Small Wars Journal

Special Forces

Joint Special Operations Univeristy: Mazar-e Sharif: The First Victory of the 21st Century Against Terrorism

A Joint Special Operations University monograph that analyzes the Battle of Mazar-e Sharif at the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan

Full text available here: https://jsou.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=61118806

Riley.C.Murray Thu, 04/22/2021 - 6:23pm

The Indigenous Approach Podcast: 1 SFC(A) and SFAB

Thu, 02/11/2021 - 7:32pm

A discussion between Maj. Gen. John Brennan, commander of the 1st Special Forces command, Brig. Gen. Scott Jackson, commander of the Security Force Assistance Command, and Col. Mike Sullivan, commander of the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade on the roles and synergy of Special Forces and SFAB Advisors. 

 

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lprbyi0Ehuk

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3n3I7g9LSmd143GYCy7pPA

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS8xMzg5MTc1LnJzcw/episode/QnV6enNwcm91dC03ODA5NTAy?sa=X&ved=0CAQQkfYCahcKEwjI9J_Fh-PuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAw

How to Win an Asymmetric War in the Era of Special Forces

Full Article: https://nationalinterest.org/feature/how-win-asymmetric-war-era-special-forces-87601

By Keith Pritchard, Roy Kempf, and Steve Ferenzi

The U.S. Army’s Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) shape the terms and tempo of competition by leveraging irregular warfare capabilities to enable other instruments of statecraft to prevail without resorting to war. ARSOF's influence creates strategic advantage through behavior modification (compellence and inducement) and behavior reinforcement (deterrence and assurance) in target audiences. These complement traditional forms of deterrence and coercive diplomacy against adversaries that deliberately avoid America’s conventional strengths.

Riley.C.Murray Mon, 01/25/2021 - 8:06pm

The Role of Police and Military Special Forces in Counter-terrorism Efforts in Cities

Sat, 11/02/2019 - 11:15am
Given the heightened terrorist threat, the police forces of global cities are beefing up their special forces units by adopting more militarised approaches in weaponry, tactics, culture, and organisation even as they increase the level of cooperation with the state’s armed forces. This civil-military integration in homeland security is present in Singapore where the police force and the army are conducting more joint patrols in public places besides key installations (KINS), and the Army is training more soldiers for peacetime operations.

About the Author(s)

Lucien Conein, Legendary OSS, Special Forces and CIA Officer - Forgotten by the USASOC History Office? SWJED Mon, 07/22/2019 - 12:10am
The USASOC History Office caused quite a stir in the US Special Forces and Intelligence community with its eyebrow-raising article about OSS influence on Special Forces, published in Veritas in 2018. Troy Sacquety, author of this article, concluded that “a grossly disproportionate share of the pioneering influence” was incorrectly attributed to the OSS veterans who joined early Special Forces.
Green Berets: Rebuilding the Guerrilla Leader Identity SWJED Fri, 02/08/2019 - 5:22am
Direct Action and Unconventional Warfare - one is in the movies, and the other is in the history books. Perhaps oversimplified, the differences between these two mission sets are at the heart of the Green Beret’s identity crisis. Both are clearly doctrinal Special Forces missions, but one dominates our cultural zeitgeist, while the other is relegated to a few weeks in the Q course and knowing glances at Semi-Annual Training Briefs.

Defying Stereotypes: The Untapped Potential of Integrating Female Reconnaissance Operators Into Small State NATO SOF

Mon, 10/29/2018 - 2:41pm
This paper is based on a qualitative study of NORSOF. In the study, twelve high ranking officers in NORSOF and the Norwegian military were interviewed according to an interview template, thereby ensuring consistency in the research. The interviewees participating in this research generated original primary source data, enabling unique insight to the subject. The sample group consists of some of the most experienced people in Scandinavia with regard to SR, in addition to the central leadership in NORSOF. There are no existing publications with such a comprehensive sample group looking into this subject, thus the qualitative data that will be presented in this paper provides a notable insight.

About the Author(s)

Expanding the Menu: The Case for CYBERSOC SWJED Fri, 01/05/2018 - 10:37am

The United States military should develop cyber special operations capabilities to expand the menu of policy options for addressing threats to U.S. interests and national security.

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