News & Briefings

In the 21st century strategic landscape, unconventional warfare (UW) is not a relic of Cold War shadow conflicts. It is a vital instrument of national power: a disciplined, sophisticated, and intellectually demanding capability required to solve the most complex political-military problems (or assist in solving them alongside the Joint Force or Intelligence Community). In addition to solving problems, UW creates dilemmas for adversaries operating in the gray zone between peace and war. It is also a necessary capability before, during, and after large scale combat operations. It is, as many have long argued, a foundational component of the Special Forces identity and one of the three legs of what I call the “two SOF trinities.”

In an era where economic linkages are global and dense, strategic competition increasingly unfolds in the networks of supply chains, finance, and data rather than purely on physical battlefields. US military doctrine has long emphasized key terrain—ranging from hilltops or river crossings at the tactical level to major features whose control carries operational or even strategic implications such as the Bashi Channel, Fulda Gap, or Strait of Hormuz. But today’s most consequential terrain may be nonphysical: manufacturing dominance in key sectors like semiconductors, assured access to minerals like rare earth elements, control over natural gas infrastructure, or the security of undersea cables. These systems, once considered logistical backdrops, are now central instruments of national power.

In an era marked by complexity, ambiguity, and persistent threats in the gray zone of conflict, the modern Special Forces operator must be more than a warrior, he must be an Enlightened Warrior. Drawing from the philosophical legacy of the Enlightenment and thinkers such as Locke, Kant, and Camus, the Special Forces soldier embodies a rare fusion of tactician, strategist, philosopher, and statesman. This essay argues that Enlightenment values, especially reason, critical thinking, and the pursuit of human dignity, are not only relevant but essential to the modern Special Forces (SF) practitioner, particularly within the realms of irregular warfare, unconventional warfare, and political warfare.