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Exciting developments as the U.S. Army’s 7th Special Forces Group prepares to land in Mexico to train the Mexican Navy’s Infantería de Marina. This mission, approved by the Mexican Senate, aims to enhance combat readiness against both conventional and non-conventional threats.
World War II spawned innovations in all aspects of warfare. From jets to rudimentary guided rockets and missiles, this conflict forever changed the face of war. The rise of special forces units within the militaries of the participants was also a significant development within the doctrine and operational capabilities of the various militaries.
Sound bites and clickbait surrounding the 2024 US presidential election often emphasized the national security threat posed by Mexican drug cartels to the United States. These narratives frequently advocated for aggressive countermeasures, including the potential deployment of special operations forces (SOF) to combat cartel activities and their impact on national security. This threat gained renewed attention when President Trump signed an Executive Order on the eve of his second inauguration, officially labeling these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
The advantage that the U.S. had for decades in being able to “sense the enemy before they sense us” has eroded with the proliferation of modern technologies among great powers and terrorist and criminal groups, said Maj. Gen. Peter Huntley, who leads the Marine Forces Special Operations Command.
In terms of warfighting, there needs to be an equilibrium between readiness, modernization and operations, said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Shane Shorter, senior enlisted leader of Special Operations Command, during a panel discussion at the National Defense Industrial Association's 35th annual Special Operations Symposium in Washington, Feb. 20, 2025.
After years of training, a recon commando marches into the briefing room and declares, “I’ve got little flying drones, cyber forensic tools, and a long-range rifle. I want a target.” The boss looks at the commando and replies, “Look, scout, you don’t have the authorities to use any of those fancy tools, take a seat in the back.” The commando nods and sits. Then an intelligence collector speaks to the boss: “I have a target, I just need a way to access it from the ground.”
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