Joint Special Operations University

Last month, Staff Sgt. Rosmelynn Angelakopoulos was promoted to Sgt. 1st Class at a ceremony held at Joint Special Operations University. Sgt. 1st Class Angelakopoulos is the Senior Administration Non-Commissioned Officer for the Reserve Team at Joint Special Operations University taking care of over 25 Soldiers as the Non-Commissioned Officer in charge for the reserve team.  With over 10 years of service with the Tampa Police Department and over 17 years of service in the Army Reserves, Sgt. 1st Class Angelakopoulos’s unwavering dedication to both the City of Tampa and the U.S. Army continues to build and strengthen both the local police and the United States Military community. #cityoftampa #tampaPD #USArmy Tampa Police Department

In our latest #JSOUSnapshot we continue to explore the growing presence of Russia and China. We ask, "What's really driving Russia and China's growing presence in West Africa?" What hidden agendas lurk behind their advances? Learn more about it here: https://lnkd.in/eqWFWGtT As Great Power Competition intensifies globally, so does the contest over West Africa’s natural resources and strategic trade routes, which are re-shaping global power dynamics. #China and #Russia each pursue different strategies toward Africa, but they share the goals of subverting U.S. and European influence, while seeking economic gains. Let’s explore each country’s interests and strategies in West Africa and consider their implications. JSOU Snapshot is a series of short learning videos made just for you, busy special operations professionals, to educate and inform on topics of interest, confusion, controversy, and question. The objective of these short videos is to teach or clarify concepts that are important for you to know, in 5 minutes or less. Keep an eye out for more #JSOU Snapshots in the near future! #greatpowercompetition #WestAfrica #specialoperations

"What’s Russia’s strategy behind its malign influence operations, and what impact does it have? This question is answered in less than 5 minutes in our #JSOUsnapshot Learn more about Russian malign influence here: https://lnkd.in/ewDRQDrs Russia leverages these tactics to gain #warfighting advantages, bypassing traditional deterrence methods. These strategies target not only foreign adversaries but also their own citizens." For more in depth detail of #Russian influence and intelligence check out our ThinkJSOU interview here with Kevin Riehle and Mike Parrott: https://lnkd.in/evUmwi7A

#ICYMI Last month, JSOU's Enlisted Academy graduated 48 students in Joint Special Operations Forces Senior Enlisted Academy (JSOFSEA) Class 55 in the Eagle Claw Auditorium. The JSOFSEA Class 55 featured speaker Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Miller of the 92nd #CivilAffairs Battalion and former JSOFSEA Seminar Leader who recognized the Distinguished Honor Graduate Master Warrant Officer Sean Kovacic from Canada.  Fourteen years ago, in April 2010, JSOFSEA proudly graduated its first class. Since then, the program has expanded, relocated multiple times, and continuously refined its curriculum and instruction methods. JSOFSEA is a rigorous blended learning experience, combining 24 weeks of distance education with 8 weeks of intensive in-residence training. Throughout this demanding program, which encompasses over 700 hours of academic instruction, students are held to the highest academic standards and demonstrate exceptional perseverance to reach this distinguished milestone. With the continuous rise in global demand for Special Operations and recent shifts in national strategic policies, it is important to emphasize that this marks only the fourteenth class to complete a revamped curriculum. The program now equips graduates to think dynamically and adapt to the evolving landscape of strategic competition. It positions them to rise as the next generation of leaders in special operations and to meet the demands of the profession of arms. #JSOFSEA #SpecialOperations #EnlistedAcademy USSOCOM

#JIATFWest alongside U.S. Embassy Kolonia, facilitated a Maritime Operation Planners Course in 🇫🇲 with instructors from the Joint Special Operations University. The course focused on enhancing maritime security in the region and highlights the shared commitment to safeguard the #FreeandOpenIndoPacifc.

Russia has proven to have a keen interest in the arctic region of the globe, whether in posture against its perceived threats from NATO nations, its desire to control future shipping lanes, or its desire to exploit natural resources there. In our latest #jsousnapshot we ask, “What is Russia doing in the Arctic? And what does it mean for the U.S., allies, partners and friends?” Keep an eye out for more JSOU Snapshots in the near future! Watch all snapshots here: https://lnkd.in/exFjt_j5 #jsou #jointspecialoperationsuniversity #thinkjsou #ussocom

#ICYMI Daughters of 1st USSOCOM Chief of Staff Visit JSOU Room Named in His Honor The daughters of U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joe Lutz, the first chief of staff for USSOCOM, received a tour of MacDill Air Force Base this spring with their final stop at the Joint Special Operations University Lutz Conference Room. The tour, hosted by members of SOCOM and #JSOU, was the first time all three daughters had the opportunity to view the room dedicated in their father’s memory. Full story: https://lnkd.in/eESYPsf4 #People #Win #Transform

Syria's position in Russia's foreign policy has always been intertwined with the Kremlin's strategic chess game against other great powers. This narrative can be stretched back to the 11th century, when the Orthodox rivalry between Kievan Rus and Byzantium set the stage for future alliances. In the newest JSOU Press publication, “Russia’s Syria Policy: From the Soviet Union to the Russian Federation,” author Arman Mahmoudian, Ph.D. explores how this historical bond between Russia and Syria weaves through the centuries, evolving from ancient ties into the complex, multi-faceted relationship we see today. Additionally, this monograph examines the evolution of the relationship between Russia and Syria—from its roots through the cold war and rise of the Assad dynasty to the Syrian civil war and beyond. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e8BJewmt   #JSOUPress #JSOU #Russia #Syria #historicallessons

In our latest #JSOUsnapshot we explore - What is Russia doing in the Arctic? And what does it mean for the U.S., allies, partners and friends? Watch here: https://lnkd.in/e9f28vnM Russia has proven to have a keen interest in the arctic region of the globe, whether in posture against its perceived threats from NATO nations, its desire to control future shipping lanes, or its desire to exploit natural resources there. We look at what Russia has been doing in the arctic, and what the future implications might be for U.S. SOF. Keep an eye out for more JSOU Snapshots in the near future! #ussocom #SOF #russia #NATO #thinkjsou #arctic

Armed Forces of the Philippines Special Operations Command (AFP SOCOM), Philippine National Police Special Action Force (PNP SAF), and U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific service members attended a Joint Special Operations University (#JSOU) bilateral academic subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) in Manila, Philippines, April 15 through April 19, 2024. Class discussion and group exercises were the primary means for the intellectual exchange. During the academic exchange, participants discussed the importance of understanding an opponent's capabilities and limitations, building capacity to execute actions, and the essential requirements for military operations. JSOU's academic engagements enhance operational collaboration and strategic thinking among partner forces, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and adaptive thinking. The United States and the Philippines continue to work together to enhance interoperability, modernize capacity and capabilities, and train together more than ever – allowing bilateral efforts to address shared challenges in the region. Photos taken from Defense Visual Information Distribution Service by Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Rolfe #SOCPAC #AFP #SOCOM #BK2024 #AFPCGSC #indopacificSOF