More Odysseus, Less Achilles: Developing Special Operations Forces for the Challenges Ahead
Peter Roberts and Sandor Fabian | 01.13.22
Since the 2017 US National Security Strategy reoriented the US military to strategic competition, many scholars and practitioners have argued that the future of special operations forces (SOF) depends on the effective use of emerging technologies and the transformation of operators into digital warriors.
This view is misguided. Rather than funneling ever more investment to technologies such as big data processing, exoskeletons, drones, or satellites, Western special operations forces should spend more time and money on improving the minds of future operators.
To understand the realities of warfare, Western special operations forces would do well to reacquaint themselves with the lessons of Greek mythology—and in particular the story of the Greek heroes Achilles and Odysseus. Achilles was the finest warrior on the battlefield, a demigod among men. Odysseus was a strategic and operational magician, more cunning than fearsome. Achilles killed champions, princes, and kings. Odysseus won wars. Today, Western special operations forces, collectively, look too much like Achilles, and not enough like Odysseus.
The March of Technology
https://mwi.usma.edu/more-odysseus-less-achilles-developing-special-operations-forces-for-the-challenges-ahead/
