Combat Operators

M16A2 US soldier on shooting range

What’s the difference between an AR15, M4, and M16?

March 31, 2025

by Eric Sof

People are always asking about the difference between an AR-15, M4, and M16, so here is a simple answer that should give you ten…

Green Beret from Niger Ambush to Be Awarded Silver Star Posthumously

Bayraktar TB3 Achieves Major Milestone with Supersonic Missile Test

Netflix Explores the Hunt for Osama bin Laden in a New Docuseries

Tiers »

A joint special forces team move together out of a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey Feb. 26, 2018, at Melrose Training Range, New Mexico. At Emerald Warrior, the largest joint and combined special operations exercise, U.S. Special Operations Command forces train to respond to various threats across the spectrum of conflict.

Inside the World of Tier 1 Special Mission Units

by Eric Sof

In the United States military, Tier 1 units are frequently referred to as Special Mission Units (SMU). They are a classification of Special Operations…

Tier 2: An Exclusive Look into the 2nd echelon of elite special forces

The backbone of the conventional military: The role and importance of Tier 3 units

Multimedia »

Green Beret Ryan Black died in the Niger Ambush — SSG Ryan Black, member of the U.S. Army Special Forces died while providing suppresive fire for his team mates during the Niger Ambush (Photo: Green Beret Foundation)

Green Beret from Niger Ambush to Be Awarded Silver Star Posthumously

by Eric Sof

Eight years after his tragic death, Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black is being posthumously honored with the Silver Star, the U.S. military’s third-highest award…

Bayraktar TB2 loaded with MAM-L — Bayraktar TB2 loaded with MAM-L (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Bayraktar TB3 Achieves Major Milestone with Supersonic Missile Test

by Eric Sof

With foldable wings, beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communication, and the ability to carry precision-guided munitions, the Bayraktar TB3 is poised to become a game-changer in modern…

Expert Analysis »

French Foreign Legionnaires in Afghanistan

How good is the French Foreign Legion compared to the British SAS, SEAL Team 6 or Delta Force?

DEVGRU / SEAL Team 6 operators posing for photo during training

Are Army Special Forces a Tier 1 Unit?

The Ethics and Practicality of Using Enemy Weapons in Combat

Operator from French Foreign Legion during the deployment in Mali

Myths and Misconceptions of the French Foreign Legion: Separating Fact from Fiction

Operator from French Foreign Legion during the deployment in Mali

Understanding the Differences Between Ranks in the French Foreign Legion and the Regular French Army

What are the selection and training requirements for the French Foreign Legion?

French Foreign Legion Basic salary, Allowance, Incentive, Bonus & Special Pay

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The list of world’s most elite special forces in 2023

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From Delta Force operator to 4-star General

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Kevin Holland served both in Seal Team 6 and Delta Force

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Newsletter

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Weapons »

al-yassin 105 RPG round produced in Palestine

Al-Yassin 105: A heavily modified anti-tank round based on RPG-2 and RPG-7 design

Since the IDF ground operation in the Gaza Strip, fighters from the Hamas network have been…

Shershen ATGM: A Belarusian version of Skif with additional capabilities

XM84/M84 Stun Grenade: Design, Use, and Potential Risks

NICO BTV-1 Flash Bang: A Non-Lethal Weapon for Multiple Missions

MARA: An Indigenous Anti-Tank Weapon That Failed to Meet Expectations

M72 LAW: A Lightweight, Single-Shot Anti-Tank Weapon

Tier 3

The backbone of the conventional military: The role and importance of Tier 3 units

Honor and Pride: The French Foreign Legion’s Code

The Only Unit In The World That Can Do This

The Royal Irish Rangers

USMC ANGLICO

French Army Special Forces Brigade

A Closer Look at the Marine Expeditionary Unit’s MSPF

10th Mountain Division: Climb to Glory

Heroes »

Osama Bin Laden notorious Al-Qaeda Leader killed during the Operation Neptune Spear

Netflix Explores the Hunt for Osama bin Laden in a New Docuseries

AeroVironment Switchblade 600 suicide drone hovering over target

Drones are Changing the Face of War

U.S. Airstrike Eliminates Al-Qaeda Leader in Syria Using R9X “Ninja” Missile

The Somali Refugee Camp Rape

Units »

Frogman Corps: A Danish counterpart to the Navy SEALs

Inside Serbia’s Military Police Detachment for Special Purposes KOBRE

SAJ: Serbia’s Special Anti-Terrorist Unit

JSOC’s Tier-system explained: How do they differ?

Portuguese Special Forces: Special operations and elite units in Portugal

Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFOD-A): Main operational element of Army Special Forces

NATO Special Operations Forces

Special Operations Team Room

Equipment »

Soko J-21 Jastreb in front of hangar covered with protective equipment

Jets

by Eric Sof

SOKO J-21 Jastreb: Yugoslavia’s Advanced Single-Engine Jet Aircraft

Soko G-4 Super Galeb: Development, Combat, and Future Upgrades

by Eric Sof

April 2, 2025

SOKO G-3 Galeb: A Remarkable Development in Yugoslavian Aviation

by Eric Sof

April 2, 2025

SOKO G-2 Galeb: A Yugoslav Jet Trainer and Light Ground-Attack Aircraft

by Eric Sof

March 25, 2025

Roshel Senator: The Multi-Purpose Armored Personnel Carrier for Law Enforcement

by Eric Sof

March 27, 2025

128mm RAK-12 MLRS: A Croatian version of the M-63 Plamen

by Eric Sof

March 29, 2025

Tech »

How the AN/PVS-31A Transformed My Night Operations

Surviving the United Nations: A Memorable Gunfight

What Self-Defense Weapon Do Special Forces Use for EDC Off Base?

The Importance of Versatile Weapons in Special Operations

Travel »

The operator from the SIPA SSU stands alongside his colleague from the US Special Forces

How to Always Be at the Ready with Minutemen Tactics

Overlooked Defense Training Tactics & Gear Everyone Needs

PPK-20: A further development of Vityaz SMG

The Absolute Essentials to Stock Up on During a Gun Craze!

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Videos »

Best War Movies: 1917 (2019)

The most realistic war movie ever made

The only publicly available video of Delta Force CAG 1st SFOD-D

The only publicly available video of Delta Force

Netflix’s Triple Frontier and tactical aspects

Russian Alpha Group Shooting Drills with Live Ammunition

Columnists »

Eric Sof

What’s the difference between an AR15, M4, and M16?

Ian Hogg

Erma EG73 Carbine: Another successful German rifle

Andreas Berg

Ranking the World’s Most Grueling Special Forces Training

Sam Jacobs

What Self-Defense Weapon Do Special Forces Use for EDC Off Base?

Opinions »

Steel vs. Brass Ammo: Exploring the Differences in Cost, Reliability, and Performance

by Eric Sof

Steel vs. Brass Ammo: Understanding the Differences

Apache helicopter flying through fire and smoke

by Eric Sof

Understanding the Vulnerability of Helicopter Blades to Ballistic Impact

What's the difference between an AR15, M4, and M16?

by Eric Sof

AR15, M4, M16: Decoding the Differences

Sig Sauer P320

by Eric Sof

Examining the Military’s Decision: Sig Sauer P320 vs. Glock 19X

Sig Sauer P320 United States Armed Forces service pistol

Opinion

by Eric Sof

A Closer Look at the Advantages of the US Army’s M17 Sig Sauer P320 Pistol over the M9 Beretta

The US Army’s decision to replace the M9 Beretta with the M17 Sig Sauer P320 pistol sparked discussions about the advantages of the new…