A report has been published by the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) about female soldiers in Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF). USASOC commissioned this study in January 2021 to identify barriers female Solders encounter in ARSOF units and establish lessons learned and best practices in order to recruit, maximize comprehensive integration, and retain extraordinary Soldiers.

The report is entitled BREAKING BARRIERS: Women in Army Special Operations. The report is based on a comprehensive study of women in ARSOF conducted by USASOC that was completed in December 2021. The USASOC staff conducted a critical analysis of the findings and have decided to address 42 of the recommendations outlined in the study.

The USASOC research team was led by an Organizational Psychologist. The team applied a three-pronged approach to the study consisting of a survey, moderated focus group discussions, and command team interviews. There are about 2,300 female Soldiers and 470 female civilian employees assigned to USASOC – about 8% of USASOC.

Table of Contents:

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Methodology
• Chapter 3: Demographics
• Chapter 4: Gender Bias
• Chapter 5: Equipment Fitting
• Chapter 6: Childcare
• Chapter 7: Social Support
• Chapter 8: Sexual Harrasment
• Chapter 9: Soldier Morale, Well-being, and Quality of Life
• Chapter 10: Pregnancy and Postpartum
• Chapter 11: Access to Women’s Health Care
• Appendix A – Roll up of Recommendations for Action
• Appendix B – Women in ARSOF Survey Data

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BREAKING BARRIERS: Women in Army Special Operations, United States Army Special Operations Command, originally published December 2021, updated August 18, 2023, PDF, 106 pages.
https://www.soc.mil/wia/women-in-arsof-report-2023.pdf

For many decades members of the special operations community awaited the periodic publication throughout the year of the Special Warfare magazine produced in print and online by the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJKFSWCS). The finely produced publication provided excellent commentary on doctrine, SOF history, current events, and more for the special operations community.

Over the past few years the frequency of the publication has diminished and there was quite a break between the last issue and this August 2023 issue. The current issue is only 13 pages long. Past issues were anywhere from 44 pages to over 100 pages long. So I suppose we should manage our expections! Time will tell.

Topics in the August 2023 issue of Special Warfare.

• TRADOC’s Training Revolution: TRADOC 50th Anniversary
• ARSOF Heritage Week
• Distinguished & Honorary Members of the Regiments
• Vietnam-era Medal of Honor Recipient Receives Special Forces Honor
• JFK Special Warfare Museum
• ARSOF Lineage or Legacy: Which is the right word?

Let’s hope the Special Warfare magazine comes back frequently and as robust as past issues have been over the years. It provided a valuable service to ARSOF members in the past and hopefully the magazine will do the same in the future.

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Past issues of Special Warfare can be accessed online at the links below. You will find that neither link has all of the past issues – just some of them.
https://www.swcs.mil/Resources/Special-Warfare/
Special Warfare – DVIDS

This video provides a history of Army SOF – Special Forces, Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, ARSOF aviation, and the Rangers. It covers the period of World War I to the present. The video was produced by the U.S. Army Special Operations History Office, United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) at Fort Liberty, N.C.

History of U.S. Army Special Operatons Forces, ARSOF History, YouTube, July 10, 2023, 13 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHQtj7B9UwY

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.

On Thursday, August 27, 2020 a helicopter crash claimed the lives of two members of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. Three others were injured in the crash. The aircraft belonged to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).

Sgt. Tyler Shelton and Staff Sgt. Vincent Marketta died in the crash. The Black Hawk helicopter mishap took place on San Clemente Island late Thursday evening. The aircraft is reported to have been engaged in routine night training.

San Clemente Island is owned and operated by the United States Navy. It is located 70 miles west of San Diego. It has been used by the Navy as a tactical training range, testing area, and exercise area. There is an airfield, MOUT training facility, and other facilities located on San Clemente Island.

Sergeant Tyler Shelton on left, Staff Sergeant Vincent Marketta on right.

Sgt. Tyler Shelton

Shelton, age 22, joined the Army in 2016 as a 15T UH-60 “Black Hawk” Repairer and was assigned to the 160th SOAR. In 2018 Shelton became a MH-60M Crew Chief. He has deployed to Afghanistan with the 160th SOAR in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

He was a graduate of several Army courses including Enlisted Combat Skills, Combatives Level I, MH-60 Maintainers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE), MH-60 Non-Rated Crew Member Course, and the Basic Leaders Course.

His awards and decorations include the Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (Campaign Star), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, and the Basic Aviator’s Badge.

Shelton was from San Bernardino, California.

