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Special Operations Forces

News Release

News Release

RAND Study Examines Ways U.S. Can Better Counter Political Warfare

The United States needs to improve the ways it combats adversaries adept at using political warfare tactics to achieve their goals and undermine U.S. interests and allies.

Apr 5, 2018
Report

Countering Modern Political Warfare

Today, both state and nonstate actors — including Russia, Iran, and the Islamic State — practice political warfare in unique ways. How can the United States, along with its allies and partners, respond to or engage in this type of conflict to achieve U.S. ends and protect U.S. interests?

Apr 5, 2018
Report

Report

Limited Intervention: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Limited Stabilization, Limited Strike, and Containment Operations

The report analyzes the strategic effects of low-cost and small-footprint military options across a range of irregular warfare operations and in a range of operational environments.

Feb 22, 2018
Report

Improving the Understanding of Special Operations

An analysis of U.S. decisions related to the development or use of special operations forces can assist in future planning by the Army Special Operations Forces, the U.S. Army, and the joint special operations community.

Feb 8, 2018
Report

How Russia's Military Has Evolved

The Russian armed forces are not like the Soviet Army in size, depth, or global ideological aspirations. But Russia has demonstrated its military competence and operational flexibility in Crimea, eastern Ukraine, and Syria.

Dec 7, 2017
Report

Report

Supporting Persistent and Networked Special Operations Forces (SOF) Operations: Insights from Forward-Deployed SOF Personnel

RAND Corporation researchers identified three key operational challenges that forward-deployed personnel have encountered and then assessed the extent to which persistent, networked, and distributed operations can mitigate these challenges.

Oct 16, 2017
Report

Report

Implications of the Security Cooperation Office Transition in Afghanistan for Special Operations Forces: An Abbreviated Report of the Study's Primary Findings

Presents findings from six historical case studies in which the mission of special operations forces in each of the six countries transitioned over time to include some level of inclusion in the U.S. embassy's Security Cooperation Office.

Aug 1, 2017
Commentary

SOF's Evolving Role: Warfare 'By, With, and Through' Local Forces

U.S. special operations forces are not providing the muscle of the frontline combat troops fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Instead, they are providing meaningful support to the various indigenous forces. If they succeed, this model could become a standard option in the U.S. military playbook.

May 9, 2017
Commentary

The Mission to Counter WMD: Avoiding Missteps While Transitioning Responsibility

U.S. Special Operations Command will soon lead the Pentagon's anti-WMD efforts. SOCOM is well positioned to contain and reduce threats, but will need new expertise to prevent the acquisition of related material and respond to crises.

Feb 10, 2017
News Release

News Release

Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction Program Helped Improve Economic Conditions and Security in Afghanistan

The ability of the U.S. military to quickly provide small-scale humanitarian relief and reconstruction services in Afghanistan enhanced the operational effectiveness of U.S. forces there during the counterinsurgency-focused 2010-2013 time frame.

Oct 13, 2016
Report

CERP Projects in Afghanistan Proved Effective

Projects under the Commander's Emergency Response Program in Afghanistan ranged from rehabilitating a local well to hydro dam and reservoir restoration. The U.S. military's ability to provide humanitarian relief and reconstruction services enhanced the operational effectiveness of its forces there.

Oct 13, 2016
News Release

News Release

Al Shabaab Weakened but Not Defeated in Somalia

Efforts to weaken the al Qa'ida-linked terrorist group al Shabaab in Somalia have had some success, but the U.S. campaign there is in jeopardy. Urgent steps are needed to address the political, economic, and governance challenges at the heart of the conflict.

Sep 13, 2016
Report

Al Shabaab Is Weakened but Not Defeated in Somalia

Efforts to weaken the al Qa'ida-linked terrorist group al Shabaab in Somalia have had some success, but the U.S. campaign there is in jeopardy. Urgent steps are needed to address the political, economic, and governance challenges at the heart of the conflict.

Sep 13, 2016
Blog

Special Ops Women: A Conversation with Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Best-selling author Gayle Tzemach Lemmon discusses how recent conflicts changed the role of U.S. military women, the missing story about women in uniform, and more.

Apr 26, 2016
Report

The Impact of U.S. Special Operations Forces in the Philippines

U.S. special operations forces' activities in the Philippines between 2001 and 2014 helped reduce transnational terrorist threats and support for terrorist groups. They also increased Philippine security forces' capabilities and enhanced bilateral defense ties.

Apr 6, 2016
Commentary

Women in Special Security Forces: What the U.S. Can Learn from the Afghans

The contributions of the women in Afghanistan's special security forces demonstrate the unique value that women can bring to special operations forces in socially conservative societies. They are successful in tactical roles and in operations requiring interaction with the community.

Mar 28, 2016
Report

What Are the Advantages and Risks of Special Warfare?

Special warfare provides policymakers with an additional option that can help secure U.S. interests and manage risks. It can stabilize a friendly state or destabilize a hostile regime by operating through and with local state or non-state partners, rather than through unilateral U.S. action.

Feb 23, 2016
Report

Considerations for Integrating Women into U.S. Special Ops Forces

A survey of special operations forces (SOF) personnel identified their concerns with allowing women to fill SOF positions. Many said they thought mission effectiveness and unit cohesion would suffer as a result.

Dec 16, 2015
Commentary

ISIS vs Special Ops

However critical to the fight against ISIS, using special operations forces for raids represents only half of the needed military adjustment. The other half is the effort to build indigenous forces capable of taking and holding territory in Iraq and Syria.

Dec 8, 2015
Commentary

Keeping U.S. Troops in Afghanistan: RAND Experts React

Several RAND experts agree that sticking to the plan to remove all troops from Afghanistan by the end of next year would have ignored the reality on the ground and made an unstable situation more so.

Oct 15, 2015

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RAND Topic:
Special Operations Forces

Topic Synonyms:
Military Special Forces