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U.S., Lithuanian Forces Struggle to Recover Missing Soldiers from Submerged Vehicle
Published 5 days ago • 4 min read
Alert Line
We just published the first installment of a multi-part essay on lessons learned from Ukraine for SOF in LSCO. Erik’s been on the ground for the past two years working with Ukrainian units, and this piece offers a clear look at how planning and maneuver really function in high-intensity conflict. Worth your time.
Lithuanian engineers and U.S. Soldiers work to pump water from a swamp to recover a U.S. Army M88 Hercules armored vehicle March 27 near Pabradė, Lithuania (Photo by Lithuanian Armed Forces via DVIDS)
Ukraine Lessons for SOF in Large Scale Combat Operations – Planning and Maneuver Operations
The first in a four-part series by Senior Contributor Erik Kramer examines key lessons from Ukraine for U.S. Special Operations Forces operating in large-scale combat operations (LSCO). Drawing on two years of experience training Ukrainian units, Kramer outlines how U.S. SOF must adapt planning, coordination, and advisory efforts for high-intensity warfare. (Read More)
US Increases B-2 Spirit Bombers and Adds Another Carrier Strike Group Amid Renewed Friday Strikes on Houthis
Open-source reports & online satellite analysts indicated up to five B-2s may now be stationed at the facility. Social media posts by military observers confirmed the aircraft’s presence on the south apron of the airfield. In parallel with the bomber deployment, the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is en route to the Red Sea. The group departed Guam on March 28 and is expected to join U.S. operations alongside the USS Harry S. Truman, which has conducted several airstrikes against Houthi targets in recent weeks. (Read More)
U.S., Lithuanian Forces Struggle to Recover Missing Soldiers from Submerged Vehicle
U.S. and Lithuanian troops are still working to recover four missing American soldiers after their armored vehicle became submerged in a swamp during a training mission near Pabradė, Lithuania. The vehicle was found Wednesday, submerged under 15 feet of water and mud in a swampy area connected to a lake. Recovery crews have not yet reached the vehicle's interior. "The area around the site is incredibly wet and marshy and doesn’t support the weight of the equipment," U.S. Army Europe and Africa said Friday. (Read More)
China Sends Bombers to Scarborough Shoal as Vietnam Builds Up Spratly Islands
China deployed two H-6 long-range bombers to Scarborough Shoal this week, according to satellite images reviewed by Reuters. Vietnam, which also claims parts of the Spratlys, has been expanding its own outposts at a fast pace. According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI), a U.S.-based think tank, Vietnam created 641 acres of new land in the second half of 2024. (Read More)
Marine Corps Awards $10 Million Contract to Expand Seaglider Testing
The U.S. Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) has awarded a $10 million contract to REGENT Craft to continue testing its electric seaglider, following the successful completion of an earlier $4.75 million agreement. REGENT, a Rhode Island-based company, completed the first phase of testing earlier this month. That contract included 12 deliverables, including small-scale prototype tests and full-scale sea trials in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. (Read More)
Ukrainian Drone Destroys Russian Radar After Pantsir Systems Fails to Intercept
Newly released drone footage shows a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system in Crimea failing to intercept an incoming Ukrainian drone before a nearby Kasta 2E2 radar is struck and destroyed. The footage shows the Pantsir firing multiple missiles directly into the ground before the drone hits its target. Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate released additional footage of a coordinated strike campaign targeting Russian radar systems, air defenses, naval vessels, and a helicopter over several days. (Read More)
Five People Stabbed in Amsterdam as British Tourist Stops Attacker
Five people were seriously injured in a stabbing attack on a crowded shopping street in Amsterdam on Thursday afternoon. Dutch police said the suspect was stopped by a British tourist near Dam Square. Footage from the scene showed the bystander pinning the attacker to the ground and holding him until police arrived. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema awarded the man a hero’s medal and thanked him publicly.. (Read More)
Myanmar And Thailand Earthquake Latest: More Than 140 Dead In Myanmar As Dozens Trapped Under Bangkok Skyscraper | Independent
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on March 29, 2025, killing at least 153 people, including 144 in Myanmar and 10 in Bangkok, Thailand. The quake, centered near Mandalay at a depth of 6.2 miles, caused widespread destruction and was followed by a 6.4-magnitude aftershock. Myanmar’s military junta declared a state of emergency and warned of more casualties, with rescue teams digging through rubble without proper equipment. (Read More)
Something Bizarre Is Happening To People Who Use Chatgpt A Lot | Futurism
A study by MIT and OpenAI found that heavy ChatGPT users show signs of emotional dependency, including withdrawal and mood changes. Long-term users often view the chatbot as a “friend” and react emotionally to its tone. Surprisingly, those using it for non-personal tasks showed more dependence than users discussing emotions. The longer the use, the higher the risk of emotional reliance. (Read More)
Alert Line Hi everyone, If you are an expert in government acquisition and are interested in providing services to SOFX clients as a 1099 member of various SOFX project teams, please send us your resume along with your top 3 superpowers or areas of specialized access or knowledge. Be specific, not vague. For example, “relationship building” is not a superpower in and of itself. “Extreme influence in USD x, y, z as a function of n years working in it and knowing where bodies are buried” is....
Alert Line Hi everyone, If you are a legitimate expert in government acquisition and are interested in providing services to SOFX clients as a 1099 member of various SOFX project teams, please send us your resume along with your top 3 superpowers or areas of specialized access or knowledge. Be specific, not vague. For example, “relationship building” is not a superpower in and of itself. “Extreme influence in USD x, y, z as a function of n years working in it and knowing where bodies are...
Alert Line The CTC Sentinel March 2025 edition is out now. It features an in-depth look at the evolving terrorist drone threat, with Don Rassler and Yannick Veilleux-Lepage analyzing trends shaped by the Russo-Ukrainian War. Read it here. Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a first time reader? Subscribe. Lithuanian Armed Forces and emergency services personnel with excavators during recovery efforts for a U.S. Army M88 Hercules recovery vehicle near a training area in Pabradė, Lithuania, March...