Staff Sgt. Vincent Marketta

Marketta, age 33, enlisted in the Army in 2011 as a 15T UH-60 “Black Hawk” Repairer and was assigned to the 160th SOAR. He later became a MH-60M Crew Chief with the 160th SOAR. He has had deployments to Iraq in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and deployed once to Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

He was a graduate of several Army courses to include the Enlisted Combat Skills, Combatives Level I, MH-60 Maintainers Course, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE), MH-60 Non-Rated Crew Member Course, the Basic and Advanced Leaders Course, and the MH-60 Flight Instructors Course.

His awards and decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with V device, Air Medal with C device, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with C device (2OLC), Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (1OLC), Army Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (Campaign Star), Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral 2), Army Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, and the Basic Aviator’s Badge.

Marketta was from Brick, New Jersey.

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Both men will receive the Meritorious Service Medal posthumously. Colonel Andrew Graham, the commander of the 160th SOAR, provided a statement of the fatalities:

“The loss of Staff Sgt. Marketta and Sgt. Shelton has left a scar in this Regiment that will never completely heal. Their level of dedication to the 160th SOAR (A) and their exemplary service in the Army is the embodiment of what it means to be a Night Stalker and a Soldier. Our priority now is to ensure the Families of our fallen warriors receive our complete support as we work through this tragedy together. We ask that you keep Staff Sgt. Marketta, Sgt. Shelton, their Families and fellow Night Stalkers in your thoughts and prayers.”

MH-60 Black Hawk Helicopters

The Black Hawk helicopters (UH-60s) were fielded to the Army in the late 1970s and have been continuously upgraded over the past few decades. The U.S. Army’s special operations aviation unit has a modified version – labeled the MH-60. It has specialized equipment to provide a capability of low-level night flying for long distances.

The MH-60 Black Hawk is a twin turbine engine, single rotor, semi-monocoque fuselage helicopter. It is used for the tactical transport of troops and supplies. It’s special equipment allows for the tactical infiltration and exfiltration of SOF personnel into denied areas. It can carry M-60, M-240, or GAU-2B machine guns, which are mounted to the side windows or cabin doors.

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It has subordinate units in Washington and Georgia. Their mission is to provide rotary wing support to U.S. special operations forces. The unit has the nickname “Night Stalkers” – reflecting the fact that most of the missions they fly take place at night. The SOAR has some unique helicopters for its SOF missions to include the MH-6, AH-6, MH-60, and MH-47 helicopters.

There are five battalions in the 160th SOAR. They are located at Fort Campbell, Hunter Army Airfield, and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Each SOAR battalion is composed of light, medium, and heavy helicopters – all modified and designed to meet the unit’s unique mission requirements.

More information about the aircraft crash will be provided by the military officials after next-of-kin notifications are complete. This story will be updated as more details of the helicopter crash become available.

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San Clemente Island Chart from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
https://www.charts.noaa.gov/PDFs/18762.pdf

MH-60 photo by SFC Alejandro Licea, Special Operations Command South.

Photos of SSG Marketta and SGT Shelton provided by the USASOC Public Affairs Office. Biography information is from “Two Special Operations Soldiers Killed in Aircraft Mishap”, USASOC Public Affairs Office, August 29, 2020.

References: 160th SOAR Fact Sheet

A video produced by U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School explains “Great Power Competition” (GPC) and Army Special Operations Forces’ (ARSOF) role in support of the National Defense Strategy.

Colonel Bryan Groves and Major Steve Ferenzi from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) G-5 Strategic Planning Division discuss how ARSOF’s strategy is designed to support the vision of the U.S. Army as well as the strategic guidance of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

In the video explanations are provided for what great power competition is and lays out the terms used when discussing GPC. The 2018 National Defense Strategy set the conditions for a shifting of focus from counterinsurgency and counterterrorism to competition with Russia and China. In this new strategy the military is a supporting effort in GPC. The video details how the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) will support the efforts of the U.S. government and the Department of Defense in GPC.

The implications of this shift to GPC for ARSOF are significant. However, it does not mean that ARSOF will cease engaging in irregular warfare (IW). The core missions of ARSOF remain valid. JCETs with partner nation forces will continue. Working with interagency partners conducting counter narcotic operations will not go away. The expertise that ARSOF brings to IW – such as competencies in the human domain (language, culture, etc.) are still important in GPC.

ARSOF provides low-risk, high-impact options across the spectrum of GPC. USASOC units contribute deterrence and compellence options for the US government using low visibility and discreet methods. These options help to influence and shape behavior, provide options other than the use of tanks, ships, and nukes, build resilience and the capacity to resist aggression in partner-nation in populations (think Baltic States), and much more.

ARSOF augments and complements the conventional force options in GPC. In addition, the use of irrregular warfare by ARSOF provides the U.S. government and Department of Defense a set of options that in many cases is cheaper and less escalatory than conventional options.

