SOF

Special Operations Painful Coming of Age After 9/11

Mark Moyer’s recent book on the US Special Operations Forces (Oppose Any Foe) is an excellent history of the birth of Special Operations and into the huge command of over 70,000 troops today. He tells it all, with the triumphs, the mistakes and the clashes with the conventional military establishment.

In his latest piece for the National Review, he delves into the love affair Washington has with the SOF and how our leaders really don’t have a clear sense of what special operators can and can’t do and how the rise of the Special Operations Forces hasn’t been clear sailing.

Through the Osama bin Laden raid and other recent victories, special operators had amassed unprecedented prestige both within Washington and in the country more generally.
Special-operations forces seemed not only more exciting, but also more efficient and decisive than the conventional military forces that had been employed in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan. Hollywood was releasing movie after movie extolling the virtues of the special units, including a film called Act of Valor that starred active-duty SEALs. On the Internet, dating sites were hit by epidemics of men pretending to be special operators in order to win the hearts of unsuspecting women.
Although President Obama relied mainly on subordinates to sell his new strategy to the public, he did cite the special operators while explaining the strategy during an interview with journalist Mark Bowden, who was writing a book on the bin Laden operation. “Special Forces are well designed to deal with the very specific targets in difficult terrain and often-times prevent us from making the bigger strategic mistakes of sending forces in, with big footprints and so forth,” he explained. “So when you’re talking about dealing with terrorist networks, in failed states, or states that don’t have capacity, you can see that as actually being less intrusive, less dangerous, less problematic for the country involved.”
What Obama had called “Special Forces” were in actuality the special-operations forces (SOF) — the official term for all the units dedicated to the conduct of special operations. Special-operations forces include not only the U.S. Army’s Special Forces, but also the Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Air Force Night Stalkers, and Special Operations Marines, among others. Mixing up Special Forces with special-operations forces was a common enough mistake, and one that might have been unworthy of mention had the president merely been dispensing praise to an obscure federal bureaucracy, on the order of the Japan–U.S. Friendship Commission or the American Battle Monuments Commission.
But SOF had become the centerpiece of Obama’s national-security strategy, and hence the misstep encouraged doubts about the amount of thought that had gone into the strategic redesign. Later events were to confirm that administration strategists had not given adequate consideration to the strengths and limitations of special-operations forces before hoisting them to the apex of the world’s most powerful military.

As usual, Moyar’s take is an interesting read that delves into the slow growth, maturation, and subsequent over-tasking of the United States’ special operations warriors.

To read the entire article from National Review, click here:

Photo courtesy US Marine Corps

Japanese Special Operations Suicide Attack on Yontan Airfield Okinawa

In the closing days of World War II, the US and the rest of the allies had defeated Germany and Hitler was dead, Italy had capitulated, and Mussolini was executed by partisans. Only Japan was left and the US was tightening the noose around the Japanese homeland.

A successful but bloody island hopping campaign had put the Americans on the doorstep to the homeland. No longer would American B-29s have to fly from long distances at the limit of their range to bomb Japan. Now with airfields on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, they could hit Japan with near impunity. The B-29 raids were taking a dreadful toll on the Japanese war machine, the civilian populace, and the morale of the nation.

The Japanese were desperate to deliver a blow to the US airbases where B-29s were stored. The plan was to deliver “suicide commandos” by air to destroy the B-29s and damage their bases and fuel depots. To fulfill this need, the “Giretsu” Combined Special Forces Airborne Unit was formed, assembling experts in sabotage and demolition.

The Giretsu Special Forces Unit was task organized in a simple Direct Action (DA) mission breakdown; each commando carried HE and WP grenades and a pistol beside his assigned weapon.

Command section (10 men)
Light Machinegun team (1 x LMG)
Messenger team
Signal team
1st-5th Platoons, broken down by sections:
1st Section (4 men including section
leader): 1 x Type 99 rifle, 2 x Type
100 SMGs, 2 x pole charges, 4 x Type 99
AT charges
2nd Section (3 men): 1 x rifle, 1 x Type 99
LMG, 1 x pole charge, 4 x Type 99 AT charges
3rd Section (3 men): 1 x rifle, 1 x SMG, 1 x
pole charge, 4 x Type 99 AT charges
4th Section (3 men): Ix rifle, lx SMG, Ix
Type 89 grenade discharger,
5^th Section 1 x pole charge, 4 x Type 99 AT charges.

