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special operations warfare
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What is special operations warfare?
Special operations warfare refers to unconventional military actions executed by special forces against enemy vulnerabilities. These operations are conducted alongside conventional military operations as part of a broader politico-military campaign, addressing specific problems at the operational or strategic level that conventional forces alone cannot handle.
Special forces possess unique qualities, special equipment, and specialized training. Tasks performed by special forces fall into two categories: direct (kinetic) and indirect (nonkinetic) application of military force. Direct operations involve destroying, killing, or capturing people, equipment, and facilities. Indirect operations require patience and seek to work through proxies, third parties, non-violent actions, and other means.
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How does special operations warfare differ from regular military operations?
Special operations warfare differs from regular military operations based on force usage, risk assessment, and the distinct attributes of the forces involved. Special operations maximize the military principle of "economy of force," where small teams of highly trained special operators achieve significant results, often more effectively than conventional forces.
These operations involve carefully weighed political and operational risks, as failure can lead to political and military setbacks. The "special" qualities of these forces arise from their unique organization, rigorous training, specialized support, and stringent selection processes, enabling them to employ unconventional methods to tackle complex and high-risk challenges.
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What types of missions do special operations forces carry out?
Special operations forces (SOF) undertake unconventional military actions against enemy vulnerabilities, often alongside conventional operations. These operations fall into two categories: direct and indirect.
Direct operations involve the kinetic application of military force, such as raids to destroy, kill, or capture people, equipment, and facilities. Counterterrorism and counterproliferation missions also fall under this category.
Indirect operations may not involve force. Instead, they require patience and are conducted through proxies, third parties, and nonviolent actions. These operations aim to increase the effectiveness of local forces or influence the morale of a target audience.
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Who are some well-known special operations forces around the world?
Special operations forces are specialized units that conduct unconventional military actions special operations warfare.
Some well-known special operations forces include:
* Special Air Service (SAS) The SAS is an elite British military force that is organized and trained for special operations, surveillance, and counterterrorism.
* Navy SEALs U.S. Navy SEALs can trace their origins to elite units from World War II. They are trained to conduct unconventional warfare and counterguerrilla operations.
* Sayeret Matkal Sayeret Matkal is an elite commando unit of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). Since its founding, the unit has carried out numerous hostage rescues and other counterterrorist operations.
* GRU Spetsnaz. The GRU is Russia's military intelligence agency. GRU Spetsnaz are special combat units that conduct sabotage and reconnaissance operations and have been active in combat zones across the globe.5 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What special training do members of these forces receive?
Special operations forces (SOF) receive special designation, equipment, and training that sets them apart from conventional forces. Selection and training identify individuals with the physical and psychological qualities necessary for special operations, such as level-headedness, intelligence, maturity, and unconventional problem-solving skills.
Training develops operators' skills to an exceptional level and cross-trains them in multiple skills for self-reliance and team building. It also continuously assesses candidates for their suitability. Examples of training and selection processes include the Qualification course for the U.S. Army’s Special Forces, the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL course for the U.S. Navy’s SEALs, and the joint UKSF selection program for Britain’s SAS and Special Boat Service. Special forces’ training pushes candidates' physical and psychological endurance, refines problem-solving approaches, and hones tactical skills, such as high-altitude low-opening parachute jumps.
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How has special operations warfare changed over time due to new technology and tactics?
Special operations warfare has evolved significantly due to technology and tactics. Contemporary special operations warfare started in World War II. During the war, military forces that conducted unorthodox actions were created as needed and disbanded after the actions were completed. Maintaining special forces on a permanent basis gives them greater capabilities than their historical predecessors.
Modern special forces utilize advanced equipment like specialized weapons, modified vehicles, and cutting-edge communication devices. These forces are trained to exceptionally high levels, with cross-training to build self-reliance and teamwork. They are also selected for psychological traits like intelligence and level-headedness. Modern tactics include direct action (raids, ambushes) and indirect action (training local forces, civil affairs projects). These changes enable special operations forces to address difficult and risky problems effectively.
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special operations warfare, unconventional military actions against enemy vulnerabilities that are undertaken by specially designated, selected, trained, equipped, and supported units known as special forces or special operations forces (SOF). Special operations are often conducted in conjunction with conventional military operations as part of a sustained politico-military campaign. Some special operations are spectacular direct raids that capture wide publicity, but others are long-term indirect efforts that are never made known. No matter what form it takes, each special operation is an effort to resolve, as economically as possible, specific problems at the operational or strategic level that are difficult or impossible to address with conventional forces alone.
Differences between special operations warfare and conventional warfare
Special operations warfare is conducted by uniformed military forces. This distinction helps to differentiate special operations warfare from activities such as sabotage and subversion conducted by intelligence agencies or internal security and policing conducted by law-enforcement units employing special weapons and tactics. Sometimes the dividing line between special operations conducted by intelligence agencies and those conducted by military units is not clear, as in the case of intelligence gathering on the one hand and special reconnaissance activities on the other. Often the only difference between them is organizational, as special forces fall under military chains of command and its operators wear uniforms, whereas those from intelligence agencies do not. In addition, there are legal differences between the two activities: national laws authorizing overt and clandestine military actions may be entirely separate from laws authorizing covert actions by civilian intelligence agencies, and certainly there is a great difference around the world in the legal protections afforded to military as opposed to intelligence personnel. (Intelligence personnel have no legal standing internationally, whereas military personnel ostensibly receive some protection under the laws of war.)
Given its unorthodox nature, special operations warfare is directly related to other well-known forms of unconventional warfare such as terrorism, guerrilla warfare, and insurgency. Most often, however, special forces are trained to counter such forms of warfare, using superior tactics, equipment, supply, and mobility to defeat terrorists, guerrillas, and insurgents who adopt unconventional tactics out of necessity. Special forces seek to deprive irregular opponents of the few tactical advantages they possess by denying them mobility, sanctuary, surprise, and initiative. In other cases, though, special forces may actually conduct guerrilla warfare or insurgency against conventional state-based adversaries, for example, by harrying or harassing supplying lines, raising partisan forces, or distracting enemy forces from conventional operations by forcing them to deal with threats in areas thought to be pacified or secure.
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Special operations also must be distinguished from operations conducted by “specialized” conventional military forces—for instance, airborne and amphibious units. Those forces are organized, equipped, and trained to perform one specific task (for instance, airborne assault, airfield seizure, or amphibious landing), and they would require significant time, retraining, and reequipping to conduct another task. Often such specialized units receive the moniker of corps d’elite, reflecting their unique purpose, traditions, and past achievements in combat. The most significant differences between special operations forces and specialized forces lie in two broad areas. First is the scale of their operations: special operations are relatively small-scale, being conducted by companies, platoons, teams, or squadrons, whereas specialized operations are mounted by large units such as regiments, brigades, or even divisions. The second area is orthodoxy: special operations feature improvised and often indirect approaches, whereas specialized military operations feature orthodox approaches in a relatively direct assault.
To sum up, special operations warfare differs from conventional warfare on the basis of three criteria: the economical way in which force is used; different considerations and calculations of political and operational risk; and the characteristics and qualities of the military forces that conduct them. The “special” qualities of special forces are a product of their organization, training, support, and, most important, selection. All these factors are discussed in detail below, and all allow for the creation of flexible forces that employ unorthodox approaches to solve difficult and risky problems.
