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By Col Stephen C. Price, USAF
These are my opening words to our newest graduates of the Air Force Special Operations Forces Intelligence Formal Training Unit. It is not an “everyone gets a trophy moment.” It is not a throw away phrase to build morale. It is not based on them wearing a patch that says “special operations” on their shoulder. It is a challenge I give them. Being SOF means living up to a shared standard. It is about being held accountable for your job and your contribution to the mission. It is about the SOF mindset. There have been many efforts to define special operations. To identify what makes SOF special. And to
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determine whether it is the people who are special or just the missions.
Competing Definitions
The most common explanation of “special operations” is whatever the general purpose forces (GPF) cannot do. As an example, for Operation EAGLE CLAW, the pilots flew using night vision goggles (NVGs). This was a capability that did not exist in the conventional forces at the time. Unfortunately for this definition, it’s transitory. Now, flying with NVGs is common and therefore no longer “special.” Being early adopters of new technologies or tactics is a key
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