs enhanced techniques and procedures for prospering in the cold maritime environment, by testing gear and conducting various reconnaissance training during the day and night. In Juneau, U.S. Navy Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team for special reconnaissance training on protecting critical infrastructure.

In addition, SEALS conducted several Military Free Fall jumps into Deadhorse, Alaska, on the northern coast of Alaska. During the final jump, they landed on an ice flow 177 nautical miles off land in the Arctic Ocean. Once they landed on the ice, they rendezvoused with the USS Pasadena submarine, which breached upward to four feet of ice in locations, as part of a U.S. Navy exercise, ‘ICEX’, that was taking place concurrently with Arctic Edge.

Air Force Special Operations Command also played an integral part in providing intra-state transportation throughout the exercise, as only 20 percent of Alaska is accessible by roads.

SOF regularly trains in this unforgiving climate to be effective in the Arctic, but they don’t do it alone. “Our partners and allies are absolutely critical and foundational to our mission at SOCNORTH,” added Satterfield. “We train and coordinate with Canadian SOF routinely and Danish Special Operations observed Arctic Edge this year. We want to partner with allies that have interest in protecting our lands and approaches in the Arctic. Partnerships are critical in building all-domain awareness across U.S. Northern Command’s area of responsibility.”

Arctic Edge is a large-scale exercise that gives SOCNORTH not only the opportunity to test all its capabilities in the Arctic, but to strengthen partnerships and collaborate with new allies. SOF continues to chart new territory in the Arctic in support of Homeland Defense under the direction of Special Operations Command North.

*********

Story by Maj. Daisy Bueno of U.S. Special Operations Command North was originally published on April 7, 2022 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS published content in the public domain.

Photo: U.S. Army Special Forces assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) prepare their equipment for exercise Arctic Edge in Noatak, Alaska, March 3, 2022. Arctic Edge 2022 is a U.S. Northern Command exercise hosted by Alaskan Command enabling Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH) to demonstrate its special operations capabilities in extreme weather conditions. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Stefan English)