View Full Version : Not so Special Operations
Interesting article: Here (http://www.businessinsider.com/navy-seal-us-special-ops-are-starting-to-look-a-lot-less-special-2013-9?fb_action_ids=10153306016010455&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map={%2210153306016010455%22%3A16659 6633534772}&action_type_map={%2210153306016010455%22%3A%22og.r ecommends%22}&action_ref_map=[])
Makes an argument that SOCOMs growth has led/will lead to a less agile and innovative force. Thoughts?
Champagne
09-27-2013, 19:21
This issue should not be ignored.
The people whose duties involve maintaining the best Special Operations force possible, with the resources at hand, must keep this issue in mind and act accordingly.
It's an on-going matter which has been going on for decades and is...well...on-going.
Edit: I wasn't clear with my previous response - it was meant to imply do not expect many, if any, QPs to respond to the article and the matters it brings up.
Richard
Schwaben
09-28-2013, 03:19
Considering the article is written about SOCOM I would say it is the business of any that work or have worked in Special Operations. As SOCOM continues to grow we will see more of these articles. The author makes some good points, most of which have been talked about in the team room before. It is really all in the word. Special is only special until everything else is similar. Even now I hear people talk about going to "line" companies as though they were somehow lesser elements in SF. As my Norwegian counterpart pointed out yesterday, SOCOM alone is more than twice the size of the entire Norwegian Military. Of course America's population is far greater as well. Though the command structure may change and swell, I believe the "special" in Special Operations will remain with the individual soldiers, sailors, and airmen that comprise it. We must remain dedicated to our calling, train to be professionals, maintain great SA, and be problem solvers. If we do that, America could be 600 million strong and SOCOM could be 120,000 but Special Operations will still be special.