Special forces recruiting the operational need for targeted recruitment of first and second generation Americans

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the operational impact of recruiting first generation Americans directly into Special Forces. Much as the draft inadvertently did during World War II, the Army could take much greater advantage than it has of first generation immigrants and naturalized citizens. Special Forces (SF) could, in turn, target recruits from within this pool. That is one proposal this thesis makes. A second aim of this thesis is to explain why this makes sense in the 21st century. This thesis reviews the use of non-citizens from WWII to the present, while also highlighting certain features of doctrinal Special Forces (SF) missions. The aim is to draw on the past in order to preview the relevant usefulness of non-citizens today. The arguments to be presented here are conceptual in nature. They draw on the author's experiences as an SF recruiter and on extensive conversations with other recruiters currently serving in the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion (SORB). This thesis is not designed to criticize current recruitment methods. Instead, it explores ways to enhance what Special Forces already does in order to target the kinds of candidates whom the author believes will prove crucial to 21st century operations.