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Strategic competition is likely to intensify over the next decade, increasing the demands on the United States to deter and defend against wide-ranging and simultaneous security challenges across multiple domains and regions worldwide. In that time frame, the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Joint Force should more effectively leverage the competencies of US Special Operations Forces (USSOF) to compete with US strategic adversaries.
The United States is now learning that terrorism—which defined America's national security posture during the first two decades of the 21st century—was just the leading edge of a broader national security risk facing the nation. Consolidating America's approach to irregular warfare in a single high-level agency could help the United States address this larger and growing risk, and ultimately win.
Special operations forces (SOF) demand special attention due to the unique challenges and requirements faced by the community. As such, many efforts focus on developing capabilities to support these operations, ranging from enhanced human performance programs to doctrine that underpins a complex cycle of training and redeployment. One question strikes at the heart of all efforts and doctrine to utilize special forces in support of national defense: what is the purpose of special operations?
Special operations forces have been crucial in U.S. counterterrorism efforts, but they also have a place in what is also known as a great power competition, said Chris Maier, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.
This article addresses the challenges faced by the United States in maintaining a sustained approach to irregular warfare (IW), historically marked by a “boom and bust” cycle of investment and focus. Despite recent advances, including the establishment of a Department of Defense (DoD) Irregular Warfare Center and the development of curriculum guidance, the U.S. risks underpreparing IW practitioners.
U.S. special operations forces have a unique role to play in today’s strategic competition with China and Russia, yet—outside a niche community—understanding of what SOF do is limited, outdated, and under-appreciated. It’s time that changed.
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