The video provides a great explanation of great power competition. It also helps the viewer to understand the role of PSYOP, Ranger, Civil Affairs, Special Forces, and other ARSOF units in employing irregular warfare in an era of great power competition.

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Knowledge Wins – Great Power Competition. This video presented by the U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School is Part I of three parts. Published on August 21, 2020, 21-minutes long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfjAuUkcg_s

The annual Special Forces Association convention was not held this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, the Special Forces Association (SFA) conducted a ‘virtual convention’ to keep its membership informed on past, current, and future activities. As part of the program the Commanding General for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) addressed the current and former Green Berets during their recent 2020 SFA Virtual International Convention.

In this video, Lieutenant General (LTG) Fran Beaudette speaks of the history and the future for USASOC while highlighting how the SFA can support these efforts. The CG’s comments are preceded by an excellent video produced by USASOC about current and future missions of Army Special Operations Forces.

USASOC Commanding General Comments to Special Forces Association
Special Forces Association, YouTube, August 22, 2020, 16 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLQgC0Umits

The June 2020 issue of Tip of the Spear has been published online by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). This issue has 40 pages of articles and photographs about the operations and missions of the various components of USSOCOM and the theater special operations commands (TSOCs).

A listing of the articles is below:

• “Lebanon, Jordan partner with US civil affairs amid global pandemic”
• “Stuttgart nurse takes COVID-19 pandemic in stride”
• “352nd SOW conducts open ocean rescue training over the North Sea”
• “352nd Special Operations Wing enhances readiness through mountainous terrain flight over Albania”
• “Yokota showcases adaptability, mission capability with Samurai Surge”
• “Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II passes away”
• “7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) receives a 60-year thank you”
• “Lee airdrop advisor, rigger recounts struggles, triumphs of 35-year career”
• “75th Ranger Regiment announces permanent activation of Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion”
• “Safety, standards uncompromised as Naval Special Warfare Center restarts paused training phases”
• “East Coast Seal Training”
• “Home at the Hospital”
• “Special Tactics Airmen support vital training, maintain readiness through COVID-19”
• “AFRL, AFSOC Launch palletized weapons from cargo plane”
• “It’s the dream job, SOST member awarded the Bronze Star Medal”
• “Fail forward: Lessons learned from a career AF Special Tactics operator”
• “Marine Raiders conduct vehicle interdiction exercise during WTI 1-20”
• “SOF community opens virtual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference”
• “JSOU adapts, moves classrooms online during COVID-19 pandemic”

Tip of the Spear, USSOCOM, June 2020, posted on DVIDS Hub July 2020.
https://www.dvidshub.net/publication/issues/55297

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Photo: From cover of June 2020 issue of Tip of the Spear.

This five-minute long video – entitled USAJFKSWCS Command Brief 2018 – provides an overview of how the U.S. Army trains its SOF soldiers. The United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School is located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina with satellite training facilities and courses located across the United States. The Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) school house – known as SWCS – trains and educates Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations Soldiers for their worldwide missions.

www.dvidshub.net/video/634051/usajfkswcs-command-brief

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Video produced by Robert Lindee, USAJFKSWCS, June 11, 2018. Published on October 19, 2018.

]]> 8783 https://sof.news/casualties/cwo3-taylor-galvin/ Tue, 21 Aug 2018 13:23:49 +0000 http://www.sof.news/?p=7730 CWO3 Taylor Galvin died on August 20, 2018 as a result of injuries sustained when his helicopter crashed in Iraq. The crash occurred in Sinjar, Ninevah Province. He was assigned to the Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation [...]]]>

CWO3 Taylor Galvin died on August 20, 2018 as a result of injuries sustained when his helicopter crashed in Iraq. The crash occurred in Sinjar, Ninevah Province. He was assigned to the Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The helicopter crashed late at night while conducting a partnered counterterrorism mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. According to CENTCOM the incident was not a result of enemy fire. Three other soldiers received injuries in the crash and were evacuated for further medical treatment. The incident is under investigation.

CW3 Galvin was born on December 22, 1983, in Phoenix, Arizona. He entered the U.S. Army as a CH-47 aircraft mechanic in 2003. In 2007, Galvin was accepted to Warrant Officer Candidate School and graduated flight school in 2008 at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Galvin was assigned to Charlie Company, 2-1 General Support Aviation Battalion, Fort Riley, Kansas, where he served as a UH-60 instructor pilot, deploying twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan. After a successful assessment in 2015, he was assigned to Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Galvin served as an MH-60M Fully Mission Qualified Pilot.

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References:

DoD Identifies Army Casualty, Department of Defense, August 21, 2018.

Death of a Coalition Service Member, U.S. Central Command, August 20, 2018.

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