A House Divided: A Look at SOF Values
By Dan Pace
In the wake of the recent analysis on SOF misconduct
, a bumper sticker has emerged that claims SOF doesn’t have an ethics problem, it has a leadership problem. While this is partially true – the strain on the force created by rapid, frequent deployment has stretched SOF leadership’s ability to build and maintain discipline – the slogan doesn’t tell the whole story. SOF does have an ethics problem, and it stems from a dissonance the community breeds into its operators. SOF operators are selected for a willingness and aptitude to conduct traditionally immoral acts, trained to be proficient at the conduct of those acts, but then expected to refrain from those acts outside of approved operational circumstances. This dissonance is frequently compounded by a reliance on unspoken guidance and tacit approval during communication on the specifics of how things get done on the ground, which creates a habit of lying or telling partial truths between operators and their leadership. Given what they do for a living, how well trained they are to do it, and how frequently they are asked to either talk around or avoid discussing it, is it any wonder SOF operators get in trouble for smuggling, lying, manipulation or even murder?
While this sounds grim, there is a solution. SOF operators must be indoctrinated and trained to adhere to a code of ethics that emphasizes one set of activities while working operationally and separate set while at home, and then - critically - they must be taught to transition between the two. The operational set should be grounded in mission accomplishment and complete transparency with leadership. The home set should be based on the Army values and U.S. law. These two sets should be linked by an overall sense of purpose that provides continuity both at home abroad and a clear list of activities that are never allowed under any circumstances. The entire system must be deliberately managed by SOF leadership through selection, training, and the pre-mission and post-deployment reintegration processes.
https://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/house-divided-look-sof-values
