Fin Tutuola says he served in which U.S. military operation?

Fin Tutuola says he served in Operation Gothic Serpent. In SVU, he mentions the Somalia operation while trying to connect with a military rape victim.

Operation Gothic Serpent was a U.S.-led military operation in Mogadishu, Somalia, conducted from August 22 to October 13, 1993. It is best known for the fighting in Mogadishu on October 3–4, 1993, later dramatized in the film Black Hawk Down. The operation involved U.S. Army Rangers, Delta Force, and aviation units.

Fin’s military background is intentionally not explained in exhaustive detail. His character biography identifies him as a former U.S. Army Ranger who served two tours, while the series generally reveals his past through brief references rather than extended flashbacks.

After leaving the Army, Fin worked as an undercover narcotics detective before transferring to SVU. He joined the squad in the season-two premiere, “Wrong Is Right,” replacing Monique Jeffries, and was initially partnered with John Munch. Ice-T has portrayed Fin since 2000.