This article by Jim Garamone was originally published by DOD News on February 13, 2024.

U.S. Special Operations Command leaders see the current move to integrate the command into great power competition as a return to its roots.

Army Gen. Bryan Fenton and Army Command Sgt. Maj. Shane Shorter, the commander and senior enlisted leader of Socom, spoke with the Defense Writers Group recently and discussed the changes happening in the world and Special Operations Command’s place in it. 

The command has come off more than 20 years as America’s preeminent counterterrorism organization. Even before the attacks on the United States in September 2001, the command was tracking and pursuing violent extremist organizations around the world. The command operated against narco-trafficking gangs in Central and South America, as well as transnational criminal organizations in the Balkans. Socom came into its own in counterterrorism in operations against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Afghanistan, fundamentalist groups in Iraq and against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. 

Special operators also worked with and formed relationships with national and indigenous forces from the Indo-Pacific to Europe to Africa and South America. 

But before that, the special operations community was an integral part of great power competition working to “fill in the gaps” of conventional power structures when the Soviet Union controlled Eastern Europe, Fenton said. “We still have to maintain and stay on the [violent extremist organization] threat because it has not gone away. What I will tell you is … the special operations command team frankly is born for the integrated deterrence, great power competition era.”  

But while the mission set might be changing, the values behind the force are not. “The most important line of effort that we have in our headquarters is still our people,” said Shorter. “We’re not a platform-centric organization, we’re a people-centric organization.”

The first rule of the command is “Humans are more important than equipment,” and Fenton and Shorter are sticking with that.  

Change is tough. Many in the command grew up in the organization when it was sometimes jokingly called “Counter Terrorism Command” and that is what they know. But Shorter said in travels around the command, service members are making the switch to great power competition and integrated deterrence. “We focused hard on the global war on terror, and I’m very proud of what we did, but we’ve never had [to] … pull ‘Socomians’ towards the nation’s main effort.” 

So the bulk of the forces is absolutely laser focused on great power competition and integrated deterrence, Shorter said. Special operators are studying China and Russia. They are taking lessons learned from Russia’s war on Ukraine. They are studying the nature of all-domain combat and applying new tactics, techniques and procedures to it. They are also looking at better ways to integrate new technologies and equipment into the fight, the command sergeant major said.  

“We always will be focused on the nation’s priorities and the department’s priorities,” Shorter said.  

Still, the experience of counterinsurgency combat is valuable, and special operators can take that experience and apply it to new situations and new missions, he said. 

Fenton said that people lead in the strategic priorities of the command. “If we have one more dollar to spend, we’re spending it on our people, and then we’ll wrap the technology around them,” he said.  

That idea is born in the people attracted to special operations. Service members “go through a rigorous assessment selection process, and more arduous training because they really want to be at the leading edge,” Fenton said.  

Transformation of the command also is all about people, the general said. Special operators must “think how we’re going to be prepared, not only in equipment or some level of technology to meet the world, but how are we thinking about the world differently,” he said. “We have to hold these different ideas in our head and actually still complete the mission, even though it doesn’t look the same as it did 20 years ago. But the outcome has still got to be the same. We’ve got to succeed for the nation.” 

Typically, when a counterterrorism mission ends, organizations put the capability on the back burner. In the United States, this happened at the end of the Vietnam War and there are moves to cut the number of special operations personnel. This hits at another Special Operations truth: Special operations cannot be mass produced in times of a crisis. 

The services, from whom Socom gets their recruits, are having trouble attracting new service members. Fenton said Socom has not felt that problem yet, but says it could happen further down the road. Fenton did say there is no retention problem in special operations, and that the command is already working with the services to improve the recruiting climate.  

He has asked members of the command to reach out to recruiters when they travel in the United States to inform the American people about the military in general and Special Operations Command in particular. 

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This article by Jim Garamone was originally published by the Department of Defense on February 13, 2024. Content by DOD is in the public domain.