Mock-ups were prepared of the B-29 bombers which were the primary targets of the commandos. But the Japanese soon learned that their standard Type 99 magnetic mine would not adhere to the B-29’s aluminum skin. Special mission weapons would have to be developed. They developed a special pole charge (hakobakurai) with a suction cup that packed 4.5 pounds of explosive which would damage or destroy the bombers. They also had a 15- foot “chain charge” which was designed to be thrown across the wing of the target. The explosive was designed to separate the wing from the fuselage.

On May 15, 1945, the Japanese 6th Air Army requested use of the Giretsu Special Forces Unit to neutralize the American’s Okinawa airbases. The commandos moved to Kengun airfield on Kyushu in preparation for “Operation Gi”.

The Japanese plan and tactics were simple. Once on the ground, the commandos were to destroy or damage as many American aircraft and supplies as possible and then hold the position to the last man.

The night of May 24-25, 1945 saw the Japanese launch their suicidal operation against the Yontan Airfield on Okinawa. Nine twin-engine aircraft (Ki-21 “Sally” Bombers) of the 3rd Dokuritsu Chutai (“Independent Company”), commanded by CPT Chuichi Suwabe took off from Kumamoto Army Airfield from the mainland of Japan. Each of these aircraft carried 14 commandos, destined to attack the Yontan airfield.

The Japanese had sent six waves of conventional bombers against the base. Then five of the bombers carrying commandos appeared over Yontan at 2230 hrs. Four of the Sallys had been shot down by US fighter aircraft. The remainder tried to come in a very low altitude.

Alert American anti-aircraft (AA) gunners, shot down four more. One Sally’s wing was blown off and struck an antiaircraft position, temporarily burying the gunners. The remaining Sally belly-landed with wheels on the runway, eventually coming to rest near a control tower.

Once on the ground, the surviving dozen or so Japanese disembarked from both the nose and side hatches. The commandos having rehearsed this scenario wasted little time and rushed in among parked US aircraft, clamping on hakobakurai charges and hurling grenades.

Wrecked US Army aircraft at Yontan. (US Army photo)

American pilots and grounds crewmen, not accustomed to being in ground warfare panicked. Not realizing that the Japanese had only about a dozen men, they thought the Japanese had landed in force. They took to cover and were firing, widely ineffective harassing shots at the Japanese commandos. They called for immediate ground support from nearby Marine infantry. But they wouldn’t arrive until dawn.

Chaos reigned supreme on the airfield. The Japanese commandos ignited a fuel depot containing 70,000 gallons of aviation fuel and the night sky was illuminated with spectacular geysers of flames that cast a surreal glow on the deadly events that would ring the airfield all night.

The Japanese had inflicted heavy losses on the US aircraft at Yontan, destroying nine and damaging 26 more. Marine infantry arrived at dawn and began the systematic clearing of the airfield.

All 69 Japanese commandos were killed in the attack in addition to the nine bombers that were destroyed either in the air or on the ground after landing. The final commando was found at 1 p.m. the next afternoon hiding in the brush before being dispatched by the Marines.

Two Americans were killed and 18 more were wounded in the daring attack by the Japanese. But the damage inflicted by just the dozen or so commandos that made it to the ground showcased the amount of damage that they could have inflicted had all nine-aircraft made it to Yontan instead of just one.

Crash landed Sally Bomber at Yontan airfield (US Army photo)

The Japanese planned all along on the raid being a suicide attack, so no exfil plan was needed making the operation much simpler from a planning standpoint for them. However, their primary targets, the B-29s were not at Yontan, so while the raid was very successful in the amount of damage inflicted by such a small force on the ground, their ultimate objective, the American bombers weren’t affected at all. The PBY4Y Privateers were converted B-24 bombers that the US used as long-range patrol bombers.

US aircraft losses:

3 F4U Corsair fighters
2 PB4Y Privateer patrol bombers
4 C-47 transports.

US aircraft damaged:

22 F4U Corsairs
3 F6F Hellcat fighters
2PB4Y’s
2 C-47s

Apparently, the Japanese had also planned a major airborne suicidal operation codenamed “Ultra” later that summer. The plan was to assemble 200 transport aircraft and bombers to carry 2000 more commandos from the Giretsu Special Forces Unit and crash land simultaneously at the US B-29 bases of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.

