The Department of Defense (DOD) released an unclassified summary of its classified 2023 Cyber Strategy.

The 2023 DOD Cyber Strategy, which DOD transmitted to Congress in May, is the baseline document for how the Department is operationalizing the priorities of the 2022 National Security Strategy, 2022 National Defense Strategy, and the 2023 National Cybersecurity Strategy. It builds upon the 2018 DOD Cyber Strategy and will set a new strategic direction for the Department.

“This strategy draws on lessons learned from years of conducting cyber operations and our close observation of how cyber has been used in the Russia-Ukraine war,” Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb said. “It has driven home the need to work closely with our allies, partners, and industry to make sure we have the right cyber capabilities, cyber security, and cyber resilience to help deter conflict, and to fight and win if deterrence fails.”

The United States faces diverse, growing threats in cyberspace and the strategy outlines how DOD is maximizing its cyber capabilities in support of integrated deterrence and employing cyberspace operations in concert with other instruments of national power.

The strategy highlights DOD’s actions to invest in and ensure the defense, availability, reliability, and resilience of its cyber networks and infrastructure to support non-DOD agencies in their related roles and to protect the defense industrial base.

“Distinct from previous iterations, the strategy commits to increasing our collective cyber resilience by building the cyber capability of allies and partners.” Deputy Assistant Secretary for Cyber Policy Mieke Eoyang said. “It also reflects the department’s approach to defending the homeland through the cyber domain as well as prioritizing the integration of cyber capabilities into our traditional warfighting capabilities.”

The strategy is the fourth iteration for the Department, and the first to be informed by years of significant cyberspace operations.

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This press release by the U.S. Department of Defense was first published on September 12, 2023.

Summary 2023 Cyber Strategy, U.S. Department of Defense, PDF, 24 pages. (released to public by DoD on September 12, 2023)
https://media.defense.gov/2023/Sep/12/2003299076/-1/-1/1/2023_DOD_Cyber_Strategy_Summary.PDF

U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations / Low Intensity Conflict (ASD SO/LIC) have released its Special Operations Forces Vision & Strategy document (April 11, 2022).

Vision Statement. The document leads off with the USSOCOM and ASD SO/LIC vision statement: “Create strategic, asymmetric advantages for the Nation in integrated deterrence, crisis and conflict”. It goes on to list ‘core values’, ‘who we are’, ‘what we do’, and ‘where are we going’.

Strategy. Since 9/11, SOF has been primarily focused on countering terrorists. Now, the United States faces adversaries “increasingly capable of counteracting our gains, threatening our Homeland, reducing our influence, and eroding our advantages globally.” The document states that the new SOF strategy will provide a framework to move from a Counter Terrorism (CT) force into one suited to be a part of the nation’s integrated deterrence. SOF will continue to conduct priority CT operations, support integrated deterrence, and prepare for potential high-end conflict.

Strategic Environment. China is the biggest concern as it is “capable of combining its economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to rival the U.S. and destabilize the international system that has advanced our interests for 75 years.” Russia continues to demonstrate its “determination to use its considerable resources and capabilities to enhance its global influence, challenge our interests, and disrupt globally.” Other nations, like Iran and North Korea, are also threats that challenge regional stability. The Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs) remain an active and persistent threat to our homeland and vital national interests worldwide.

Strategic Approach. The SOF Strategy establishes a 10-year framework of strategic aims, strategic efforts, and resources to create strategic and asymmetric advantages for the United States. The ‘aims’ include conducting operations to support priority missions, modernize SOF concepts, capabilities, and doctrine, broaden readiness for critical missions, enhance relationships with allies, partners, and other U.S. government organizations, and strengthen the SOF community. The SOF Strategy adopts a comprehensive approach by taking action in five strategic efforts: compete and win for the nation, innovate for future threats, preserve and grow readiness, advance partnerships, and strengthen the force and family. Each of these ‘strategic efforts’ have several sub-categories.

SOF Resources. The SOF enterprise will leverage several resources and organizations to achieve the strategic aims of the SOF Strategy. Key organizations include ASD SO/LIC, Secretariat for Special Operations (SSO), Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate (IWTSD), USSOCOM, SOF Service Components, JSOC, TSOCs, and other resources.

The document concludes with:

“Just as our adversaries adapt to and shape the strategic environment, SOF will continue to evolve in order to fulfill the vision of creating strategic, asymmetric advantages for the nation in integrated deterrence, crisis, and conflict. Guided by SOF core values – honor, courage, excellence, creativity, and respect – this strategy establishes the path to achieve that vision”.

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Special Operations Forces Vision & Strategy, ASD SO/LIC and USSOCOM, April 2022, PDF, 16 pages.
https://www.socom.mil/sof-vision-and-strategy

A 30-minute long podcast provides an explanation of the latest iteration of the command strategy of the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The strategy was presented in a document published in October 2019 by USASOC in an eight-page PDF entitled Army Special Operations Forces Strategy.

The podcast, published on May 8, 2020 by the War Room of the United States Army War College, features an interview of LTC(P) Bryan Groves of USASOC. He is the Chief of the Strategic Planning Division, U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He is interviewed by Ron Granieri – an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College.

Synopsis:

“In the realm of national security very few elements ever remain stagnant, and those that do are relegated to irrelevance. As the environment changes, capabilities are developed, motivations shift, loyalties fade, new players rise and old players fall. In order to account for those changes new guidance flows downward from the highest levels of leadership increasing in detail and specificity as it descends to the lowest echelons of the military.”

This strategy “charts our course to drive evolutionary changes in how we man, train and equip our formations in the Information Age.”

LTG Francis Beaudette, Commanding General, USASOC

Groves and Granieri examine how USASOC forces intend to execute their mission in support of the national defense amongst general purpose, joint and coalition forces against ever changing adversaries.

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Podcast:

Granieri, Ron, host. “Evolutionary Strategy to Combat Strategic Atrophy”, War Room, Army War College, 8 May 2020, 30 minutes.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/usasoc-strategy/

References:

Army Special Operations Forces Strategy, USASOC, October 2019, PDF, 8 pages.
https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/ARSOF_Strategy.pdf

Image Credit:

Image derived from cover of Army Special Operations Forces Strategy.

Military Update 20160825 – Strategic Landpower, taking care of our Infantry (by MG Scales – ret), more Reaper drones for the Air Force, debate about our military readiness, and more.

More Reapers for Air Force. The Air Force has contracted with General Atomics for more MQ-9 Reaper drones. The contract is worth over $370 million. Read more in a news story by Air Force Times, August 16, 2016.

U.S. Military’s Readiness – What is the Real Story? Some defense observers are saying that our military is suffering from a readiness crisis. They contend that the military is over-extended, too small, underfunded, and lacking proper equipment and training. Others say that we are doing just fine. Retired General David Petraeus argues that the military readiness is a myth (see news report in Military.com,  Aug 10, 2016). Retired General Carter Ham says that Petraeus is wrong and we do have some ‘Readiness Woes’ (see news report in DoD Buzz, Aug 17, 2016). Hmmmm.

What About Our Infantry? The majority of military deaths since World War II have come from the ranks of the infantry. The infantry is just a small part of our military but does the bulk of the fighting. Retired MG Robert Scales talks about the outcomes when we don’t prioritize the needs of the infantry. Read more in “Why Aren’t We Doing More for the Infantry”, Task & Purpose, August 18, 2016.

Strategic Landpower. ML Cavanaugh provides his thoughts on a neglected policy inititive in “Strategic Landpower is Dead. Long Live Strategic Landpower”, Modern War Institute, West Point, August 14, 2016.