Photo: Special forces students participate in an iWaterman Maritime Reconnaissance Vehicle course at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Jan. 31, 2024. iWaterman is a program that teaches students how to utilize the MRV for tactical insertions, extractions and rescues in high surf and over-the-beach operations. (Photo by Marine Corps Sgt. Julian Elliott-Drouin)

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on Wednesday, September 6, 2023, the following nominations:

Air Force Lt. Gen. James C. Slife for appointment to the grade of general, with assignment as vice chief of staff, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.  Slife is currently serving as deputy chief of staff, Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C. He is a former commander of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). He began his career as a helicopter pilot flying MH-53s. Air Force biography of Lt. Gen. Slife

Air Force Maj. Gen. Sean M. Farrell for appointment to the grade of lieutenant general, with assignment as deputy commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.  Farrell is currently serving as deputy commanding general, Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He began his career as a pilot of AC-130 gunships. Air Force biography of Maj. Gen. Farrell.

Air Force Col. Matthew S. Allen for appointment to the grade of brigadier general.  Allen is currently serving as the director, Legislative Affairs, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command, Pentagon, Washington, D. C. Allen, a Special Tactics officer, is the former commander of the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

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View the DoD announcement (Sep 6, 2023).

General Bryan Fenton, commander of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) was a leading figure at the SOF Week event held in Tampa, Florida this past week, May 8-11, 2023. He spoke during several of the presentations over the past few days. During these sessions he shared his vision for the USSOCOM enterprise and the future of special operations.

On Thursday, the last day of SOF Week, an opinion article by General Fenton was published by Defense One providing his thoughts on the history of special operations, how it has changed over the past several decades, the importance of international partnerships, and how SOF will meet the challenges of strategic competion today and in the future.

“How Special Operations Forces Must Meet the Challenges of a New Era”, Defense One, May 11, 2023.

The USSOCOM 2023 Fact Book is published annually by the United States Special Operations Command. It has a wealth of information about the elite units of the four services, JSOC, theater special operations commands around the world, and the various types of equipment used by US special operations forces.

Contents of the USSOCOM 2023 Fact Book:

• Medal of Honor Recipients
• Headquarters
• Leadership
• Mission
• USSOCOM and Component Map
• U.S. Army Special Operations Command
• Naval Special Warfare Command
• Air Force Special Operations Command
• Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command
• Joint Special Operations Command
• SOCAFRICA
• SOCCENT
• SOCEUR
• SOCKOR
• SOCNORTH
• SOCPAC
• SOCSOUTH
• Theater Special Operations Command Map
• Aircraft
• Maritime
• Ground
• SOF Truths
• Glossary

USSOCOM 2023 Fact Book, United States Special Operations Command, 2023, PDF, 40 pages.
https://www.socom.mil/latest-factbook

Story by Kirsti Brooksby.

Trojan Footprint (TFP) 22 is set to begin May 2 and conclude May 13, with U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) proactively working and training together with NATO allies and European partners across Southeastern Europe, the Baltics and the Black Sea Region to demonstrate their collective military readiness to deploy and respond to any crisis that may arise.

This year’s TFP includes more than 3,300 participants from 30 nations, doubling in size from the previous year and making it the largest SOCEUR exercise to date. Land, air, and sea operations for Trojan Footprint 22 will occur across Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

“One of our priorities is building resilience against adversary efforts to undermine democratic processes and values,” said Maj. Gen. David H. Tabor, Commander of Special Operations Command Europe. “This joint, combined training in Europe will continue to build and strengthen those relationships with our allies and partners, establishing a common sight-picture for combat and peacekeeping missions abroad.”

Trojan Footprint 22 is the premier exercise of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) and the primary SOF certification event to assess the readiness and ability of SOF to counter threats. It continues to demonstrate transatlantic solidarity and the security commitments of the participating nations to defense along NATO’s eastern flank.

The two-week exercise also increases integration with conventional forces and will highlight the professional skillsets of land, air, and sea units to respond to hybrid threats through discreet theatre entry and exit. As an exercise in coalition building, TFP 22 is focused on cultivating trust and developing lasting relationships that will promote peace and stability throughout Europe.

“Special Operations Forces remain a pillar of international defense, and close coordination between SOF and conventional forces acts as a force multiplier, leveraging the discreet capabilities of SOF to enhance lethality and dominance on the battlefield,” Tabor said. “SOF elements add capabilities, technology, and strength to conventional forces throughout Europe.”

