Military innovation : sources of change for United States Special Operations Forces (SOF)
Abstract
Today, in the post-Cold War era, each of the U.S. military services and U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) realizes that in order to remain relevant it must be able to innovate and change. This thesis defines military innovation as a change in the stated roles or missions of the organization to solve current or projected military challenges or threats as defined by the national strategy. The thesis surveys three contending theories of military innovation. It identifies elements from each and develops a hypothesis to explain innovation in U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF). This hypothesis is then tested against three instances where U.S. SOF accepted and developed the new missions of counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, and counterproliferation. The study concludes that the variables of SOF culture, changes in the security environment, civilian intervention, and military leaders have combined to cause military innovation in U.S. SOF. Of these variables, military leaders, who control of resources and can provide promotion pathways to junior officers, is necessary for innovation. Recommendations for USSOCOM are then drawn from these conclusions.
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Naval Special Warfare - leading organizational change
Newson, Robert A. (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2000-12);This thesis examines organizational transformation, utilizing Naval, Special Warfare (NSW) as a model for DOD-wide organizational change. The broader context of the revolution in military affairs (RMA) highlights the unique ... -
TEACHING INNOVATION: DESIGNING A CURRICULUM TO CHANGE THE MILITARY
Wieser, Adam B. (Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School, 2020-06);The United States Department of Defense’s relationship with innovation has changed from the Cold War–era paradigm of large defense contractors and government think tanks undertaking the lion’s share of the responsibility ... -
Doctrinal Insights Innovation and OEF 4/25 Operations in P2k, Winter 2009-2010
Russell, James A. (Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)Program for Culture and Conflict Studies, 2011-10-01);"I [the author] was embedded with the 4/25 from 8-25 January 2010, part of an initial data gathering phase of my ongoing research project on innovation in war, to assess the degree of tactical adaptation and organizational ...