But the US dropping of the Atomic bomb on Nagasaki on August 9 curtailed those plans. Emperor Hirohito took to the radio soon after to announce that the Japanese people must “bear the unbearable” and that hostilities should end.

This Giretsu suicide raid by the Combined Special Forces Unit is revered in Japan, with a special shrine erected in Peace Prayer Park on Okinawa which marks their heroic but futile efforts.

Photos courtesy US Army

SOF Selection PT Preparation 5.24.2017

Shoulders and back day in the gym before heading off to do a 5-mile rucksack march. Conduct the march over varied terrain and remember to hydrate throughout. It is a good habit to get used to while rucking and a needed one for the time when you’re in the course. Mark your time down in your workout logbook.

Training:

More Preparation for the UBRR:

3 x 12 Lat Pulldowns, behind the neck (go as heavy as possible)

3 x 12 Lat Pulldowns, front

3 x 10 Dumbbell Side Raises

3 x 10 Dumbbell Front Raises

3 x 10 Dumbbell Arnold Press

3 x 8 Shoulder Shrugs

5-mile Rucksack march (45lb minimum)

Stretch well after completion

Florida Ranked #1 State For Military Veterans to Reside

The military has a big presence in the state of Florida, with many bases being home to a number of troops from all the services. But it isn’t just the active duty troops flocking to the Sunshine State. Retirees and veterans are staying in Florida and for a number of reasons. The weather, the booming job market for veterans, health care availability and housing affordability.

According to WalletHub, Florida is ranked #1 of all 50 states and the District of Columbia for military veterans to reside.

WalletHub used three main categories: economic environment, quality of life and healthcare.
Florida is home to the third-largest veteran population in the nation and is the top state for a veteran getting hired and for state tax on military pensions. Military retired pay and survivor benefit plans are tax exempt in Florida.
This year, WalletHub included two more metrics: the share of population 40 and older and the presence of veteran-treatment courts for mental health and drug addiction. According to the findings, more than half of the state’s veteran population is over the age of 40.
Florida’s VA hospitals, and the number of them, also ranked high.
“For the quality of VA hospitals metric, Florida ranked 19th because patients were more willing to recommend the state’s VA hospitals,” analyst Jill Gonzalez said. A score of 25 is considered average, and lower scores like Florida’s are better, she said.
“Florida ranked high [fifth best] for the number of VA health facilities per number of veterans,” Gonzalez said.
When it comes to jobs, veterans also do well in Florida.
Analysts determined the number of job opportunities for veterans by looking at eligible jobs and subtracting the veteran unemployment rate, Gonzalez said. In hiring for federal government jobs, veterans in Florida may receive preference depending on their disability status and when they were active.

It might be time to start packing boxes and planning the move south. Both Florida and South Carolina are very veteran-friendly states to reside in and for veterans, the factors in their favor make them very attractive. But rooting for the Dolphins? Not so much.

To read the entire article from the Miami Herald, click here:

Photo courtesy DOD

Cell Phone Sized Drone With Big Capability Being Used by US Military

The military is making increasing uses of drones and robotics and the latest from AeroVironment is taking the small scale to the next level. The company’s “Snipe Nano Quad is tiny, about the size of a cell phone and weighs less than half of a pound. But it makes up for it with what it can accomplish for operators in the field.

Weighing in at about 5 ounces, the four-rotor aircraft is equipped with an electro-optical/infrared system that allows it to take photos or live-streaming video both day or night. And its quiet electric motors make it difficult to detect, even when surrounding noise levels are low.
That can be invaluable in close-range military operations where U.S. troops don’t know what’s around the next corner — or at the top of the next hill.
In a video AV posted on YouTube, Snipe Program Manager Jon Ross explains it this way:
“An example for Snipe could be a squad who’s given a mission to do reconnaissance on a structure on the top of a hill,” Ross said. “Apparently, it was abandoned but reports indicate that it could be used by insurgents. So a squad is supposed to go up there and clear that facility. The problem is it’s at the top of a hill and there’s no way to approach it without possibly being seen if someone were inside. Snipe could give that squad a 360-degree view of the target from the rooftop, through any open windows or indoors to give them confidence as they approach.”
The Snipe can fly at speeds exceeding 20 mph and the tiny craft is capable of operating under challenging environmental conditions including winds of more than 15 mph with gusts of up to 20 mph. It has a range of about 3,280 feet and its rechargeable batteries can keep it aloft for 15 minutes at a time although the battery can easily be changed out for extended use

The company is not only manufacturing its product for military use but they’ll extend their product for commercial use as well by first responders, law enforcement agencies, search-and-rescue teams.

