Cooperation key to solving special operations forces challenges in 2024

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

EVEN THOUGH EVENTS LIKE THESE AREN’T PUT ON BY THE MILITARY, THEY ALLOW AMERICAN MILITARY LEADERSHIP TO CONNECT WITH NOT ONLY THEIR TROOPS BUT ALSO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. 

AND THE MAIN MESSAGE COMING OUT OF SEVERAL PANELS AND KEYNOTE SPEECHES HERE, IS THAT THE SOF COMMUNITY IS FACING SEVERAL GROWING CHALLENGES. FROM BUDGET CONCERNS TO TROOP LEVELS, THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE THOSE PROBLEMS IS COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION.

FROM THE START OF THIS YEAR’S GATHERING SOF LEADERSHIP MADE IT CLEAR, WHILE THERE ARE OBSTACLES TO BE OVERCOME, IT CAN’T BE DONE AT THE COST OF TAKING THEIR EYE OFF GROWING THREATS FROM SOME OF AMERICA’S OLDEST ADVERSARIES. 

[Gen. Bryan Fenton]

“In this decisive decade, autocrats and terrorists the light seek to up end, the free and open international system, from the PRC to Russia, from Iran to North Korea, and violent extremist organizations. Those adversaries seek to divide and weaken the power of these partnerships.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

COMMANDER OF U-S SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND, GENERAL BRYAN FENTON, WENT ON TO SAY THAT DESPITE THOSE GROWING CHALLENGES THE THREATS FROM TERRORIST GROUPS LIKE AL SHABAAB, AL QAEDA AND ISIS STILL REMAIN. WHILE NEW ONES FROM GROUPS LIKE HAMAS, THE HOUTHIS, AND HEZBOLLAH CONTINUE TO DEMAND ATTENTION AND RESOURCES. 

ONE REASON WHY, ACCORDING TO COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR SHANE SHORTER, IT’S EASIER FOR ADVERSARIES TO WAGE HAVOC THAN IT’S EVER BEEN BEFORE.

[CSM Shane Shorter]

“We’re seeing the character of war rapidly change with smaller, faster and cheaper uncrewed systems and robotics, ubiquitous surveillance tools of every kind. And of course, artificial intelligence are all creating wicked problems.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

ONE THING THAT ALWAYS GRABS YOUR EYE AT CONFERENCES LIKE SOF WEEK 2024 IS THE SHEER AMOUNT OF TECHNOLOGY AND TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO TODAY’S WARFIGHTER. GENERAL FENTON SAYS THAT AS ACCESSIBLE AS THESE TOOLS ARE, THEY’RE NOT WHAT IS GOING TO DETERMINE THE DAY FOR SPECIAL FORCES OPERATORS. 

[Gen. Bryan Fenton]

“I think for us, it becomes an enabler, an amplifier, an enhancer, to all the missions that we’re trying to achieve. It’s necessary, but at the very center of all that is a Special Operations teammate.” 

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

THAT THOUGHT WAS ECHOED BY RETIRED ARMY GENERAL VINCENT BROOKS. THE FORMER COMMANDER OF U-S ARMY PACIFIC AND U-S ARMY CENTRAL SAYS THE ADVANTAGE AMERICAN SPECIAL FORCES BRING TO THE FIGHT IS A WILLINGNESS TO INTEROPERATE WITH NOT ONLY OTHER BRANCHES BUT OTHER ALLIED PARTNERS. 

[Gen. (Ret.) Vincent Brooks]

“I think that this approach to having great capability in both the unconventional and special operations arena, as well as the general purpose arena, is what can give us a decided advantage over adversaries who have great challenges in bringing such things together.”

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

PERHAPS PROOF THAT WHAT THE SOF COMMUNITY IS DOING IS WORKING, COMES FROM THE VERY TOP.  CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, GENERAL CQ BROWN SAID, IN ESSENCE, HE LIKES THEIR STYLE. 

[Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff]

“They don’t ask for permission. They tend to lean forward. And there’s a fine line between leaning forward and falling over. And they know how to lean forward. And they might fall over every once in a while. But what they really do is they actually challenge the status quo. And that’s what we need.”