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

An Induction Ceremony for three Army Special Operations Regiments was held in the JFK Auditorium on April 20, 2023 on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Thirteen people were named as Distinguished and Honorary Members to the Regiments of the Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations community. They were honored during the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) inaugural Heritage Week.

Among the inductees are a former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (ASD SO/LIC), former acting Secretary of Defense, a Medal of Honor Recipient, and an Ambassador and Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. Each of the inductees has contributed to the history and legacy of the regiments both were serving in uniform and after their service in the military.

Inducted as Distinguished Members of the Psychological Operations Regiment:

• Col. Richard D. Springett, US Army Retired
• 1st Lt. Daniel J. Edelman, US Army (Posthumous)

Inducted as Distinguished Members of the Special Forces Regiment:

• Maj. John J. Duffy, US Army Medal of Honor
• Major Gen. David A. Morris , US Army Retired
• Col. Ronald Johnson, US Army Retired
• Col. Christopher Miller, US Army, Retired
• Col. Mark Mitchell, US Army, Retired
• Lt. Col. Roger D. Carstens, US Army, Retired
• Sgt. 1st Class E. Riley Lott Jr., US Army, Retired (Posthumous)

Inducted as Honorary Member of the Special Forces Regiment:

• Ms. Azadeh Aryana

Inducted as Distinguished Member of the Civil Affairs Regiment:

• Col. Ernesto L. Sirvas, US Army, Retired

Inducted as Honorary Members of the Civil Affairs Regiment:

• Mr. Donald C Barton, US Army, Retired
• Dr. Spencer Meredith III

The Special Operations Forces Training and Experimentation Center (SOF-TEC) at White Sands Missile Range at Fort Bliss, Texas was formally activated during a ceremony in March 2022. The event took place at the SOF-TEC Campus. The site has been a location where special forces pre-mission training has taken place in the past at Fort Bliss, Texas. It is now to become a premier irregular warfare training and experimentation center. Units from all U.S. and many partner special operations forces are expected to conduct training at SOF-TEC.

White Sands Missile Range is a unique location – a place where a variety of training can be conducted that is not available in many other parts of the United States. WSMR is located 100 miles north of Fort Bliss, Texas (Google maps). Units have the ability to train in an area that spans 2 million acres and where the airspace is controlled by the military.

Units from the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force have been training there for years. In addition, organizations like Space Force, NASA, and others frequent the training location. SOF-TEC is now a tenant directorate on WSMR and is under the operational control of 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Currently, SOF-TEC hosts Sage Eagle exercises each year. Special Forces detachment-level training and testing takes place on a regular basis. In addition, MARSOC and AFSOC tactical training events take place at the location. The training campus enables special operations forces to complete the required certification, validation, and verification process prior to conducting special operations in support of theater and national objectives at overseas locations. The location can support small twelve-man Special Forces operational detachments (SFODAs) up to Special Operations Task Forces (SOTFs).

SOF-TEC can support a wide range of training and experimentation activities. These include cyber, space, electronic warfare, decentralized mission command, joint force training, and more. In mid-2020, the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) began the process to establish a premier warfighting training venue. in 2021 the location was designated as the Special Operations Forces – Training Center (SOF-TC). At the time, a smaller army SOF pre-mission training site already existed aft Fort Bliss, Texas.

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Photo: U.S. Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Security Forces Airmen from the Air Force Reserve Component conduct vehicle convoy operations during Sage Eagle in White Sands, New Mexico Jan. 19, 2022. Sage Eagle is designed to assist Special Forces battalions on validating subordinate units on pre-mission training by focusing on foreign internal defense. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kacie Benak)

References:

WSMR SOF-TEC
https://www.wsmr.army.mil/Pages/SOF-TEC.aspx

Video – SOF-TEC Activation Ceremony, DVIDS, March 8, 2022, 31 minutes.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/834106/sof-tec-activation-ceremony

Podcast – SOF-TEC: The Premier IW Training and Experimentation Location for USSOF, The Indigenous Approach, March 18, 2022, 22 Minutes.
Podcast

Story by USASOC News Service.

