Quiet Professionals: The Primary Missions Of The Us Army Special Forces

The Special Forces is a vital service of the US Army because of the distinct missions that are demanded of them. The primary missions these quiet professionals fulfill are the following:

Counterterrorism

Whenever terrorist threats and activities occur overseas, Special Forces soldiers are deployed to fight and resolve insurgencies. It is also the team’s duty to combat terrorism by thwarting the formation of terrorist cells and training the military outfits of other states.

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Direct action

Direct action missions are short-duration strikes the Special Forces carry out to capture or destroy a target, or to recover information, materials, or personnel. Small units are typically deployed and stealth is given emphasis in raids or ambushes to deny enemy forces any time to react.

Foreign internal defense

Special Forces foreign internal defense teams are train the military and police forces of allied nations to protect themselves from local or foreign aggressors, including terrorist groups, drug warlords, and traffickers.

Special reconnaissance

As GI Joe popularized, “knowing is half the battle.” The purpose of special reconnaissance groups is to go behind enemy lines without being detected to gather as much intelligence as possible to ensure allied soldiers are provided with mission-vital information.

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Unconventional warfare

The original mission of Special Forces, unconventional warfare groups is penetrating a foreign land covertly and training local militia with different warfare strategies which can be employed against enemy threats.

An airline captain for one of the largest airlines in the world, Richard Earl Bucklew also served in the military as force reconnaissance Marine and a member of the 1st Special Warfare Group based in Mare Island, California. For more interesting reads about the US military, follow this Twitter profile.

The Ongoing Quest For Fuel-Efficient Planes

Ever since the Wright brothers Orville and Wilbur successfully made that 12-second flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, aboard a 120-foot heavier-than-air machine on December 1903, many great strides have been made in aviation technology. Innovation continues, including the quest to produce fuel-efficient commercial aircraft.

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The commercial aviation industry has actually started on the quest towards efficient planes. Domestic flights of U.S. airlines, for instance, now average 0.54 aircraft-mile per gallon on jet fuel, an improvement of more than 40 percent since 2000. The fuel efficiency of widebody airliners used in international routes also registered an increase of 17 percent. Moreover, NASA has started testing a new jet engine tech that can improve a planes’ fuel efficiency by 4 to 8 percent.

Still, there is work to be done. As the population of air passengers booms, a grim scenario in terms of carbon dioxide emissions of the aviation industry would be shaping up without huge, imminent advancements in aircraft engineering. Statistics show that today’s global aviation industry is responsible for 2 percent of all CO2 pollution, but this can surge as much as 500 percent by 2050 if industry standards remain on the plateau.

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Rising fuel costs also serve as an impetus for plane manufacturers to boost R&D efforts towards more efficient aircraft. Fuel expenditures for most airlines have now become their largest expense, eating up 40 percent of their income. Although renewable jet fuel is now available, it is still more expensive than the petroleum-based kerosene it hopes to replace.

The aviation industry indeed faces the herculean task of delivering more fuel-efficient aircraft, but as this article asserts, it must be done, and with urgency. The crucial turnaround question for now is how long it will take for the aviation industry to get these planes flying.

Richard Earl Bucklew has more than three decades of experience working in the aviation industry. He is currently an airline captain for one of the world’s largest airlines. For more on Richard’s storied career, visit this LinkedIn page.

The Preferred Assault Rifles In The U.S. Special Forces

The U.S. military is on its own, already a force to be reckoned with. From that already incredible display of power, there is an even greater pedigree of freedom fighters in the fold of the U.S. Special Forces. They are the all-stars of America’s finest, trained to survive the toughest challenges. They are also equipped with the most sophisticated tools, and the most legendary assault rifles. Here are some of their favorite pieces.

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M4 Carbine

Taking after the huge success of the M16A2 assault rifle, the M4 carbine is ably a lighter and more agile version. This time, the assault rifle has been designed to be air-cooled, ensuring almost no incidence of jamming. Its 14.5-inch barrel is just accurate for medium range engagement. Ably the preferred choice of the U.S. Armed Forces, this rifle is special because it can also mount the M203 grenade launcher.

M16A4

The M16A4 is the fourth generation from the storied M16 tradition. It comes with a Picatinny rail that serves to mount ancillary optics and other accessories. This particular assault rifle became a standard issue for Marine Corps recruits. For this group, the rifle is armed with a Knight’s Armament Company M5 RAS handguard, which also comes with lasers, tactical lights, and other utilities.

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Close Quarter Battle Receiver (CQBR)

While technically it is a receiver, this rifle set literally changes the M4 gun exponentially. The new rifle becomes a shorter 10.3-inch weapon, making it the modern equivalent of the Colt Commando short-barrel M16. This makes it easier to use in and around vehicles and in tight spaces. Special units like the different commando groups in the military simply prefer to use this assault weapon.

Richard Earl Bucklew also served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a force reconnaissance Marine. As a naval reservist later in his career, he was admitted to the 1st Special Warfare Group based on his prior work and combat experience with the Marines. For more information on him, follow this Facebook page.

Tourists To The Troglodyte's Realm: Respecting Cave Wildlife While Spelunking

As a spelunker can eventually attest, cave systems are far from uninhabited. From the mouth to the cave to the underground rivers that carve it, caves provide a home, transient or otherwise, for a broad assortment of wildlife.

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The mouths of caves provide a cool environment for typically outdoor animals to seek shelter from elements. An assortment of animals have turned to caves for shelter, so many spelunkers may find familiar wildlife large and small at the entrance.

