Beautiful Imagery Without the Vision To Match
STRATEGY CENTRAL
By and For Practitioners
By Monte Erfourth – January 12, 2025
Introduction
The recently released SOF Renaissance: People | Win | Transform, authored by General Bryan Fenton as his swan song before retirement, seeks to articulate the evolving mission of U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) in an era of great power competition and persistent counterterrorism (CT) threats. This glossy publication brims with inspirational language and visually arresting photography, underscoring the enduring relevance of SOF and its unparalleled adaptability.
The document presents SOF as a cornerstone of U.S. national security, touting its readiness to counter adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and non-state actors like ISIS, all while campaigning for influence and safeguarding the homeland. General Fenton's narrative is aspirational, emphasizing the role of SOF as a strategic multiplier capable of tackling the complexities of modern warfare.
However, while the publication captures SOF’s historical significance and operational dexterity, it ultimately fails to deliver substantive strategic innovation. This SOF Renaissance lacks the vision and actionable roadmap necessary to guide SOF in navigating the tumultuous geopolitical landscape of the 21st century.
Photographic Excellence
The document’s photographic elements deserve commendation. Images throughout, such as archival photos of President Kennedy engaging with SOF leaders (page 12), visually reinforce the storied legacy of these elite forces. Modern depictions of SOF operations and cutting-edge technology (pages 10-11) are equally captivating, offering a compelling juxtaposition of tradition and innovation. These visuals succeed in illustrating SOF's multi-domain reach and operational versatility, even when the text falters.
SOF Strategy: Counterterrorism and Great Power Competition
The publication’s strategy revolves around three main lines of effort: strategic competition, crisis response, and counterterrorism. These pillars align with broader National Defense Strategy (NDS) goals:
Counterterrorism (CT): SOF maintains its role as the primary CT force, disrupting terrorist networks like ISIS and al-Qaeda while supporting allies in volatile regions such as Africa and the Middle East (page 9). Yet, this mission is framed as secondary to the emerging demands of peer competition.
Great Power Competition (GPC): The document claims that SOF is “tailor-made” for great power challenges, citing historical engagements such as the training of Ukrainian forces to counter Russian aggression (page 3). SOF's adaptability in irregular warfare and its integration of advanced technologies, such as AI and cyber capabilities (page 7), are presented as key to its future relevance.
Crisis Response: SOF’s agility in executing time-sensitive operations is highlighted through examples like the Sudan embassy evacuation in 2023 (page 9). These efforts underscore its utility in protecting U.S. personnel and interests globally.
While these components reflect the breadth of SOF capabilities, they fail to transcend existing frameworks. The emphasis on preserving CT capabilities while expanding into GPC risks overstretching SOF’s already limited resources. Moreover, the strategies outlined remain vague, with little in the way of innovative solutions for countering China's and Russia's asymmetric tactics.
A Lack of Strategic Vision
At its core, SOF Renaissance is a backward-looking document. Its extensive focus on historical antecedents, such as the OSS legacy and President Kennedy’s advocacy for unconventional warfare (page 3), suggests a reliance on past successes rather than a forward-thinking blueprint. While inspiring, this retrospection does little to address the evolving nature of modern conflicts, which are characterized by cyber warfare, information manipulation, and economic coercion.
The document also fails to propose actionable reforms or groundbreaking concepts. While it acknowledges the need for transformation through investments in people, technology, and partnerships (page 7), the solutions offered—such as leveraging AI, space, and cyber capabilities—are already well-established priorities across the Department of Defense. There is no clear articulation of how SOF will outpace adversaries in these domains or integrate seamlessly with broader U.S. military and interagency efforts.
A Missed Opportunity
General Fenton’s reliance on the OSS model reflects a leadership struggling to envision the future of SOF in a rapidly changing strategic environment. The OSS, while innovative in its time, has since evolved into the modern CIA, which is better equipped for intelligence-driven operations. By invoking the past without proposing a transformative vision for the future, the document risks positioning SOF as a relic rather than a leader in addressing the challenges of great power competition.
A truly visionary strategy would prioritize the following:
Rebalancing Resources: SOF must delineate its CT and GPC responsibilities more effectively, ensuring sufficient focus on each without overextension.
Innovating for Gray Zone Conflicts: With adversaries like China and Russia exploiting gray zone tactics, SOF must develop asymmetric tools to counter economic coercion, influence campaigns, and hybrid warfare.
Fostering Interagency Collaboration: A cohesive approach integrating SOF, intelligence agencies, and diplomatic efforts is critical to achieving strategic coherence in an increasingly interconnected world.
Redefining Success: Rather than resting on historical achievements, SOF must define measurable outcomes for its role in strategic competition, focusing on tangible gains in influence and deterrence. It must also look at over 25 years of CT success and failure. Adapting and improving TTPs and CT strategy in the AI age is imperative.
Conclusion
SOF Renaissance is a polished effort that celebrates the legacy and adaptability of U.S. Special Operations Forces. It highlights their indispensable role in counterterrorism and great power competition, reinforced by striking visuals and a compelling narrative. However, it falls short of delivering the strategic foresight required to guide SOF into the future.
While well-intentioned, General Fenton’s parting message reflects the limitations of an institution caught between its storied past and an uncertain future. To remain relevant, SOF must transcend the rhetoric of renaissance and embrace a genuine transformation—one that redefines its role in a world where traditional paradigms of warfare are rapidly eroding.
