Shawn Snow
Early Bird Editor
Shawn Snow is the senior reporter for Marine Corps Times and a Marine Corps veteran.
All Stories By Shawn
Special operators will be countering violent extremists for the ‘long haul’
The commander of SOCOM said battling violent extremists groups will remain the number one priority for American commandos.
US troops have been squaring off with Russian contractors in Syria raising worries of wider conflict
“I think the Russians are always testing us.”
Afghan special operators partnering with US forces more often, still reliant on American support
“ASSF ground operations data from the last two years show that U.S. and Coalition forces are increasingly partnering with, or assisting the ASSF with, their operations."
DIA says ISIS took advantage of Turkish invasion of northern Syria, Baghdadi death did not degrade jihadi group
“This suggests ISIS continues to view the security environment in northeast Syria as more conducive to its operations.”
Nearly 60 service members could be eligible for the the Purple Heart following Iran ballistic missile attack
If approved, 64 Purple Hearts for injuries sustained from the Iran ballistic missile strike would surpass the 47 Purple Hearts awarded to Marines from 2016 to 2018 supporting Operation Inherent Resolve — the U.S.-led mission to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Afghan casualties and attrition are outpacing recruitment and retention
“Despite the high tempo of the conflict, neither pro-government forces nor anti-government elements achieved significant territorial gains during the reporting period."
President Trump directs US military to loosen restrictions on landmine use
The White House said the new policy will afford combatant commanders the ability in “exceptional circumstances” to use “advanced, non-persistent landmines specifically designed to reduce unintended harm to civilians and partner forces.”
Esper says US military not withdrawing from AFRICOM
“But I had the opportunity to tell, again, to mention again that the U.S. support is critical to our operations and that its reduction would severely limit our effectiveness against terrorists.”
Afghanistan’s elite special operations unit to get CH-47 helicopters
The CH-47s will provide Afghan forces with a heavy lift helicopter and troop transport to ferry Afghan commandos and special operators on daring night time raids and counterterrorism missions.
50 service members diagnosed with TBI following Iran ballistic missile attack
The Pentagon said those figures could increase in the days ahead. Lt. Col. Thomas Campbell, a Pentagon spokesman, said 31 of the 50 diagnosed with TBI were treated in Iraq and returned to duty.
