U.S. Army Gen. Bryan P. Fenton, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, recently told congressional leaders about the indispensable role of special operations forces (SOF) and rally bipartisan support for their growing mission at the Congressional SOF Caucus event on Capitol Hill.
Overview Special Operations Forces are those active duty and reserve component forces of the military services designated by the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and specifically selected, organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. Special operations frequently require unique modes of employment, tactics, techniques, procedures, and equipment. SOF often conducts special operations in hostile, politically, and/or diplomatically sensitive environments, and are characterized by one or more of the following: time sensitivity, clandestine or covert nature, low visibility, work with or through indigenous forces, greater requirements for regional orientation and cultural expertise, and a high degree of risk.
Fenton highlighted the unprecedented demand on SOF, driven by escalating threats from state and non-state actors alike, during his remarks to the caucus co-chaired by Representatives Richard Hudson, Kathy Castor and Scott Peters.
“The demand from your SOF is higher than it’s ever been,” Fenton said. “Crisis response missions are up 170% in three years, and deterrence taskings have risen 35% in two.”
Hudson’s focus on resources echoed a recurring theme of the evening. Castor, a co-chair from Tampa, Florida — home to Socom headquarters — pointed to the disparity between SOF’s outsized contributions and its modest share of the Defense Department’s resources.
“You carry the load on the most sophisticated missions out there with just 2% of the defense budget,” she said.
Castor pressed for modernizing the command’s aging facilities at MacDill Air Force Base, contrasting those with U.S. Central Command’s state-of-the-art headquarters nearby.
“It’s time for that headquarters to live up to what we ask of the men and women who serve,” she urged, calling for bipartisan backing to ensure SOF’s infrastructure matches its mission.
The critical value of SOF was a cornerstone of the discussion. Peters, representing San Diego’s Naval Special Warfare community, cited a recent bipartisan win — securing $310 million to address sewage flows impacting SEAL training waters — as proof of the caucus’ impact. He stressed SOF’s role in deterrence and crisis response amid threats from China, Russia, Iran and terrorist groups.
Fenton elaborated on SOF’s unique adaptability, describing the current era as “a SOF renaissance” tailor-made for converging challenges like unmanned systems and artificial intelligence. He cited recent successes, including eliminating hundreds of terrorists and rescuing Americans abroad.
“We’ve been called out 14 times in three years on short notice to be somewhere in the world,” he said.
He urged sustained investment in scalable capabilities to keep pace with adversaries exploiting new technologies.
Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict Colby Jenkins, a combat veteran and former Green Beret, emphasized SOF’s relational edge. He praised the caucus for supporting families and empowering Socom as a service-like entity.
“That’s where we bring value — with relationships of trust that span decades,” Jenkins said.
Fenton also called for deeper ties between Socom and Congress to address installation needs and family support. He lauded the caucus’ role in bridging gaps for members without SOF bases in their districts, ensuring broad awareness of the community’s challenges.
“You watch over our families — we couldn’t do what we do without them,” he noted.
Fenton expressed confidence in SOF’s readiness, bolstered by the caucus’ commitment, highlighting the need for bipartisan resolve to equip operators for an uncertain future.
“SOF readiness is important now more than ever. “[Our] job [is] to … make sure that you’re getting the resources you need, the training you need and support you need,” Hudson said.
List of Special Forces:
- U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets)
The quiet professionals. Masters of unconventional warfare. - Delta Force (CAG)
The Army’s elite counter-terrorism experts. - 75th Ranger Regiment
Army Rangers lead the way. - 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
The Night Stalkers – elite helicopter flyers - Intelligence Support Activity
Top secret intelligence gatherers - Navy SEALs
America’s renowned naval commandos - SEAL Team Six
The US Navy’s secretive special mission unit, otherwise known as DEVGRU - Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC)
Elite sailors who operate a range of surface boats - US Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC)
Marine SOF under a new command structure - Force Recon
Elite Reconnaissance Marines who carry out deep reconnaissance operations - Division Recon
Highly trained Recon Marines - Special Operations Squadrons
Operators of AC-130 Gunships and other specialized planes and helicopters
- Special Tactics Teams
Combat Controllers, Pararescuemen, TACPs and Special Operations Weather Teams - Deployable Operations Group
Coast Guard Specialized ForcesCIA Special Activities Division
Central Intelligence Agency Special Operations Group
Army Maj. Wes Shinego provided information for this report
Photo: U.S. Army photo by SGT. Marcus Butler