Close to winter in temperate areas, the familiar giant visitor is the bear. Besides this, the most familiar denizens of a cave are bats, which sleep there during the day. Some colonies of bats can number in the millions and are a spectacular sight to see (though those caves are usually closed to spelunkers for conservation purposes).

 Image source: tumblingcreekcave.org

Permanent cave residents take the form of smaller, blind animals, often insects or, in flooded caves and underground rivers, fish and crustaceans, often a ghostly pale color.

One thing to remember when encountering wildlife in caves is to leave them well alone. Many of the cave residents are sensitive and shouldn't even be touched. Bats in particular should not be disturbed while sleeping, as a groggy swarm of insect-eating bats, while ultimately harmless, could still bite.

Visitors should also avoid leaving behind any form of waste, particularly of the kind that can pollute. Water pollution is a common threat to many denizens of underground rivers.

Humans are guests to the cave creatures' homes and should pay the proper respect to the cave and its environments. Careful spelunking can mean that the cave environments would remain pristine for both wildlife and spelunkers for years to come.

A commercial aviator by profession, Richard Earl Bucklew enjoys an assortment of outdoor hobbies, including cave exploration. Visit this blog for more on his varied interests.

A Beginner’s Guide To Korean Martial Arts

When people mention martial arts, thoughts are usually directed to Asia. When Asian martial arts are considered, people often think of Japan’s karate or judo and China’s kung fu. When Korean martial arts is discussed, the first and oftentimes only martial art thought of is taekwondo. But there are quite a few Korean martial arts that are effective and impressive when mastered. Here are some of them.

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Hapkido: Hapkido practitioners use long and short-range battle methods such as jump kicks and percussive hand strikes from far away, as well as joint locks, blows to pressure points, and throws. The emphasis is circular motion, redirecting momentum, and controlling one’s opposition.

 Image source: taekkyonusa.com

Taekkyon: Taekkyon employs the use of quick and smooth footwork, using a lot of leg and full-body methods while utilizing arm movements as well. It is meant to be a stand-up fighting technique. Taekkyon practitioners use kicks on all levels and several types of sweeps to get their opponents off-balance.

Kumdo: Kumdo is a more recent martial developed in Korea, and was derived from the Japanese sword art of Kendo. The two sword arts are very close relatives with only a few minor differences. In fact, Korea sends their Kumdo team to compete in the World Kendo Championships that are held every three years.

Richard Earl Bucklew is an aviation industry veteran. He also studied karate for 12 years and has a black belt in the Korean art of Tang Song Doo. Subscribe to this blog for more articles on martial arts.

Fun Facts about Passenger Airlines and their Features

The aviation industry is an exciting universe unto its own. Flying has always enamored people, and those in the commercial aviation industry make it possible for everyone. Here are some fun facts about airlines that many people don’t know.

Image source: qantas.com

• KLM and Qantas are the oldest airlines in the world, having been established in 1919 and 1920, respectively.
• O’Hare International Airport in Chicago is one of the busiest airports in the world. Airplanes either arrive or depart every 37 seconds.
• The A380 is a curious aircraft. The length of its wings from tip to tip is longer that the airplane itself.
• Something strange happened at a Chinese airport once, when a male passenger put on 70 pieces of clothes. He did this so he wouldn’t be charged for baggage.
• Lufthansa buys over 10 tons of caviar a year. The company is the caviar industry’s biggest client. The distance of a Boeing 747’s wings from tip to tip is longer than the distance flown by the first airplane in recorded history.
• Traveling by plane is only the second safest form of travel. The first? Traveling by escalators and elevators.
• In 1979, Qantas introduced the first business class section in commercial airline history.

Image source: cbp.gov

Richard Earl Bucklew has worked in the aviation industry for a long time. He is, at present, an airline captain flying Airbus A320s and A319s for a mix of international and domestic flights. He averages 70 flight hours a month. For more discussion on the aviation industry, subscribe to this blog.

The Pros And Cons Of Arming Pilots

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For years now, debates about whether commercial pilots can arm themselves with weapons have continued, with both sides presenting valid and credible arguments. The consequences of the 9/11 terrorist attacks still linger after 14 years, with the nation’s largest pilots’ union urging Congress to allow guns in the cockpits. Of course, this has been met with disagreement and concerns from many factions. 

Disadvantages of arming pilots

Allowing a handgun in the cockpit, or in the aircraft in general, creates a dangerous environment and a potentially hazardous precedent. A mistaken weapon discharge can harm innocent passengers and compromise the overall safety of the plane. The possibility of accidents and poor judgments can become increasingly dangerous especially with everything that is at stake up in the air. 

Benefits of arming pilots

The major reason though for arming pilots is safety and security. Proponents of this measure find that airport and cockpit security might not be enough to prevent criminal elements from executing their plans inflight. By arming pilots, they can be the last line of defense in protecting the passengers and the aircraft. 

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Responsible use of firearms can be assured by letting the pilots undergo psychological tests and extensive training, which would not be that difficult since some pilots already have military backgrounds. The bullets can also be replaced with frangible ones made of highly compressed, powdered alloys to make them much safer for the aircraft and its passengers. 

Richard Earl Bucklew is a seasoned aviator now working as an airline captain for one of the world’s largest commercial airlines. He was also a part of a naval reserve unit and a member of the Marine Corps. Learn more about him by following this Facebook account.