Issue Summary
Special operations forces are active and reserve military forces that are specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. Special operations missions and activities range from direct action to strategic reconnaissance, security force assistance, countering weapons of mass destruction and hostage recovery. Special operations forces need to be agile, precise, and adaptable. They also face additional challenges that affect their readiness—such as gender inclusivity, mental health concerns, and management issues. There are a number of ways the Department of Defense (DOD) could improve how it manages and supports these forces.
For instance:
- Gender Inclusivity: Women make up less than 10% of special operations forces—but about 19% of DOD’s servicemembers. However, U.S. Special Operations Command may not have the information it needs to fully assess the barriers affecting women's careers. For example, it doesn't have full access to timely, complete data on its assigned personnel, including incidents of discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault.
Potential Barriers to Women Serving in U.S. Special Operations Forces
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- Operational Stress and Wellness: Multiple deployments and busy training schedules can stress U.S. special operations forces and their families. To help, DOD established the Preservation of the Force and Family program, which offers services like physical therapy and counseling. But it's unclear whether this program is achieving its purpose because DOD hasn't fully defined its performance goals and measures. For example, DOD lists "neurocognitive assessments" as a way to measure program performance, but it doesn't describe what these assessments are or how to conduct them. Other key program terms are also poorly defined.
- Management Challenges: Over the last 20 years, DOD has increasingly deployed its special operations forces around the world to address the nation's most complex and sensitive security challenges. The number of personnel that perform this work has increased—from 45,700 in FY 2001 to 73,900 in FY 2021. DOD collects and uses data to oversee these forces while they are deployed. But the data itself has problems. For example, the data doesn't use standard terminology and doesn't offer complete, readily available information on these deployed personnel.
Special Operations Forces in the Levant region, which includes Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon
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- Foreign Language Proficiency: U.S. special operations forces often need to know foreign languages to do their jobs overseas. The military services identify foreign languages for missions and how many personnel should know them. But planning officials couldn't explain how they align language needs with missions, and some of the identified needs may not be accurate or relevant. Also, many special operations forces aren't meeting language proficiency goals—in part because there aren't consistent consequences for them if they don't. Further, less than half of these personnel completed any foreign language training, and the average number of annual training hours completed was much less than required—due primarily to competing training demands and priorities.
- Aircraft Purchases: DOD is buying 75 new airplanes to support special operations missions. DOD plans to acquire the planes in stages through FY 2029. Special operations forces are supposed to analyze their operational requirements to ensure that purchases like these planes meet mission needs. But this analysis wasn't completed before DOD decided to buy the planes. DOD's special operations mission requirements have also changed in recent years, and it hasn't evaluated if it still needs all 75 planes.
Armed Overwatch Aircraft
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