To read the entire article from the Pasadena Star News click here:

Photo courtesy AeroVironment Inc.

Remembering Bull Simons, A True Legend in the Special Forces Community

On May 21, 1979, Special Forces had one its true legends take from it prematurely. Arthur “Bull” Simons died at the age of 60 and was buried in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida. He was one of the best SF commanders to have ever served but never made it to General Officer rank because he lacked the prerequisite education he and that held him back.

Simons rose to the rank of Colonel and although he was involved in three famous rescue missions that have been very well documented, precious little has been written about Simons who was quintessential “Quiet Professional” in his long military career. So who was “Bull” Simons?

Early Life and Career: Simons was born in New York City in 1918 but at an early age he moved to Missouri and attended the University of Missouri – Columbia and graduated with a degree in Journalism which is interesting because later in life, he’d develop a healthy disdain for journalists who he felt had done a great disservice to the American fighting men.

He joined ROTC and graduated in 1941. He also met his wife Lucille in college and they remained married for 37 years until her death from cancer in 1978. His first assignment was with the 98^th Field Artillery Battalion as a 2LT. The 98^th was a unit that was towed by pack mules and Simons was an unhappy camper there. When his unit was dissolved, it became a part of the 6^th Ranger Bn, commanded by LTC Henry Mucci.

Simons became the Commander of B Company and later the Bn XO. One of his first mission in the Rangers was to blow up a Japanese radio station. The story of the mission was told by H. Ross Perot to John Gresham for a piece in “The Year in Special Operations 2010 – 2011.

“They sent him along with a team of Rangers over to an island to destroy a Japanese radio tower,” Perot said. “They went over by submarine at night, surfaced, and went ashore in rubber rafts. They then stored the rafts in a triple-canopy jungle, and then in classic Simons style, he did a lot of reconnaissance on the radio station himself, and kept his men in the jungle. He had a total of 16 people up at the base camp, with one man on duty all the time. He never told his men they had to eat whatever they could find in the jungle, and they were there for over 30 days, while he waited for the right conditions to make the attack.
“Finally, they had a monsoon-like rain one night. Simons knew from his observations that the guard never looked down the cliff. So he climbed the cliff with explosives on his back and a knife during the storm, caught the guard totally by surprise, took him out with the knife, and took the guard’s rifle, went into the Japanese barracks and shot the other 15 Japanese soldiers in their sleep.
“He told me this story in front of a nice lady who responded, ‘… He shot them in their sleep?’ He told the woman, ‘Lady, when you’re in combat, you don’t wake your enemy up and say, “Let’s fight!”’ Once all the Japanese in the barracks were dead, he went back outside, personally blew up the radio tower, and needed to send one more signal to his troops that the job was done, so he lighted his cigar! He was a big cigar man! Bull then walked down the face of the mountain, where his men met him in the jungle, they having walked completely around the mountain. They then called the submarine back in, and took the rubber rafts back to the submarine to go home.”

Later, after the invasion of the Philippines, on the island of Luzon, he was involved in the raid on the Prisoner of War camp at Cabanatuan. The 6^th Ranger Bn freed nearly 500 POWs and 33 civilians that had been held by the Japanese since the fall of Bataan. The Rangers, Alamo Scouts, and Philippine guerrillas killed 523 Japanese soldiers with the loss of just 2 Rangers and one POW who died of a heart attack during the raid. He was awarded the Silver Star for heroism for that operation.

Simons was separated from the Army after World War II and had a five-year break in service. But he was recalled to the Army during the Korean War. He was assigned to train Rangers at Eglin AFB in jungle and amphibious warfare. After a brief stint as a PAO (Public Affairs Officer) at Ft. Bragg, NC he joined Special Forces in 1957.

He was assigned to the 77^th Special Forces Group, later renamed the 7^th. In 1961, Simons was promoted to lieutenant colonel and with the conflict in Southeast Asia on the horizon went to Laos to command a 107-man Mobile Training Team as part of Operation White Star.