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This story by Pfc. Kirsti Brooksby of U.S. Special Operations Command Europe was first published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on May 3, 2022. DVIDS publishes content in the public domain.

Photo: U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (SOF) jump from a U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 352d Special Operations Wing, during a military free fall over Macedonia, May 2, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Westin Warburton)

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Milton Sands assumed command of Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA) on July 1, 2021 at Kelley Barracks near Stuttgart, Germany.

SOCAFRICA is the operational command responsible for joint special operations on the continent of Africa. The headquarters is located in Stuttgart. These operations are conducted in support of U.S. Africa Command or AFRICOM. SOF is currently focused on countering violent extremist organizations, protecting U.S. interests in Africa, and strengthening the defense capabilities of African partners. The African continent is more than three times the size of the United States, with 54 countries. SOCAFRICA works on a routine basis in many of these countries.

The outgoing commander is U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson. He had taken command of SOCAFRICA in July 2019. His next position will be deputy operations officer for the joint staff at the Pentagon. Anderson has presided over special operations forces that have been combating violent extremist organizations throughout northern, east, and west Africa.

Sands had previously served as a joint planner with Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR) before SOCAFRICA existed. At that time SOCEUR had responsibility for the European and African operational areas of responsibility. He has also worked in the Joint Special Operations Command on AFRICOM issues in the past. Prior to his SOCAFRICA assignment Sands was the commander of Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) at Great Lakes, Illinois. NSTC is the Navy’s only boot camp. He was the first Navy SEAL to command NSTC.

He has served in the SEAL community for many years. He has served two tours with SEAL Team 2, was assigned to a joint task force in Afghanistan, commanded SEAL Team 8, served as chief of staff of Naval Special Warfare Group 2, chief of staff at the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Development Group, and as Commodore of NSW Group 2.

Some of his previous assignments include:

• Vice President of the Joint Special Operations University
• Director of Counter Terrorism and Operations at ASD SO/LIC
• Deputy Operations Officer with Joint Special Operations Command

SOCAFRICA is a sub-unified command of the United States Special Operations Command under the control of United States Africa Command. Subordinate SOCAFRICA organizations include:

• Special Operations Task Force East Africa
• Joint Special Operations Task Force – Somalia
• Special Operations Task Force North West Africa
• Joint Special Operations Air Component Africa
• Naval Special Warfare Unit Ten
• SOCAFRICA Signal Detachment

Sands is from Farmington, Connecticut. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1992. He also holds a Master’s in Military Strategy and Planning from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School in Norfolk, Virginia.

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Photo: Rear Adm. Milton J. Sands III, Special Operations Command commander, speaks to SOCAF members during the change of command ceremony July 1, 2021 at Kelly Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Master Sgt. Bryan Franks, July 1, 2021.

Video: Watch a video of the SOCAFRICA change of command ceremony conducted on July 1, 2021 in Stuttgart, Germany. DVIDS, 54 minutes.

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Victor Aguirre, SOCSOUTH.

Hurricanes, large-scale migration, counter-narcotics trafficking, and the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have made 2020 a challenging year worldwide. Although travel around the world has slowed to a crawl, crises have not, thus requiring Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) to continue supporting partner nations through humanitarian assistance and military exchanges.

SOCSOUTH has operated in the southern region of the Western Hemisphere for well over four decades, conducting operations from disaster relief to multilateral military operations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. As such, SOCSOUTH is postured to support partner nations in times of emerging crises and prepared to take action at a moment’s notice to assist its allies. As a key function of crisis response, airborne operations enable this assistance.

“However, airborne operations were halted to minimize the spread of COVID-19 within our organization and the local community,” stated SOCSOUTH Operations Officer Col. Jay Brooke. “We resumed airborne operations in early 2021 as vaccines became available for military personnel and the general public.” Many consider airborne operations antiquated in today’s modern age of hypersonic missiles and cyber warfare. However, finding the opportunity to reinitiate the perishable skillset of airborne operations safely in a COVID-19 environment enhanced SOCSOUTH’s ability to conduct rapid response and provide the best support possible to U.S. allies in our southern hemisphere.

“SOCSOUTH’s deployed operational forces have conducted multiple airborne operations with our partners across the Western Hemisphere in 2021, and it provides the operational force with an opportunity to conduct interoperability training, share techniques and procedures, and sustain partnerships,” said Col. Brooke.

