Preparation and Planning for Mogadishu Deployment Our sister squadron was deployed and fully engaged in Mogadishu, Somalia. My own squadron was in full-bore planning to replace or reinforce should the need arise. Armed with accurate and up-to-date intelligence from the in-country squadron, we developed courses of action to better deploy against and neutralize the Muhammad … [Read more...] about In Memoriam: Delta Force’s Gaetano “Guy” Cutino
George E. Hand IV Articles
Even Delta Force Legends Fail: Pat McNamara’s Near-Death Parachute Tangle
Student: “Sergeant, how long do I have to deploy my reserve parachute if my main fails to open?” Sergeant: “The rest of your life, son… the rest of your life.” The Perils of Airborne Operations There is no argument that Tier-1 units routinely engage in dangerous training: climbing skyscraper structures, engaging in gunfights in close quarters and confined spaces, and … [Read more...] about Even Delta Force Legends Fail: Pat McNamara’s Near-Death Parachute Tangle
Geo Hand Explains How Delta Was Snubbed by SEAL Team Six and Why They Should Get Driving Lessons
A General Takeover in Bosnia A U.S. Navy admiral “owned” the Balkan State of Bosnia under the behavioral tutelage of the United Nations Peace-Keeping organization. He was the sheriff, the police chief, the governor, and the president of the country until such time humanitarian order could be restored in the civil war-ravaged nation. There to offer Personal Security Detail … [Read more...] about Geo Hand Explains How Delta Was Snubbed by SEAL Team Six and Why They Should Get Driving Lessons
Delta Force’s Combat Diving Break: A Geo Hand Original
During my nine months in-country hunting drug cartel kingpins in Colombia, the country held its presidential elections. My three-Operator team and I were sent back to the U.S. until the elections were over, and the incumbent's policies supported having gringos back in-country hunting its drug lords. It seemed legit, and I was ready for a break somewhere where yucca root was not … [Read more...] about Delta Force’s Combat Diving Break: A Geo Hand Original
A Delta Force Veteran Deconstructs WWII Dresden’s Firestorm
Editor's Note: Originally published as an Op-Ed in 2017, this thought-provoking and unapologetic piece by Former Delta Force operator George E. Hand IV dives headfirst into the contentious debates surrounding the bombings of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Dresden during WWII. With sharp wit and raw emotion, Hand critiques historical narratives, challenges modern-day interpretations, … [Read more...] about A Delta Force Veteran Deconstructs WWII Dresden’s Firestorm
Former Delta Force Operator Explains How the Internet Brings Us Together… Then Tears Us Apart
I'm an Internet-savvy sort of guy, or at least I fancy myself one. When I got out of the Army, I spent eight months working on a Microsoft network engineering degree, MCSE. I feel like I came onto the Internet at a good time during both of our lives and have remained relevant enough to make the observations and comments for this write. With that: Early Internet "The … [Read more...] about Former Delta Force Operator Explains How the Internet Brings Us Together… Then Tears Us Apart
Former Delta Force Operator Describes the Counter-Human Trafficking Operations of Deliver Fund
“You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.” - William Wilberforce “Deliver Fund is a nonprofit, private intelligence firm that disrupts human trafficking markets by providing intelligence and specialized analytics about human trafficking activities to law enforcement authorities.” - Deliver Fund founder Nic … [Read more...] about Former Delta Force Operator Describes the Counter-Human Trafficking Operations of Deliver Fund
1911: A Delta Force Workhorse
I have said that a man in the Unit has free rein on the armament and combat kit that he carries. I must conclude that I don’t know if or how that applied to our secondary firearm, the Browning M-1911 .45 ACP (Colt) pistol. The fact is, NEVER in my 10-year tenure did I know of anyone or any situation in which a man decided he wanted to carry a different pistol than the venerable … [Read more...] about 1911: A Delta Force Workhorse
Ex-Delta Force Operator Continues His Colombian Drug Cartel Adventure
(You can read part one here) Correction from the first part: the Brigade commander, Colonel "Rodriguez," is rather named "Velasquez." I was able to dig up some documents on this subject that I had holed away that allowed me to make the correction. To further clarify, in-country, I went by the name Carlitos, and my squadron brother went by the name Ricardo. After weeks … [Read more...] about Ex-Delta Force Operator Continues His Colombian Drug Cartel Adventure
Former Delta Operator Recalls His Days in a Post-Escobar Colombia
Ding dong the wicked Pablo Escobar was dead, and with his departure went his infamous Medellin Cartel as well. But the air around that sudden void swirled and rushed to fill the vacuum. Somebody was certainly going to fill that tremendous gap in the South American drug trafficking industry. Oh yes, an industry it most certainly was, and still is today. So it's not like … [Read more...] about Former Delta Operator Recalls His Days in a Post-Escobar Colombia
Former Delta Force Operator’s Thoughts on Hand to Hand Combat Training
*Dedicated to my brother LPD256; love ya madly This essay we shall, for the sake of the political season, refer to as my ‘Concession Speech.’ I have received to date a common core battery of questions, the top subjects of which fall into either a ‘Weapons and Tactics’ container, or the other heavy hitter, ‘Combat Physical Fitness Training.’ To this point, I have conceded to … [Read more...] about Former Delta Force Operator’s Thoughts on Hand to Hand Combat Training
Delta Force Hostage Rescue: Saving the Final Five
(This is a three-part series. Read Part One and Part Two here.) Amidst re-fitting and re-arming our kit, we were promptly summoned to a session with the boss: “Guys, we are missing five passengers. All indications from the aircrew and other sources say that the five missing passengers were removed from the aircraft and taken to a location 45 miles from here. Its a tiny … [Read more...] about Delta Force Hostage Rescue: Saving the Final Five