Ten additional names were added to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Memorial Wall during a ceremony at the USASOC Memorial Plaza.

The sacred gathering of Gold Star Family Members, Department of the Army Civilians, and service members both past and present was the first in-person USASOC tribute since the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was held to recognize Army Special Operations Forces Soldiers (ARSOF) who gave their last full measure of devotion while supporting USASOC operations abroad.

“Since September 11, 2001 this command alone has lost 376 extra-ordinary Army Special Operations brothers and sisters who left in our care over 1,600 Gold Star Family members,” Lt. Gen. Francis Beaudette, USASOC, commanding general said. “Their loss in defense of our freedom leaves us no longer whole.”

Beaudette highlighted the roles of ARSOF Soldiers in closing out the Afghanistan conflict along with other combat operations. The American Homeland is safe and standing unafraid due to the patriotic actions of those being honored, he said.

“They are forever irreplaceable and we owe each and every one them and their family members left behind a debt we know we can never repay,” Beaudette said. “These are our greatest heroes. Today, we recognize for the first time in person ten of those we owe so much. Taken together these ten men deployed 50 times to combat. Fifty times they said “send me” asking for nothing in return. There are never words that will ever express the depth of our gratitude or describe the heartfelt loss that remains in their absence.”

Following remarks, the black curtain concealing the wall was drawn back revealing it to the Gold Star Families and Soldiers in attendance. The names of the ten fallen heroes added to the memorial wall join the 1,241 USASOC Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice from the Korean War to present day.

USASOC leaders placed wreaths in front of the wall following the reading of the names. Wreath laying is a time honored tradition that represents the continuance of life and immortality.

“It’s here at this Memorial Wall where we can see and touch names, remember stories. Recall our connections and reaffirm our pledge to never forget our Nations heroes,” Beaudette said. “Here at this Memorial wall we renew our commitment to our team mates and to their loved ones. Our memorial wall grounds us and it keeps us connected. It reminds why we stand ready, willing and able to confront evil anywhere to protect the unalienable rights of our fellow citizens and to help our partners and our allies do the same.”

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Photo: U.S. Army Soldiers unveil the names of fallen Special Operations Forces on the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Memorial Wall during a ceremony at the USASOC Memorial Plaza on May 27, 2021. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Ramon Wright.

Story. This article by the USASOC News Service was published on May 27, 2021 by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. DVIDS media content is in the public domain.

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

The United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) has decided to close the Special Warfare Museum located on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. This action is a very controversial move – especially within the Special Forces community.

Sign the Petition!

An online petition has been started to keep the JFK Special Warfare Museum open.
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/498/201/018/keep-the-jfk-special-warfare-musuem-open/

Current and former Green Berets are aghast at the closure of the museum that showcases past operations and missions of Special Forces individuals and units. Social media in particular has been overwhelmingly critical of the fate of a highly revered institution that has served the special warfare community since the early 1960s.

The Special Warfare Museum featured the past history of the Civil Affairs, Psychological Operations, and Special Forces units and organizations. The exploits of members of this community were on graphic display in the small museum located on Ardennes Street, on Fort Bragg. The Museum was located at the long-time center of the special warfare community – and easily accessed by those Soldiers on Fort Bragg who wished to visit.

The reasons for the closure of the museum are unclear and USASOC has not been very forthcoming with information. The first instance of something happening was when the museum was closed ‘for inventory’. Then the rumors began to fly about what was happening to the museum.

Announcement of the ARSOF Museum

A January 24, 2020 press release by the USASOC Public Affairs Office provided an explanation of sorts. The article, entitled U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Museum becomes Army Special Operations Forces Museum, said that the “. . . U.S. Army Special Operations Command initiated a plan to reinvigorate the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum.” It said the museum would temporarily close to the public while an inventory was conducted to identify and catalog items. The museum would reopen at the end of February 2020 after inventory was complete. The new museum would widen its focus to include other entities within USASOC – the 160th Special Operations Air Regiment based at Fort Campbell and the 75th Ranger Regiment based at Fort Benning.