In addition to executing airborne operations to maintain readiness and proficiency, SOCSOUTH also conducts rapid deployment preparations, because a quick deployment is not as simple as grabbing a backpack full of equipment and boarding a plane. Passports and visas are still required for service members that deploy to partnered countries at a moment’s notice. No exemptions are made for military personnel assisting in crises. Furthermore, negative COVID-19 results are required to enter any country. If coordinating the movement of personnel and equipment is not carefully aligned, forces may not arrive at the point of need when requested.

“A crisis could be a natural disaster or human-made in the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR). SOCSOUTH personnel would deploy to be the ‘eyes and ears’ of the SOUTHCOM Commander in the crisis area,” said SOCSOUTH Joint Effects Division Director Lt. Col. Clay Curtis. “The [SOCSOUTH deployed] element coordinates with the U.S. embassy in the crisis area and provides SOUTHCOM Commander situational awareness.”

“For crisis response exercises, it is essential for SOCSOUTH elements to work with embassies in the AOR.” Curtis said. “The main reason why it is important is that the U.S. Ambassador and Country Team are responsible to the U.S. President for any U.S. activity occurring in the host nation.”

U.S. embassies play a vital role in military personnel’s travel as the embassies are the liaison in the host nation. SOCSOUTH must coordinate with the embassy to track all U.S. personnel in the country.

For many years, the United States sought cooperation with countries in the Western Hemisphere to enhance regional security and stability. However, in recent years authoritarian state actors like China, Russia, and Iran have increased their activities and interests in the region. These actors provide financial support in exchange for market share in a nation’s economy through predatory loans or fuel support for countries opposing the U.S., such as Cuba and Venezuela

“China, Russia, and Iran all have global ambitions and interests, including the Western Hemisphere. There is no denying they seek to destabilize regions worldwide by fueling regional economic and political tensions,” said Col. Brooke. “The U.S. continues to support democracies and partner nations across Central and South America and the Caribbean as it has for the past 40 years.”

SOCSOUTH gains and strengthens relationships through theater security cooperation, counter transnational criminal organizations, and counter-terrorism purposes with partner nations’ special operations units in the SOUTHCOM AOR (e.g., Special Forces, Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, Special Operations Aviation, and Naval Special Warfare elements). SOCSOUTH is the most consistent partner in the region.

Partner nations share the Western Hemisphere as a common neighborhood where all countries, not just the U.S., have a critical interest in maintaining security, trade, and stability. Our partner nations look to the U.S. as a reliable partner who consistently answers the call in providing professional training while recognizing our shared customs, culture, and values.

“Partner nations continue to request training and maintain the readiness of their military force to respond to regional security concerns such as the Chinese Fleet off the coast of the Galapagos and Argentinian waters,” said Brooke. “Training has shifted from ground level activities to institution building as the U.S. also works closely with partner nations on strategic planning and humanitarian assistance.”

During October and November 2020, the U.S. provided humanitarian assistance in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua after Hurricanes Eta and Iota devastated Central America, creating landslides and flooding that devastated large regions of these countries. When support is needed, SOCSOUTH personnel are ready to deploy, establish, and redeploy a crisis response element.

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Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) is one of the seven sub-unified commands in the Department of Defense (DoD) and operationally assigned to U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM). It is a joint (service members from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force) Special Operations headquarters that plans and executes special operations in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. SOCSOUTH principally employs Special Operations Forces (SOF) provided by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Services’ Special Operations Forces component commands. The Area of Responsibility (AOR) encompasses 31 countries & ten overseas territories of other nations, such as the U.K., France, and the Netherlands. More than 410 million people from varying cultures live in the region, with 25 languages and ten religions.

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Photo: Special Operations Command South personnel test communication equipment for operations in austere conditions when called to deploy quickly to support partner nations in times of need. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Victor Aguirre of SOCSOUTH, April 21, 2021.

Story: This article by Sgt. 1st Class Victor Aguirre of Special Operations Command South was originally published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service on June 1, 2021. DVIDS media content is in the public domain.

