SOF TRUTHS: LEARNING FROM SPECIAL FORCES (PART 2/2)

The 5 SOF Truths are a basic guide for special operations forces, from daily business through to the planning of long-term operations. They came out of studies and reports written during the Cold War to show elected representatives and senior officers how important special operations forces are. These “truths” had already proven themselves in combat, but many people simply did not know the difference between conventional forces and special operations forces. They also show why special operations units have to be built up and kept ready long before a conflict and why that takes time and resources. The SOF Truths went down so well that in the 90s they became established within the special operations community itself. They are just as useful for members of other organizations and agencies, including soldiers in conventional forces.

1. Humans are more important than hardware:
   
   People, not equipment, make the critical difference. The right people, properly trained and working as a team, will complete the mission with the equipment available. The best equipment in the world, on the other hand, cannot make up for a lack of the right people.
   
   
   
2. Quality is better than quantity:
   
   A small number of carefully selected, well trained and well led people is preferable to a larger body of troops, some of whom may not be up to the task.
   
   
   
3. Special operations forces cannot be mass-produced:
   
   It takes years to train operators to the level required for difficult, specialized SOF missions. Intensive training, both in SOF schools and in the units, is what turns competent individuals into fully capable teams. That process cannot be rushed without degrading the end capability.
   
   
   
4. Competent special operations forces cannot be created after emergencies occur:
   
   Building competent, fully operational units takes time. Deploying fully capable special operations units at short notice requires highly trained SOF units that are available at all times in peacetime.
   
   
   
5. Most special operations require support from non-SOF units.
   
   The operational effectiveness of our deployed forces cannot be achieved, and never has been achieved, without support from our partners. Support from Air Force, Marine and Navy engineers, from technicians, intelligence analysts and the many other branches that back up special operations forces has raised our capability and effectiveness around the world considerably.

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