This news of the establishment of the “ARSOF Museum” led to a great deal of consternation within the Special Forces community. It was felt that the SF heritage – as well as that of Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations would be diluted. The addition of exhibits and displays incorporating the Rangers and ARSOF aviation would take the place of some displays presenting the long history of SF and other special warfare units currently on display.

On January 25, 2020 SOF News published an article entitled Army Special Operations Forces Museum. The article acknowledged the concerns of the SF community. The article’s opening sentence was “Old time Special Forces Soldiers may be forgiven if they feel a little bit of history is slipping away.” The SOF News article goes on to describe the history of the Special Warfare Museum and the changes that would take place as it became the ARSOF Museum. The closing paragraph of the article, upon reflection, was off the mark – it was too optimistic of how SF and ARSOF history was to be remembered by USASOC.

There is No Museum

The museum has not reopened. It is doubtful if it ever will – even with the name of “ARSOF Museum”. The latest press release on this topic published on April 24, 2020 by the USASOC Public Affairs Office Army raises more questions than it provides answers. The article, entitled ARSOF History: Embracing the Future, does not mention the “ARSOF Museum” at all. It is as if the museum no longer exists.

The article basically says that USASOC will preserve ARSOF history by leveraging technology through “virtual historical exhibits and graphic displays” to make ARSOF history more accessible to everyone. In addition, “Mobile Assistance Teams” will advise units how to display significant artifacts through exported historical print products. The April article explains that the USASOC History Office will retain and preserve artifacts and will work with the Airborne and Special Operations Museum (ASOM) in downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina to display some exhibits.

The author spoke with someone with knowledge of the museum transformation. He cited that some of the factors considered in the closing of the Special Warfare Museum included cost savings, the expense of putting the museum in a new building, and the ability to provide greater accessibility to ARSOF history. He indicated that artifacts have been inventoried (the process could still be ongoing) and that there are no ‘current plans’ for the transfer of the items to other museums or organizations. When asked if there ever will be an ARSOF Museum he couldn’t say.

What Does the Future Look Like?

So apparently the USASOC History Office, utilizing assets available within the USASOC command, is going to set up a website with pictures of the displays that one used to be able to see in person at the Special Warfare Museum. Or perhaps they will just point us in the direction of the existing website they maintain called The ARSOF Story: US Army Special Operations History. It is hard telling not knowing. Let’s hope that they don’t take the step of renaming the online site the “ARSOF Museum”.

In addition, the USASOC History Office will, as much as a small staff is able to, export printed materials to ARSOF units for their use. They will likely be able to provide the occasional small team of personnel to units located at Fort Bragg and across the country that would help with the set up of displays of artifacts that had been part of the Special Warfare Museum. The downtown Fayetteville museum will likely benefit from the temporary displays of ARSOF historical items. While the ASOM is a fine museum it is basically about Airborne and not so much about ARSOF.

Certainly current and former members of Special Forces are being slighted. How the Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations community views the closing of the Special Warfare Museum is not known to this author. SOF News welcomes their feedback.

It would be refreshing to learn exactly what the plan is for the future of ARSOF history. Will there be a physical museum or is it destined to be a website? Will the artifacts be handed over to the downtown Fayetteville museum? [1] Perhaps the USASOC History Office could provide a little bit more information. Thus far, the office has been less than forthcoming. The Special Warfare community deserves better.

From this vantage point – it feels like a lot of history is slipping away.

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Footnotes:

[1] The John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Museum is part of the Army Museum Enterprise. So is the Airborne and Special Operations Museum in downtown Fayetteville.

Top Image: The original Special Warfare Museum on Ardennes Street, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

The United States Army Special Operations Command has received the Congressional Medal awarded to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The special operations forces and intelligence community organizations that trace their roots to the OSS are receiving an honorary replica.

The award will be on display in the USASOC headquarters building at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 2016 Congress made the award to the OSS in recognition of their superior service and significant contributions during the second World War. [1]

The medal acknowledges the contributions made by OSS members to the war effort during World War II. One of the lasting effects of the OSS was the establishment of intelligence and special operations forces during the post-WWII period and the beginning of the Cold War. In particular, the OSS was the precursor to the U.S. Army Special Forces and the Central Intelligence Agency. In June 2017 the 75th OSS anniversary was celebrated.

