A New Vision for Special Forces
by Ned Marsh
Published May 20, 2026 by the Irregular Warfare Initiative

The article argues that U.S. Army Special Forces are no longer aligned with the realities of modern warfare, as their structure and training lag behind a fast-changing environment. It contends that the force has become too large, unfocused, and tied to outdated missions, leaving it strategically irrelevant and often unusable in the conflicts where it should matter most. The author calls for a revolutionary overhaul—shrinking and redesigning Special Forces into a smaller, highly specialized force capable of operating invisibly in denied environments and delivering unique strategic effects the broader military cannot.

READ HERE: A New Vision for Special Forces