Policy

As irregular warfare comes to a crossroads, Congress chips in

IW proponents are wrestling with how to bring their domain into a new era—and to convince others it’s still needed.

Threats

Pentagon grounds all Ospreys, one week after deadly crash

Investigators suspect a “potential materiel failure” may have caused the Nov. 29 mishap off Japan.

Policy

Women face misogyny, barriers to promotion in special operations forces, US Army study says

The “very small percentage” of respondents who espoused such views included officers and senior enlisted leaders.

Policy

Future wars will turn on space-cyber-special operations triad: Army SOF chief

The success of information ops is “the most important lesson learned from Ukraine right now.”

Policy

Army Mulls 10-20% Cut to Special Operations Forces

Lawmakers and Army officials have discussed cuts through decade’s end, including to Green Berets, psyops, and enablers.

Ideas

Defense One Radio, Ep. 125: The Army’s recruiting crisis; the science of special forces; and NATO’s Mircea Geoană

Can the Army pull itself out of a two-year recruiting slump? And what sort of gear is drawing the attention of America's special operators?

Ideas

DOD Managers Need a New Approach. SOCOM Can Lead the Way

The Pentagon's McNamara-era philosophy is woefully insufficient to a world that changes daily. U.S. Special Operations Command is working to craft a better one.

Exclusive Ideas

How Special Operations Forces Must Meet the Challenges of a New Era

To the commander of U.S. SOCOM, what matters most is whether we solve the problem our nation needs solved.

Science & Tech

Tomorrow’s Special Operator? Less Iron Man, More 007

But first, SOCOM must reverse a trend of “falling behind, not just linearly but exponentially” to Chinese and Russian tech.

Policy

Special Operations Seeks 20% R&D Budget Bump

Collaborative autonomy and better contested communications top the wish list, while supply-chain risk becomes a top concern.

Science & Tech

The Reaper UAV Is Getting Its Own Drone Swarm

Air Force special operators are rigging the venerable uncrewed aircraft with an ISR swarm that may take just one person to control.

Policy

Army Special Operators Seek to Reduce Suicide with ‘Bottom-Led’ Approach

Units have been ordered to develop anti-suicide efforts based on the USASOC's new strategy.

Policy

Ukraine, Irregular-War Changes Are Reshaping Pentagon’s Info-Ops Strategy

Civilians reporting military movements and a return to proxy war will inform the first IO update in seven years.

Policy

Special Operators Lack ‘Seat at the Table’ in Post-Counterterror Pentagon, SOF Leaders Say

Even as U.S.-trained Ukranians show their mettle, SOF is getting lost in the transition to great power competition, says the assistant defense secretary for special ops.