LTG Francis Beaudette received the coveted Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of USASOC. LTG (Ret) Charles Cleveland, former USASOC commander and a member of the OSS Society, presented the medal to USASOC.

The OSS was established in June 1941. William Dovovan was appointed as director of the OSS. The purpose of the organization was to perform a variety of intelligence and special operations missions around the world – to include Europe, Asia, and other locations. At the end of World War II the Office of Strategic Services was disestablished; however, some OSS members remained in the military – later joining U.S. Army Special Forces (established in 1952). Others found themselves as early members of the Central Intelligence Agency.

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References:

[1] See Public Law 114-269 published on December 14, 2016.

[2] Some content for this article came from USASOC receives Congressional Medal, U.S. Army, August 21, 2019.
https://www.army.mil/article/226073/usasoc_receives_congressional_medal

Photo: USASOC Commanding General, LTG Francis Beaudette poses for a photo with retired LTC Charles Cleveland at a ceremony August 16, 2019, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Between them is a painting of Maj. Gen. William Donovan, who led the Office of Strategic Services.
(Photo by: U.S. Army Sgt. Brandon Allums, U.S. Army)

SOMAC Challenge – Soldiers from across the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) competed in the 2nd Annual Special Operations Maintainers Annual Challenge (SOMAC) at Fort Carson, Colorado. The event was hosted by the 10th Special Forces Group in November 2017. The SOMAC Challege is designed to test the tactical, physical, and technical abilities of maintenance teams across the Army’s SOF community. (Video by SGT Conor Mendez , U.S. Army, November 16, 2017).

www.dvidshub.net/video/566409/special-operations-maintainers-annual-challenge

Hall of Heroes – The United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) has unveiled it’s new Hall of Heroes digital, interactive memorial wall. This digital wall in the lobby of the USASOC building located on Fort Bragg, North Carolina pays tribute to the U.S. Army special operations soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice since the terrorist attacks of 9-11. Watch a four-minute long video about the digital memorial. (USASOC, July 31, 2107).

www.dvidshub.net/video/541078/usasoc-hall-heroes-digital-memorial-wall

Whats Wrong with ARSOF? Army Special Operations Forces or ARSOF has – according to one special operations officer (writing under a fictional name) –  been marginalized by other SOF elements (SEALs and JSOC) and has lost its way.

The author, in “Whats Wrong With ARSOF”, examines the current state of affairs for Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations. These entities fall under the proponency of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). Other units also come under the command of USASOC – the 75th Ranger Regiment, 528th Sustainment Brigade, and the Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR); but the author is directing his attention to SF, CA, and PSYOP.

He first states that “SF is king” and runs USASOC and the schoolhouse. According to the author CA and PSYOP are second class citizens and looked down upon by SF officers and NCOs. He cites recent attempts by SF to ‘off ramp’ CA to the conventional army.

Another of his points is the lack of strategic thinking on the part of SF officers. According to the author SF officers are tactically oriented and more Army than SF. (Hmmmm). This aspect of professional education, experience, and training limits the promotion potential for senior SF officers to command USSOCOM.

He makes some assertions about the formation of the 1st Special Forces Command and questions its usefulness. He brings up points about manning and resources and the effect of the command on improving promotion and command prospects of SF officers. In addition, the school house – or United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) does not escape his attention. Criticisms of “. . . entrenched civilians and terminal colonels awaiting retirement . . .” can be found in the article.

This is certainly an interesting read for those in the special operations community. It is the second in a series of four articles about U.S. special operations forces. The first “What’s Wrong With SOCOM?” was published on December 25, 2016.

So give “What’s Wrong With ARSOF?” a read. While I don’t agree with many of the author’s points he certainly comes out with some good conversation starters for morning PT or the late afternoon staff meeting. Published on December 27, 2016 by Small Wars Journal.