From Counterinsurgency to Conventional Warfare: The Changing Role of U.S. Special Operations Forces
by SOFREP
23 hours ago
A monumental potential shift is on the horizon for the U.S. Army. At the heart of this sea of change lies a proposition to reduce special operations forces (SOF) programs by an estimated 10% in the forthcoming years. This decrease is part of a larger migration from unconventional warfare to an emphasis on conventional capabilities and larger-scale combat operations.
A Two-Decade Reliance on Special Operations Forces
The U.S. military’s reliance on its special operations forces for counterinsurgency operations has been integral over the past two decades. The number of U.S. special operations forces across all military branches doubled after the events of 9/11. This increase reflected the new reality of the Global War on Terror, with swift nighttime raids and training militias in the Middle East and Africa becoming central to the U.S. strategy. However, this trend is poised for a significant reconfiguration.
The Total Army Analysis, a strategic planning methodology used by the Army, projects a budget request for fiscal years 2025 to 2029, suggesting a roughly 10% reduction to SOF. The proposed reductions would mainly affect logistical and intelligence support—often called enablers—and could result in structural changes to some elite units.
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