Returning from Laos, Simons was named as the Commander of the new 8^th Special Forces Group in Panama. He commanded the unit there from 1962 to 1964. Then it was back to Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, Simons was assigned to the Military Assistance Command’s Studies and Observation Group (MACV-SOG), the joint unit that was responsible for many of the cross-border intelligence gathering and special operations missions of the Vietnam war.

In 1970 Simons was tasked to lead Operation Ivory Coast, the rescue of American POWs at Son Tay Prison just a few miles outside of Hanoi. The hand-picked unit of Army Special Forces and Air Force pilots trained in Eglin, AFB before launching the mission in November.

Blue Boy Element, Son Tay Raid. Dick Meadows in the front. (US Army)

Because of an intelligence snafu, flooding from the swollen river had caused the Vietnamese to move the prisoners a few miles down the road. The raid, however, went extremely well, the SF operators eliminated the guards in the camp and only suffered one minor injury. Although no prisoners were freed, it sent shockwaves thru the Vietnamese high command as American Special Forces were able to penetrate their defenses so close to Hanoi and raid a POW compound and escape without any loss to themselves.

As a result, the prisoners were brought together in larger groups instead of the solitary confinement they’d been subjected to. Their treatment improved markedly and as they watched the raid unfold, they knew that they’d not been forgotten. Their morale increased.

Simons was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by President Nixon at the White House after returning to the states. An interesting footnote to the Son Tay raid was the Assault Force element (Blue Boy) commander CPT Richard Meadows would be heavily involved in the formation of the Army’s Delta Force and would later be involved in the Iran Hostage Rescue attempt in 1980.

Simons retired from the Army in 1971 and bought a pig farm in Red Bay, Florida and was enjoying retirement until his wife’s passing from cancer in 1978. But his career of prisoner rescues was not over. Following the Iranian Revolution, members of H. Ross Perot’s Electronic Data Systems company (EDS), who were working in Iran were arrested by the revolutionaries.

Perot contacted Simons, having remembered him from the Son Tay raid. Paying for the entire operation out of his own pocket, Perot recruited Simons to send a team into Iran, free his employees and bring all of the people back to the United States. The mission was successful and Perot’s employees, as well as all of Simons’ men, returned safely.

But he wasn’t able to enjoy retirement for long. Shortly after returning from Iran, Simons suffered a heart attack and subsequent surgery couldn’t save him and he died on May 21, 1979. He’s buried in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida not far from Pensacola Naval Air Station. His close friend, Meadows who died in 1995, is buried close by.

The Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) commissioned a statue of Simons, next to the Special Forces Museum at Fort Bragg (called “Simons Hall”), and it is a continuing tribute to his memory and legacy in the special warfare community. USSOCOM bestows a yearly award bearing his name to the top special warfare professional.

Photo courtesy of US Army

SOF Selection PT Preparation 5.23.2017

Tuesday is Leg Day, time for building strength and endurance, begin with pull-ups and towel pullups for those who don’t have access to ropes for climbing. Then squats, lunges and the sled followed by a four-mile run

Training:

Continue to prep for the UBRR

3 x Pullups 10 reps

3 x Towel pullups 10 reps

3 x Front Squat 20-15-12 reps (lighter weight)

3 x Goblet Squats 20-15-12 reps (lighter weight)

4 x Sled push heavier weight

3 x 10 reps Dumbbell lunges

3 x 20 Side planks

4-Mile run

Stretch well after completion

USSOCOM Partnering with USF in Cube Satellites, A Smart Move

This week at the SOFIC (Special Operations Forces Industry Conference) gathering in Tampa there was more interesting items to see, touch and experience to see in one viewing. After making the rounds thru the marketplace in the upper echelons of the Convention Center numerous times, there was still items to catch the eye.

And one of the biggest developments may be inside one of the smallest pieces of equipment. USSOCOM is collaborating with the University of South Florida for tiny cube satellites. The satellite isn’t much larger than a tissue box and is relatively inexpensive. The tiny satellite runs on a solid iodine fuel cell that produces electricity and creates thrust. But the intriguing part is the military pairing direct with a university to do so.

