“US Special Operations Forces are elite troops and deserve the high praise and respect they command…We should, however, consider how much we allow our political leaders to ask of these forces and be careful not to forget about the importance of conventional forces…”
The special operations forces (SOF) of the United States military are the most highly trained, intelligent, and physically fit soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. The requirements are high, the qualification courses are difficult, and the standards are rigorously upheld. There’s no denying that it takes a special type of person to be an elite warrior, and the operators in the US military are put on a pedestal both in the military and in our society because of it.
But has the fascination with these men gone too far?
The books that have been written, the movies and television shows being made, and even the social media accounts of many operators have created a perception that there is a dividing line between the regular military and elite operators: a line that has created a subculture in the US military that often totally separates SOF personnel from conventional forces in every conceivable way.
Books, television shows, and movies are just the start. There are countless companies emerging, founded by former operators, that leverage special operations backgrounds to teach tactics, techniques, and procedures to anyone who is willing to pay. Social media accounts by active and former operators show off equipment, units, and tactics for all to see, including our enemies.
Later in my military career, I realized that a perception had formed that if you never served in special operations, your military career was a failure.
It’s no surprise that this is happening after almost 17 years of war. Since the 9/11 attacks, the United States and our allies have been engaged in the war on terrorism. In Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia, Yemen, and many other countries, special operations forces have deployed to engage the enemy and advise local security forces.
These forces include Army Green Berets, Navy SEALs, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC), and Air Force Pararescue. They have borne the brunt of the fighting during America’s longest war. Their numbers have grown, and these operators have done an incredible job in deployment after deployment. Many have been on seven, eight, or nine deployments to combat zones, and the toll this takes on any person is undeniable, even to the toughest.
The fact that this type of conflict has been primarily focused on exactly the type of mission special operations forces specialize in is the primary reason that the fascination with them has taken off. Every war the United States engages in creates certain icons and themes that we tend to focus on. In World War II it was heavy bombers like the B-17. In the Vietnam War it was the Huey helicopter. In the Persian Gulf War, or Operation Desert Storm, it was the smart bomb. During that war, the ground fighting was dominated by tanks. In most ways it was a conventional war, with M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks engaging Iraqi tanks and US air support clearing the way by dropping tons of bombs on a uniformed enemy.
But the war on terror has not been a conventional war. Except for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, this war has been fought primarily with light infantry, conducting raids to capture high-value individuals, helicopter insertions onto targets, and partnerships with local security forces to conduct foreign internal defense. As the frequency of these types of missions began to climb after the 2003 invasion and security and stability operations took over in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the role of special operations forces began to make up more of US military operations in Central Command (CENTCOM).
Even for soldiers and marines serving in conventional units, the fascination with special operations was growing. As a young private serving in a cavalry unit, I often looked at Army Green Berets with envy. They didn’t have to follow the same rules. They wore beards, no rank or identification on their uniforms (when they were even wearing them), and had the best weapons, optics, and gear. They went on the cool missions and got the greatest training. We wanted to be like them.
Later in my military career, I realized that a perception had formed that if you never served in special operations, your military career was a failure. Many infantrymen, cavalry scouts, tankers, and artillerymen believed there was something wrong with spending a whole career in the “regular army.”
The biggest fascination continues to be with SEAL Team Six. Following their participation in the 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, the team has become high-profile.
Even on the civilian side, the emergence of sports like airsoft have created a culture of people who try to emulate special operations forces by dressing like them and carrying weapons that look like what a Green Beret or Army Ranger might carry. Social media is full of these “warriors” and they are at times indistinguishable from SOF personnel.
The biggest fascination continues to be with SEAL Team Six. Following their participation in the 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, the team has become high-profile. This is contrary to their traditional role and purpose to remain quiet professionals that carry out America’s most sensitive missions around the world. Following the release of many books and movies, SEAL Team Six is now a household name, and many Americans with no military affiliation can tell you about Navy SEALs and what they do.
One of the reasons this is troubling is the unimaginable strain it is placing on the men serving in Special Operations. The fascination with these troops begins at the top, in the White House and at the Pentagon, where senior military and political leaders now view these forces as an almost “cure-all” for national security threats around the world.
“These guys truly are amazing warriors. But they’re more than that. They’re smart, flexible, adaptable, and unafraid,” says Russell D. Howard, a retired brigadier general and former special forces commander. “These guys are a national treasure. In my day, it cost an average of $1 million to train a special forces soldier. Now it probably costs closer to $1.5 million and you don’t waste that asset. You use them judiciously when you really need them,” Howard told The Cipher, a website that focuses on security issues.
The toll this takes on those serving in these units, from repeated combat to time away from families, is unfair to be placed on such a small percentage of the military, already a tiny share of the population.
In 2017, United States Special Operations Forces deployed to over 150 countries, including 32 in Africa alone. While many of these missions are strictly advise and assist operations to train security forces and provide aid to the local populace, US military operators engaged in combat in many of these countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Niger, and Libya.
The toll this takes on those serving in these units, from repeated combat to time away from families, is unfair to be placed on such a small percentage of the military, already a tiny share of the population.
There’s no sign that this will slow down. In fact, it only appears to be increasing. The 150 countries US Special Operations Forces deployed to in 2017 was a jump from the Obama administration’s last year in office and was a huge increase from George W. Bush’s presidency. Since 9/11, US Special Operations Command has grown by almost 75 percent.
All of this has taken the focus off what could be America’s next big war. The likelihood that we could find ourselves engaged in a conventional war with North Korea, China, or Russia in the next decade is very real. In a conflict with a large military force, conventional Army and Marine Corps units would be doing the bulk of the fighting, just as they have in past wars. Tanks, airborne infantry, and Marine amphibious forces would be called upon to do the heaviest fighting, and special operations forces would most likely revert to missions they have conducted in the past, including unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, and combat search and rescue.
The conventional force may be taking a back seat to special operations in today’s operational climate, but it is critical not to overlook the importance of the regular military.
US Special Operations Forces are elite troops and deserve the high praise and respect they command within the military and from civilians. We should, however, consider how much we allow our political leaders to ask of these forces and be careful not to forget about the importance of conventional forces or what our next war may look like.