The Special Operations Forces Industry Conference was held in Tampa, Florida last week, May 17-21, 2021. The event was originally scheduled for the Tampa Convention Center. This was the second year in a row that the annual conference was held virtually to mitigate the threat of the global coronavirus pandemic.

The conference is a joint venture between the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) based at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida and leading corporations in the defense industry represented by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). SOFIC is an opportunity for the special operations community to interact with industry and collaborate on future cutting-edge capabilities that can assist special operators to accomplish their missions. A number of events that took place during the previous in-person SOFICs were presented online this year.

The leadership of USSOCOM and SOF component commanders provided addresses, there were some industry keynote presentations, exhibitor showcases, networking events, and more. The SOFIC agenda was packed with events for the SOF professional to observe. A concurrent event held on May 20 and 21 was the International Special Operations Forces Conference hosted by USSOCOM. The ISOF Conference included 230 representatives from 58 nations.

There were a number of well-known members of the special operations community as featured speakers to include General Richard Clarke (USSOCOM Cdr), Leslie Babich (SOFWERX Director), Spencer Baker (USSOCOM Acquisition Agility Director), LTG Fran Beaudette (USASOC Cdr), Maj Gen James Glynn (MARSOC Cdr), RADM Hugh Howard ( NSOC Cdr), Lt Gen James Slife (ASFSOC Cdr), and several leading figures in USSOCOM associated with acquisition, R&D, and other related enterprises.

News Articles about SOFIC 2021

A number of articles were published about SOFIC 2021 by numerous defense journals and news media outlets. Many of these articles are described and linked to in the below text.

Keynote Address by Clarke. The SOFIC event was kicked off with a keynote address by the USSOCOM commander General Richard Clarke. He cited the new operational environment that requires a revamping and modernization of US special operations forces to contend with a resurgent Russia and threatening China. He stated that SOF’s four main missions will continue to be crisis response, counterterrorism, competition, and support to joint forces in conflict. “As Afghanistan War Ends, General Sees New Opportunities for Special Operations”, Military.com, May 18, 2021.

SOF Acquisition Process Changes. The US Special Operations Command needs to be able to develop and field prototypes in a rapid timeline. The ‘middle tier of acquisition pathway’ enables USSOCOM to do just that. “Rapid Acquisition Benefits Special Operations, DOD Official Says”, DoD News, May 19, 2021.

Amphibious C-130 Hercules for SOCOM. There is the possibility that USSOCOM will pursue development of a C-130 with an amphib capability. The emergence of great power competition – especially with China in the Indo-Pacific region makes the ‘MC-130 Amphibious Capability’ (MAC) program an attractive option. See “Special Ops Want to Turn the C-130 Into a Seaplane. Really.”, Popular Mechanics, May 21, 2021.

C4 – Big Budget Cut. The money to be spent on computers, communication, information technology, and command and control is being reduced by USSOCOM. The 2020 PEO C4 budget was $940 million – while the 2021 budget is just $800 million. “Spending on Special Ops Radios, Computers Takes Big Dip”, National Defense Magazine, May 18, 2021.

SOF and High Tech. Members of the US special operations community will be working with innovation hubs as ‘technology liaison officers’. Workplaces will include firms located in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, and Washington, D.c. These ‘operational officers’ will be checking out academia and industry partners for capabilities that can be pushed to USSOCOM. “Special Operators Deploying to U.S. Tech Hubs”, National Defense Magazine, May 18, 2021.

Attack Laser for AC-130J? One research and development project by Air Force Special Operations Command involves the mounting of 60kW attack laser on an AC-130J gunship. (Shepard Media, May 21, 2021).

New Capabilities for Technology Shortfalls. USSOCOM’s Hyper-Enabled Operator project is helping in transitioning some technologies to acquisition program offices. Some of these technologies include voice-to-voice language translation, communications, situational awareness tools, and others. “SOCOM investing in new capabilities to address technology shortfalls”, C4ISRNET, May 18, 2021. See also “Commandos Asking for New High-Tech Training Tools”, National Defense Magazine, May 19, 2012.

New HSVTOL to Replace CV-22s. USSOCOM has plans to replace the Air Force’s CV-22B Osprey aircraft with a new High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft. The concept is currently in the research stage. The future aircraft would be used for infiltration and exfiltration of SOF and equipment, personnel recovery, aeromedical evacuation, and tactical mobility. “Special Operations Command is Now Seeking a High-Speed VTOL Aircraft”, The Drive Warzone, May 20, 2021.

