Help Us Communicate the Value of SOF

We’re a few weeks away from our fourth SOF Imperatives Forum in Washington, DC! 2024 is already proving that once again the global security environment is rapidly evolving. To help policymakers better understand these threats and the critical role of U.S. and partner nation SOF should play, GSOF is set to unveil our 2024 SOF Imperatives document and host senior military leaders, Members of Congress and the Senate, and key experts to discuss what lies ahead at this critical juncture. You can find a summary of our 2023 Forum here and take a look at previous Imperatives documents here. 

While there’s no shortage of issues to discuss, we’ve got a roadmap for what we see as key issues facing policymakers in the year ahead..

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Supporting and Promoting Irregular Warfare 

Going back to 1986, Congress has directed SOCOM to be responsible for “developing strategy, doctrine, and tactics for Irregular Warfare (IW).” To date, however, there’s a lot of work to be done. We need to ensure the Department of Defense is sufficiently prioritizing IW activities and integrating IW into the development of plans and activities to confront global competitors like China and Russia. 

_{^{A 919th Special Operations Communications Squadron radio frequency technician checks the configuration of a data satellite that can provide high speed data downloads for special operations missions and gives deployed commanders the ability to communicate around the globe. (U.S. Air Force photo by Michelle Gigante)}}

While we’ve seen the Department issue a Joint Concept for Competing, we haven’t seen the resources or prioritization needed for this to be more than a think-piece, and failure to address these shortfalls will inhibit effective implementation of irregular warfare strategy. 

Resourcing SOF

To effectively support the increasing role of SOF in meeting our national security objectives, we must appropriately resource USSOCOM and support our warfighters. Years of flat budgets and misguided calls to cut SOF are not the solution for meeting the challenges ahead. 

^{Special Operations Surgical Team members assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing speak with an instructor about patient status. SOST is an extremely lightweight, mobile, and rapidly deployable element that is medically and tactically trained to provide trauma resuscitation and life-saving surgical care on or near the battlefield. (U.S. Air Force photo by SrA Christopher H. Stolze)}

We have incredible partners in the private sector who can create efficiencies and deliver cutting-edge technology to U.S. SOF and our international partners. We need to ensure USSOCOM has the appropriate resources and flexible authorities to continue delivering for the Nation.

Promoting Civilian Leadership and Oversight

SOF needs a fully empowered civilian advocate in the Pentagon. Throughout several national defense authorization bills, Congress has increased its focus on this issue, but more work remains. The status quo is not sufficient for meeting today’s needs while preparing for the challenges ahead. The civilian leadership and oversight function for SOF needs to be elevated to an Under Secretary of Defense level. 

Overall, it is critical that we communicate the value of SOF to the current and future security environment. This goes beyond SOF’s expertise in precision strike, crisis response, and counter terrorism. SOF build long term relationships and partnerships that enable success in competition and campaigning. Congress must not forget that!

^{Soldiers with the Moldovan 1st Infantry Brigade (Special Forces) and U.S. special operations forces train together to ensure emerging threats are rapidly and effectively confronted anywhere and at any time as a formidable, cohesive, agile, and lethal combined force.}

We’ve got a big agenda and lots of great presentations and conversations coming up on February 8 in the Capitol Visitors Center. I’d love to see you join us. 

Register here.