Episode 112 is the launch podcast for the SOF in Competition Special Project.
The Irregular Warfare Initiative proudly announces the SOF in Competition Project. The intent is to coalesce the community of SOF policy makers, researchers, and practitioners to understand the role of SOF in addressing contemporary and future national security challenges.
There already exists a global community of SOF researchers and practitioners poised to explore these questions to advance the profession. The SOF in Competition Project t provides a platform for this community to coalesce, to explore the role of SOF, and to invest in leaders and the broader community. If you are a SOF professional, this is your platform. We very much welcome article submissions, ideas for events and partnerships, podcast topics, and volunteers to join the community. Reach out to adam.darnley-stuart@irregylarwarfare.org to explore how to get involved.
Brigadier Brett Chaloner entered the Australian Army via the Defence Academy in 1991 and commissioned in 1994. Originally an Infantry Officer, he completed Commando selection in 1997 and served in the 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (Commando). He subsequently completed Special Air Service Regiment selection, serving in a range of command and operations appointments. His primary command appointments include the Counter Terrorist Unit, Tactical Assault Group-East, the 2nd Commando Regiment in Sydney and the 13th Brigade in Perth. He is currently Director General Implementation for the Strategic Review in to the ADF’s Reserve System. Brett has had multiple overseas operational tours as a Troop Commander in East Timor, and a Commander, Advisor, Planner and Liaison Officer in Afghanistan and Iraq spanning twenty years. He had the privilege of operating across a range of other countries as a planner and advisor, contributing to regional security and stability. He has been fortunate to undertake a two-year posting as an embedded planner and liaison officer in the US Joint Special Operations Command, as well as a yearlong course at the Higher Defence College of India.
Clementine Starling is the Director of the Forward Defence Program at the Atlantic Council. In her role, Clementine shapes the Center’s US defense research agenda, leads the Forward Defense team, and produces thought leadership on US security strategies and the evolving character of warfare. Clementine’s piece “Stealth, speed, and adaptability: The role of special operations forces in strategic competition” is the focus for this podcast.
Director SOF in Competition Adam Darnley-Stuart and Podcast Host Katherine Michealson are the hosts for this podcast. Please reach out to Adam and Katherine with any questions about this episode of the Irregular Warfare Podcast.
The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a production of the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI). We are a team of volunteers dedicated to bridging the gap between scholars and practitioners in the field of irregular warfare. IWI generates written and audio content, coordinates events for the IW community, and hosts critical thinkers in the field of irregular warfare as IWI fellows. You can follow and engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for access to our written content, upcoming community events, and other resources.
Enrique G Zelaya says
Being regionally aligned and forward-postured allows SOF to understand the local environment, build relationships, and maintain a persistent presence with partners within each region. This enables SOF to win in the human domain by engaging with local populations, gaining trust, and understanding partners’ needs and concerns. SOF can influence the information space by being well-informed and connected with the local populace, shaping perceptions and narratives to support U.S. regional and strategic objectives. This is especially important in competition, where information and influence can be decisive factors in assuring U.S. commitment to partners and deterring strategic competitors.
With SOF footprint established in all regions, they can help identify potential resistance movements, assess their capabilities, and enable coordination and integration of their efforts with Conventional Forces (CF) to create a comprehensive approach to deterrence within competition. For example, SOF can provide training and support to resistance movements, while conventional forces can provide additional resources and firepower as needed. The SOF and CF integration can create a powerful deterrent effect, discouraging potential aggressors from pursuing their objectives and avoiding large-scale conflict.
Furthermore, SOF can bridge conventional forces and local populations, helping build trust and win the human domain to help maintain regional security cooperations. SOF and CF integration can be critical in areas where conventional forces are not forward-postured or SOF elements are better suited to building partnerships. SOF and CF integration can create a more effective approach from competition to conflict by enhancing deterrence and promoting stability.
Bill Largo says
I worry that the community is continuously saying the same things to each other about the value proposition that SOF provides instead of actually showing concrete ways to integrate special operations in national strategy.
This goes all the way to the top, where remarks by Chris Maier or Brian Fenton could just as well have come in 2021 versus 2024 — and others were saying what they have been saying even earlier.
Where is the actual innovation, or is everything, including some of this podcast’s discussion, only talking point-deep?