DEFINING THE GREEN BERET PROFESSION
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Authors
Lamar, Michael W.
Williams, John J.
White, Francis A.
Subjects
identity
culture
organizational culture
attributes
archetype
profession
Green Beret
culture
organizational culture
attributes
archetype
profession
Green Beret
Advisors
Strawser, Bradley J.
Date of Issue
2024-12
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The United States Army Special Forces (USSF), known as the Green Berets, have historically operated with a unique identity rooted in a partnered approach to unconventional warfare (UW). However, two decades of engagement in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) led to a cultural shift toward unilateral direct action (DA) and counterterrorism missions. This capstone addresses the identity and mission drift that occurred during this period, which challenges the alignment of USSF with its foundational ethos. The study aims to develop a comprehensive framework that reinforces the Green Beret profession, ensuring their historical identity and mission align with future demands. Using historical case studies from WWII to the GWOT, the research identifies recurring mission types and core attributes from six significant periods and distills them into “The Green Beret Mission and Person (MaP),” a concise, accessible tool to define their profession and value proposition. The missions identified throughout the history of the Green Berets were guerrilla tactics, intelligence gathering, and building indigenous resistance movements. The common attributes repeated throughout history were maturity, physical fitness, adaptability, cultural attunement, and intellectual resilience. This capstone report recommends integrating the MaP into doctrine, training, and strategic communication to reinforce the Green Beret identity, ensuring their continued relevance and effectiveness in global operations.
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Thesis
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Distribution Statement
Distribution Statement A. Approved for public release: Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.