State of Special Operations Forces Education

Abstract

U.S. Special Operators are the most highly trained and educated military professionals in the world, but we must continually improve existing training and education programs. —General Joseph Votel, U.S. Special Operations Command Command Training and Education Guidance Although Special Operations Forces (SOF) are well educated, existing education guidance and programs must continue to be improved, including better articulating the requirement for education specific to SOF, beyond existing service education programs. An examination of the existing guidance documents allows for an outline of the gaps and limitations for special operations education and a few recommendations are provided to address the more obvious limitations in special operations education. The state of SOF education is moving in a positive trajectory, but it will only remain so if guidance is clear and the special operations community educational needs are heard and met.