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key insights (and dare I say parallels) from our allies on the effects of SOF entitlement left unchecked, years of high optempo for purpose built direct action forces, and how difficult it is to bring culture issues into the light
/a thread
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Australian SAS has been under scrutiny for allegations of war crimes, with an explosive long-running investigation (the Brereton report) set to be released soon
"No element of our military has been more mythologised, praised or mystified than the SAS" https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/16/australias-special-forces-problem-why-the-sas-is-facing-a-crisis
"No element of our military has been more mythologised, praised or mystified than the SAS" https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/aug/16/australias-special-forces-problem-why-the-sas-is-facing-a-crisis
concerns include: SAS' high readiness, high rotation, over-deployment of senior commanders, leadership shortcomings, and reflexive treatment as "the best of the best" and "elite"
"while on the surface it might seem like an individual ... the system should have known about it."
"while on the surface it might seem like an individual ... the system should have known about it."
teammates, leaders, and politicians have pushed back against investigating the SAS and prominent members, arguing the fog of war is complicated and "we should leave it alone"
sound familiar? https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/27/us/navy-seals-edward-gallagher-video.html
sound familiar? https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/27/us/navy-seals-edward-gallagher-video.html
British special forces (SAS and SBS) have also been accused of war crimes but with fewer repercussions
"You don’t mess with the SAS ... They are beyond discipline in the normal way. Few people within the military know to whom they ultimately answer." https://www.the-fence.com/online-only/our-friends-in-hereford
"You don’t mess with the SAS ... They are beyond discipline in the normal way. Few people within the military know to whom they ultimately answer." https://www.the-fence.com/online-only/our-friends-in-hereford
a critical piece is oversight. 2015 reporting highlighted the insularity and lack of oversight within the SEAL community
“JSOC investigates JSOC, and that’s part of the problem”
“This is an area where Congress notoriously doesn’t want to know too much” https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/world/asia/the-secret-history-of-seal-team-6.html
“JSOC investigates JSOC, and that’s part of the problem”
“This is an area where Congress notoriously doesn’t want to know too much” https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/world/asia/the-secret-history-of-seal-team-6.html
in Australia, commander SOCAUST has been replaced and the unit may be moved closer to HQ; in the UK there is no clear oversight body and MOD investigations have run aground; in the US, SOCOM led a comprehensive review on culture and ethics but it's unclear how culture will shift
the CR highlighted the seemingly universal trend across SOF of an "unhealthy sense of entitlement" (or "self-righteous entitled pricks" if you're Australian) compounded by a mythos cultivated by constant deployments and engagement
https://sof.news/pubs/USSOCOM-Comprehensive-Ethics-Review-Report-January-2020.pdf
https://sof.news/pubs/USSOCOM-Comprehensive-Ethics-Review-Report-January-2020.pdf
without clear leadership, commitment to forgen cycles, an eye towards resilience and overall wellbeing, and most importantly oversight and accountability, all of these trends are likely to continue