This is an area that the military hasn’t explored enough, instead of going with companies from the military/industrial complex who recruit some of the best and brightest to come aboard. But by going directly to the source (universities), USSOCOM is making a very smart move. The Russians and Chinese tap into their potential by using universities in their respective countries but their schools are basically extensions of the state.

More than 12,000 people are attending the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference at the Tampa Convention Center.
Part of the event is a trade show with products for the battlefield from everywhere. But there’s a Tampa connection that’s brand new.
It’s a partnership between U.S. Special Operations Command and the University of South Florida on cube satellites. They’re small; not much bigger than a tissue box.
“Just think of a cell phone 20 years ago and how big it was. Now, think of your cell phone now, ” says James Geurts of SOCOM.
They’re so small that one rocket can carry many of them into earth’s orbit. On the battlefield below, troops can connect with the satellites for vital data.
In the new partnership, USF engineering students will work on secondary payloads. The satellites can carry cameras and all kinds of sensors. The work has already begun at USF.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s really interesting stuff. I want to do it for a living, so I consider it a real industry experience,” says Peter Jorgensen, a USF graduate research assistant.
They plan to launch the satellites in 12-18 months.

The other amazing thing about the USF cube satellite team is there isn’t an aerospace engineer on board. The team is involved in a NASA-sponsored contest to find the best technological cube satellites to be put on the Orion spacecraft. The winner would win $5 million.

But the team has already collaborated with USSOCOM in a win-win for both parties. This is a development that the command should expand. There is an untapped potential that they’re losing out on by not doing more of this. Hopefully, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

To read the entire article click here:

Photo courtesy of Tampa Fox 13

3rd SFG Honors Their Fallen Operators With a 5K Memorial Run

The upcoming week at Ft. Bragg and every other military base in the United States will be a hub of activity as the bases prepare for Memorial Day to honor the fallen of all of the United States’ conflicts.

But the 3^rd Special Forces Group, 3^rd SFG(A) is getting a bit of jump on the activities of the base by conducting a 5K Memorial Run this weekend to honor the fallen members of the unit in their own way. Soldiers and family members ran and walked to show that 3^rd group is a family and many wore shirts honoring the 50 members of the unit that have paid the ultimate price of freedom. Others placed placards along the route with pictures of the fallen warriors.

But in remembering, the unit chose to focus not on loss, but on the legacies that remain.
“We’re doing this because the ones we represent can’t,” said Col. Bradley D. Moses, the group commander. “But none of them would trade places with us.”
Moses said the group, which has more than 2,600 soldiers, was a close-knit family.
“All of us do this job because we love it,” he said. “This is the moment in time to honor that. It’s more celebration than race.”
Because of the relatively small size of the unit, the loss of one soldier echoes deeply within the 3rd Group, officials said. And when that happens, the group promises to keep the memories of the fallen alive.
The run is part of those efforts. Many soldiers and family members wore shirts featuring the names of all 50 3rd Group soldiers have been killed in combat in the unit’s history and the words “Care for the wounded. Honor the fallen. Continue the mission.”
But Saturday’s event was a time the soldiers and their families could pause for fellowship and reflection on 3rd Group’s and the nation’s fallen.
“This is the opener for our memorial week,” Moses said
Moses said that family atmosphere was exactly what leaders hope for.
He said it’s not something that can be created at will, but instead was fostered over constant deployments for the last 16 to 17 years.
“We’ve learned to rely on each other in times of need,” Moses said. “This truly is a family. We love what we do, and we love each other.”

While other events celebrating Memorial Day during the upcoming week will be a somber affair, the run with family members was not. It was a chance for the entire unit, both military and family members to celebrate the lives of those who were briefly a part of the unit and sadly of those gone too soon.

To read the entire article from the Fayetteville Observer click here:

Photos courtesy Fayetteville Observer

Special Operations Forces, Active and Retired, to Benefit from Exoskeleton Tech

One of the more interesting meetings SOFREP had this past week at the SOFIC conference was with Lockheed Martin. SOFIC 2017 for those who don’t already know is the Special Operations Command’s industry conference where the best of the best in terms of arms and equipment try to sell their latest gear to the military, specifically the Special Operations Forces. While most people think of Lockheed as being involved only in the aerospace industry, one of their more intriguing concepts is coming to life that will greatly benefit SOF troops both in the field and after retirement.

