SHOW OF FORCE STORY AND PHOTOS BY DUANE HEWITT The annual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) took place in Tampa, Florida, this year from May 21 to 24. A highlight of the show was the Capabilities Demonstration, which brought together special operations forces from around the world. During the demonstration, operators were inserted by air and sea using a variety of equipment, including special operations craft-riverine (SOC-R) and combat rubber raiding craft (CRRC) for waterborne infiltration, and the Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II for parachute insertion. The main attractions, however, were Sikorsky MH-60M Black Hawk and MD MH-6M Little Bird helicopters from the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) — otherwise known as the “Night Stalkers.” The demonstration provided unique and impressive insight into the secretive world of special operations aviation, and the techniques used by the aviators and the specialist users they support. 34 VERTICAL 911 magazine Heli-borne troops opened the demonstration with a helocast from an MH-60M, which also carried the CRRC under the belly of the aircraft. The Black Hawk entered a hover at a height of around 10 feet over the water with a slow forward movement. On a command, the CRRC was released by a system of wires and connectors, quickly followed by the troops themselves, who then set about entering the CRRC and putting the outboard engine into place to begin the waterborne phase of their insertion.