This article by Téa Sambuco was originally published by Coffee or Die. Wartime inventions span everything from the vehicles to weapons systems to camouflage — some of the most well known are the Huey helicopter and the jeep. While those fighting vehicles proved highly useful during battle, another invention that was just as useful in saving the lives of military members […]
The top 5 martial arts used by militaries around the world
Off DutyThis article by Eric Miller was originally published by Coffee or Die. In the early days of the war in Afghanistan, a Green Beret on a night raid suddenly found himself in a fight in which no weapon or technology mattered: a hand-to-hand fight to the death. On Jan. 23, 2002, Master Sgt. Anthony Pryor’s special forces […]
Report: Cashe one of three to receive Medal of Honor
On DutyThis article by Hannah Ray Lambert was originally published by Coffee or Die. The Biden administration plans to award Medals of Honor to three soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, including Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, The Washington Post reported Wednesday. Cashe would be the first Black service member to receive the nation’s top combat award […]
A brief history of helicopter warfare and the future of air assault operations
HistoryThis article by Carl Forsling was originally published by Coffee or Die. Carrying troops into combat, or at least close enough that they can walk to it, was a fairly basic art for thousands of years. Horses or boats did the job until motorized vehicles started to be used in large numbers in the beginning […]
What it means to be a Navy SEAL, according to 5 SEALs
Special OpsThis article was originally published by Coffee or Die. From the dense jungles of the Mekong Delta to the hot and dusty cities of Iraq, from deep below the ocean’s surface to mountain ridges in Afghanistan, the US Navy SEALs — “frogmen” — have been a fixture in special operations since they were formally activated […]
Last of Afghan refugees who arrived in July leave Fort Lee
Military AffairsThis article by Hannah Ray Lambert was originally published by Coffee or Die. As a white van pulled away from the Fort Lee lodge Tuesday, Nov. 16, a line of service members stood on the curb and waved. In the van, several hands waved back as the final Afghan evacuees housed at Fort Lee, Virginia, headed […]
3 times the CIA used animals for spy missions
HistoryThis article by Matt Fratus was originally published by Coffee or Die. Since its inception in 1947, the CIA has experimented with some of the wackiest gadgets ever conceived for use in clandestine operations. From inflatable sex dolls in Moscow to the Fulton Skyhook system in the Arctic to using animals as spies, the CIA does whatever it takes […]
A Veterans Day tribute: Stories of heroes from every branch
HistoryThis article by Matt Fratus originally appeared on Coffee or Die On Nov. 11, 1919, the United States commemorated “Armistice Day,” the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for annual recognition, and Armistice Day became a national holiday in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name of […]
Marine Raiders vs. Green Berets: What you need to know
Special OpsThis article by Luke Ryan was originally published by Coffee or Die. When there’s an iconic picture floating around of a special operator with a hefty beard and a well-worn rifle standing in some unspecified distant country, there’s a good chance that he hails from the U.S. Army’s Special Forces (SF, sometimes known as the Green Berets). These […]
10 books from the special operations world to add to your list
Off DutyThis article by Katie McCarthy was originally published by Coffee or Die. The world of special operations is a mystery to many. This is even more true for the elite operators at the “Tier 1” level: their units aren’t officially listed by the Department of Defense, and their personnel are carefully selected from only the best of […]