Lockheed is working on a very doable project that deals with an exoskeleton that will greatly enable special operators the ability to carry heavy loads for long distances without using up their own energy, especially when climbing steep inclines. Operators can climb 60-degree gradients without a loss of energy from a human standpoint or as the company said, they want to maximize the metabolic efficiency of the operator.

Don’t confuse the Lockheed version of the exoskeleton with the TALOS “Iron Man” suit that is many years away from seeing a practical application in the field. TALOS is going to be a fully armored suit that must be constructed to the operator’s specific dimensions. And currently, it weighs 600 pounds. Lockheed’s exoskeleton, the FORTIS Knee Stress Release Device (K-SRD) much lighter, and only covers from the hips down.

Lockheed says the K-SRD system is a computer-controlled exoskeleton that counteracts overstress on the lower back and legs and increases mobility and load-carrying capability. It boosts leg capacity for physically demanding tasks that require repetitive or continuous kneeling or squatting, or lifting, dragging, carrying, or climbing with heavy loads.

Sensors on the exoskeleton report the soldier’s speed, direction, and angle of movement to an onboard computer that drives electro-mechanical actuators at the knees. The exoskeleton delivers the right torque at the right time to assist knee flex and extension. FORTIS K-SRD ultimately reduces the energy needed to cross terrain, squat or kneel. These benefits are most noticeable when ascending or descending stairs or navigating inclined surfaces.

Versions of the exoskeleton are also available for industrial workers and first responders who have to perform strenuous tasks in difficult environments

It is easily adaptable to any operator and allows a much more robust, nimble, and flexible system. The company is already in the testing phase and had some Tier 1 operators running thru a sewer system with this equipment. As the company rep was talking to the commander of the Tier 1 outfit, an operator had tried it on and within five minutes was doing plyometrics. He completed a standing jump from the floor to the top of a table, similar to a CrossFit box jump. He reportedly turned to his commander and said, “I want one of these.”

The company has pushed its testing out to other deployable units and has 70 pieces in a testing phase with an Army unit as well as with the Tier 1 unit. But perhaps the best news to come out of this was the application for the veteran. Lockheed’s rep told SOFREP that their vision is to have their exoskeleton carry the Warfighter into retirement. He said that with the number of operators that either lose limbs in combat or lose the use of them, the exoskeleton will be their way of leading productive lives and being self-sufficient.

Lockheed’s rep explained that like many ex-operators, he too suffers from debilitating knee pain. He wanted to test the suit himself. At his home, he strapped it on and leaped from the top of his stairs on the second level of his house down to the landing on the first level without any discomfort or problem. As SOFREP’s Derek Gannon said at the conference, “This is the Six-Million Dollar Man for us older guys.”

The power pack for the exoskeleton is easily replaceable and each battery pack lasts six to eight hours. It is much more energy efficient. For comparison, the TALOS has 12 motorcycle size batteries and lasts only an hour as currently configured.

It will be tested very soon in airborne operations and SOFREP’s Derek Gannon will get the tour of the facility very soon in the coming weeks and will get the opportunity to put the K-SRD thru its paces and you’ll be able to read about it on SOFREP. It is a much more manageable system than the TALOS. It isn’t nearly as cumbersome and is already in the testing phase. Between the operators and conventional troops putting the system thru the testing cycles, it shouldn’t be long for Lockheed to have any kinks worked out and having a prototype ready for testing in the field.

So, what is in store for the operators of today and future operators of tomorrow? They should have a very workable system for the troops to use in operations where they’re going to be required to carry a lot of weight while carrying heavier loads. Working in mountainous terrain going up and down steep inclines will mean less wear and tear on the soldiers’ joints and they will arrive fresher than ever before.

And looking at the photos of the system that the soldiers are testing now, the equipment isn’t bulky and allows the operator to be as nimble and agile moving thru tight quarters was without it. And if, as many operators will at some point in their career, get injured, the K-SRD will be available for veterans to help them keep their mobility even after their careers in the military are long over. That was perhaps the best-selling point of all.

Lockheed Martin is building a piece of equipment that will allow the humans operating it to do so without being subjected to undue physical stress and the threat of long-term injury. And if an operator does suffer a lower body injury, this equipment will help them cope with the outside world.

And Lockheed Martin’s commitment to the veterans after their service ties in perfectly with SOF Truth #1: Humans are more important than hardware.