SOF ISR. The special operations community will be adopting a different approach to its intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance requirements. “SOF Pivots Towards Three-Tiered ISR”, Shephard Media, May 19, 2021.

Upgrade in Ammo and Small Weapons. US special operations forces will be getting some major upgrades in firepower over the next several years. An evaluation and fielding plan between now and 20215 will see improvements in the sniper and machine guns used by SOF operators. “SOF shooters are about to get serious upgrades for small arms, ammo”, Air Force Times, May 20, 2021.

AFSOC Transformation. Lt Gen James Slife, the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, says that US SOF is going through a generational change that happens about once every two decades. “Special Ops Undergoing Historic Transformation, AFSOC Says”, Breaking Defense, May 19, 2021.

SOF and the Digital Battlefield. Operating in the information space will require a change in the mindset for many SOF units. They will have to be able to counter misinformation while conducting operations around the world. In addition they will have to ensure the validity of their own information assets and processes. “SOCOM Leaders Say ‘Digital Spectrum’ Key to Next Fight”, Breaking Defense, May 20, 2021.

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Photo: MARSOC Critical Skills Operator. Photo from USSOCOM Fact Book 2021.

Story by Victor Aguirre, SOCSOUTH, Feb 16, 2021.

A young mother turned on the television to entertain her son with the United States Space Shuttle launch twenty years ago. The space launch created a great impression on the child that would influence him for many years.

“Today is special for a number of reasons, as Tech. Sgt. Narain will extend his commitment to our nation through his military service by accepting his reenlistment,” said Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) Commander Rear. Adm. Keith Davids. “The uniqueness of this event resides in the service transfer to the newest U.S. Military Service, the United States Space Force (USSF).”

In a reenlistment ceremony at Special Operations Command South broadcast online, Rear Adm. Davids swore in Tech. Sgt. Krishan Narain, a Cyberspace Support Technician, into the Space Force, Feb. 5. Tech. Sgt. Narain is the first Special Operations Command South service member selected for an inter-service transfer into the Space Force.

Photo: In a reenlistment ceremony at Special Operations Command South broadcast online, Rear Adm. Davids swore in Tech. Sgt. Krishan Narain, a Cyberspace Support Technician, into the Space Force on Feb. 5. Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Victor Aguirre

“It is historic for this command as he becomes the first member of SOCSOUTH to dedicate his service to this new branch,” Davids said. “Tech. Sgt. Narain joins the estimated 2,200 service members currently executing initial Space Force operations.”

“I did not think I would ever have the chance to be this close to the space mission. I’ve worked a broad career, and while I knew I could be stationed somewhere that dealt with space, being in the USSF is historic itself,” said Narain. “My personal goal is to go work for the private sector in the space realm. The work they do with launching and recovering rockets looks so easy on TV, but the hard work and creativity to get there is what I enjoy.”

SOCSOUTH’s first airman turned guardian will continue his service at SOCSOUTH as the sole Space Force representative for the command. Tech. Sgt. Narain will explore the future roles and responsibilities Space Command may assume within the Special Operations community.

Inspired by an older cousin who joined the U.S. Air National Guard as a crew chief, Narain enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on May 4, 2010, originally intending to become an aircraft maintenance specialist. Narain’s recruiter convinced him to work with cyberspace-based systems instead as it is as critical as aerial weapon systems.

“Perhaps today reflects a bit of destiny as Tech. Sgt. Narain has been passionate about space since watching a shuttle launch on TV as a young child,” Davids said.

“I was so eager to apply that within a day’s announcement of applications being accepted, my paperwork was in routing,” Narain said. “Space is a big deal and I am intrigued by the vast complexity of it.”

Additionally, Tech. Sgt. Narain was selected for promotion to Master Sgt. and will lead as a senior noncommissioned officer (NCO) in the Space Force.

“Tech. Sgt. Narain has already been selected for promotion to Master Sgt. and he will lead our new Space Force as a senior NCO,” Davids said. “He will do so, bringing his many years of experience to bear that he gained from service in places like Afghanistan, Arizona, and Nevada.”

