Military Review | Maj. John W. Kowalski
The United States Army Special Forces (ARSOF) must fundamentally restructure its operational detachment-alphas (ODAs) to effectively compete in an era of strategic competition dominated by unmanned systems (UXS). The proliferation of low-cost, accessible unmanned technology has drastically altered the character of warfare, as evidenced by conflicts in Ukraine, Houthi operations in the Red Sea, and the Myanmar civil war. These conflicts demonstrate UXS's capacity for mass employment, inflicting significant casualties, enabling non-state actors to achieve strategic effects like partial sea denial against advanced militaries, and rapidly evolving tactics. While US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) has initiated steps such as the Remote and Unmanned Systems Integration Course (RUSIC) and a robotics warrant officer MOS, these efforts are insufficient. The article advocates for integrating a dedicated UXS Non-Commissioned Officer into each ODA, increasing its doctrinal size to fourteen, and expanding RUSIC into a center of excellence to ensure ARSOF can deliver strategic effects in future unconventional statecraft and maritime operations.
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