NATO Special Operations Forces: Even if It Is Not Broken Yet, It Needs to Be Fixed

During their recent operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa NATO Special Operations Forces (hereafter NATO SOF) have become the best tactical counterinsurgency force in the world, but it also fell into the trap of these experiences. While fighting insurgents and terrorists around the world NATO SOF has not encountered or more importantly have not developed effective theories against near-peer adversaries and their innovative concepts. In addition, NATO SOF has fought hard to become a recognized independent service within the alliance, but as part of this process it has gone through a very high level of “conventionalization” and almost lost its “strategic edge.” This study finds that NATO SOF commanders and NATO Special Operations Headquarters (hereafter NSHQ) staff members mostly agree with this assertion. The analysis shows that the degradation in capability has doctrinal, organizational, training, educational, and resource-based causes.