“Space is critical to national security. Everything from bank transactions to global positioning is done through Space-based systems. Our adversaries are gaining capabilities in every warfighting domain, and the Space Force gives us a competitive edge to stay in the fight in Space,” Narain said. “It boils down to providing capabilities anywhere on Earth, allowing our warfighters to protect national security interests. A prime example is when one of our USSF Organizations were able to alert an installation in Southwest Asia of an incoming missile attack saving hundreds of service members’ lives.”

Rear Adm. Davids thanked Narain for his current and continued service in the Armed Forces and his courage as Narain joins Space Force pioneers in developing a robust space presence and expanding this warfighting domain for the U.S.

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Author: This story was originally published on February 16, 2021 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) and is in the public domain. The article is by Sgt. 1st Class Victor Aguirre, Special Operations Command South, entitled “First SOCSOUTH Airman becomes a Space Force Guardian”

By Staff Sgt. Thomas Mort.

The name of the game for SOCEURs Preservation of Force and Family (POTFF) program is accessibility and continuity of care. The program aims to build and implement a holistic approach to address the strain of the high pace environment and mission on the special operations force.

The availability and capability to take care of our forces are critical and a top priority. For the SOCEUR POTFF team, this is seen in the timeliness, quality, and specialty of care. One of the advantages of having an internal team so close to help service members is the immediacy to meet with patients.

POTFF programs and initiatives are based on four key domains; Psychological Performance, Human Performance, Social Performance, and Spiritual Performance. Providing behavioral, human performance, social and spiritual services, allows for SOF service members to be best supported so they can focus on their mission as well as extend the length of their careers.

“Being embedded in SOCEUR allows me to be uniquely positioned when and where I’m needed most,” explains Dr. Roger Schmidt, the POTFF psychologist assigned to SOCEUR. “When the stress becomes a strain, when people feel overwhelmed but aren’t willing to talk to their chain of command about it, and when functioning is starting to deteriorate personally and professionally.”

Due to the internal connection of the POTFF team, service members have the ability to be seen at an expedited pace as compared to traditional sites.

“If it weren’t for the POTFF program I wouldn’t be having the conversations I am right now”, said a recent patient and member of SOCEUR. “I’ve needed to have these conversations for years but resisted. If it wasn’t for POTTF, I’d probably continue holding on to it until after retirement.”

MIND

The Psychological Performance Program (PPP) is a POTFF program designed to improve the cognitive and behavioral performance of the force. Important aspects of this include helping service members cope with stress and improving the resiliency of SOF and their families.

Despite being elite, high yield performers, most operators are exposed to exceptional pressure every day, which brings a lot of emotional and psychological strain. Schmidt says it’s his job to mitigate the impact of these stressors so mental performance and health are firing on all cylinders.

“There are unique demand characteristics in special operations,” says Schmidt. “While as a group these folks seem to have another gear to be able to manage the stress, the reality is that everyone has vulnerabilities and a threshold to which performance declines.”

The PPP is the area among all POTFF services that is most affected by a sense of stigma. One of the primary objectives of PPP is to decrease this stigma as no operator wants to stand out negatively or give anyone reason to doubt their ability, adds Dr. Schmidt.

“For this reason, I am embedded in SOCEUR and not connected to the behavioral health clinic,” Schmidt concluded.

BODY

The Human Performance Program (HPP) is designed to meet the unique physical needs of the SOF operator. This conditioning is accomplished through a holistic pre-habilitative physical training program that involves focused strength and conditioning, performance nutrition, and physical therapy.

Having a psychologist, nurse case manager and physical therapist has allowed for much more immediate access, explains Joseph Adamchak, POTFF physical therapist.

Adamchaks role is to provide the most appropriate and up to date interventions and strategies to treat a service member’s current limitations. He would like to provide patients the tools to maintain healthy movement long term.

“This program has been invaluable,” says one SOCEUR service member, when asked about his experience with the HPP. “My last unit, if I would’ve had this injury, I probably would’ve been ostracized as the black duckling [due to injury].”

Taking advantage of the benefits of the POTFF program, he was told to get in and get it fixed.

