Less Door Kicking, More Partner Building for Special Operations in ‘Great Power Competition’ by Todd South - Military Times
As the services shift to “great power competition,” some on Capitol Hill are asking what that might mean for special operations forces.
The top civilian over low-intensity conflicts, a long-held SOF specialty, and the new head of U.S. Special Operations Command told lawmakers this week that special operators will see the fight flip from how they’ve experienced the past two decades of counterterrorism and counterinsurgency warfare.
“(Special operations) has grown accustomed to being the supported force,” said Mark Mitchell, deputy assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.
He was speaking at this week’s hearing by the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Intelligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities over the SOCOM budget request…