4D-Adversaries: Paramilitary (1993-2001)

Paramilitary groups had been a significant issue for the US prior to my time in service, particularly in Iran, Lebanon, and Latin America. This issue escalated during my active duty in the 1990s. The collapse of the Soviet Union and Iraq’s defeat in the Gulf War created power vacuums across several regions, which were exploited by warlords, cartels, and terrorist organizations.

This collection represents three paramilitary factions that engaged in open conflict with US forces during my time in service:

- Hawiye Clan Insurgents (Somalia)
- Drug Cartels (Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru)
- Salafist Jihadis (Afghanistan)