“I injured myself in October, I didn’t think it was that serious at the time and I went away to school and I was able to kinda maintain the pain,” he explains further. “I came back and the cold weather was kinda buggin’ it so I thought, well it’s time to get checked out.”

The service member said he went in and saw the SOCEUR doctor, had an MRI the same day and surgery three weeks later. The quality and fast implementation of care enable the elite ability of SOF to be ready and postured at all times.

FAMILY

The Social Performance Program (SoPP) incorporates family resilience programs designed to enhance the standard service provided programs. These programs are adapted for the uniqueness of the SOF family. POTFF is providing dedicated staff and programs for SOF families that will enhance communication and improve relationships.​

Typically, in a healthy environment, the SoPP would hold events and unit functions to help boost morale and family ties.

“Since we cannot hold events [due to COVID-19 restrictions at the time], my interactions are limited to digital and telephonic versus conversations and in-person training”, said Jess Donnelly, the family readiness coordinator assigned to SOCEUR. “I am hopeful as soon as gathering restrictions are lifted, we will be able to host social programs such as a family resilience camp, spouse’s conference, marriage retreats, and newcomers orientations.”

According to various surveys and forums, the SOCEUR community definitely misses the social events provided by SoPP.

“Venture walks, marriage retreats, and other fun and informative events help maintain a family environment in the unit,” explains Donnelly. “COVID-19 has limited that family feel and I believe people are missing the connection. I hope that we can be back together as a SOCEUR family soon.”

SPIRIT

The Spiritual Performance Program (SPP) is designed to enhance core spiritual beliefs, values, awareness, relationships and experiences. These elements form the basis to promote healthy living, sound decision-making, meaningful relational interaction, sense of transcendent life purpose, and meaning. This is accomplished through chaplain led or chaplain supported programs for service members and their families.

“For me the POTFF program means teamwork”, said Dan Rice, the chaplain assigned to SOCEUR. “I see it as a great unifier for resources. We can do a lot in the spiritual domain, but I think POTFF does a good job bringing in the mind, body, family and spirit together so we all work together to help our service members.”

Humans are more important than hardware. People make the difference, not equipment.

“We focus on people,” Rice adds. “POTFF, especially during COVID-19, we still have resources here in the building that we can refer other people too.”

The right people, highly trained and working as a team, will accomplish the mission with the equipment available. On the other hand, the best equipment in the world cannot compensate for a lack of the right people.

“I might be talking to a couple about their spiritual life and I realize, hey they could use the help of a psychologist,” Rice adds. “Well next door to me is our POTFF psychologist, I can actually walk them over there and say, ‘hey Roger, here’s someone who could use help from you.’ With the continuity of care, we’re one team taking care of our team.”

POTFF before, during and after COVID-19

The level of service from the POTFF team here at SOCEUR has not wavered, even during COVID-19.

Before COVID-19, Alicia Murphy, the nurse case manager assigned to SOCEUR, says the ability to see patients was understandably much easier. Patients could come in during sick-call every morning, make an appointment, or just walk into the office.

Once COVID-19 was in full swing, patients were attended to by phone or email. The focus turned to track patients and family members in isolation/quarantine and screening for COVID-19 symptoms by phone.

With the gym closed, Adamchak transitioned to managing current patients with emails, phone calls, and some video chats.

“I was able to create and progress home exercises for them as well as give recommendations on activity modifications, Adamchak said.”

POTFF services will adjust and continue after COVID-19. During the height of the pandemic, most interactions with patients were strictly about COVID.

“Now people are getting back to their normal health questions and concerns,” explains Murphy.

The POTFF program brings essential continuity of care. Patients are able to move from one provider to another in a more unified manner. Working as a team cooperatively for the ongoing care of each service member enables the POTFF team to provide a more expedient and higher quality of care over time.

“The POTFF program is great,” concludes Murphy. “I am so thankful and honored for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing program that helps service members and family members in the SOF community.”

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Story: Article by Staff Sergeant Thomas Mort, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe, August 4, 2020. Published by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) and part of the public domain.

Photo: Joseph Adamchak, POTFF physical therapist assigned to SOCEUR, works on a patient during a physical therapy appointment at the Patch Fitness Center on Patch Barracks, Germany, June 4, 2020. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Mort).