Thousands of active duty and reservist women make up the career fields of special operations as either branched members of the community or critical enablers who execute special operations every day. While some of those missions are conducted by the commonly referenced Green Berets, Rangers, and SEALs, some are executed solely or jointly by CA soldiers, pilots, intelligence analysts, PSYOP soldiers, and a variety of other career fields and specialties. Special operations missions also include foreign internal defense, Civil Affairs (CA) operations, Psychological Operations (PSYOP), special reconnaissance, aviation, and even forward surgical teams. While these men and the roles they fill are critical to special operations missions, the Special Operations Forces (SOF) capabilities and scope of their operations extend far beyond the direct-action raids against terrorists and insurgents that are typically covered in the news and that often become the centerpieces of movies and popular shows. Modern media, Hollywood, and many male special operators themselves have set the public narrative, reducing the common perception of special operations to include only men, whether as SEALs, Rangers, or SF. Women serve as commanders, senior enlisted advisors, pilots, analysts, civilian-military coordinators, and in many other vital roles of special operations. In reality, women serve not only as enablers or in support roles, but also as branched members of the special operations community and have led and commanded across the special operations enterprise. But their contributions remain largely untold, or they are often viewed as “extras” rather than mission-critical members of the team. Women have served in modern special operations units for decades and fought the United States’ wars across multiple combat zones. Although the majority of the 4,500 women of the OSS served in support roles based in Washington D.C., about 900 of them served in overseas postings and several were recognized for their unique capabilities and attributes in operating behind enemy lines in conventional warfare. Women served in the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to both the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Department of Defense Special Operations, during WWII. Coverage that “these are the first women in Special Operations” is factually incorrect. Army Special Forces (SF), commonly referred to as Green Berets. Much attention has been paid to the women who are assessing and selecting into the previously closed combat positions, such as U.S. The Director of Intelligence for USSOCOM is Brigadier General Michelle Schmidt, making her the senior intelligence officer for the entire USSOCOM enterprise. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) enterprise. The special operations community is disproportionately affected by these stereotypes and perceptions, since women service members, both active duty and reservists, comprise an even smaller percentage of the total U.S. The military often promotes a culture of hypermasculinity and is largely seen as a “man’s world,” which is not surprising given that the overall number of active duty women officers and enlisted across all military services is 16.6 percent. Renewing the National Security Consensus.Enhancing DHS Oversight & Accountability.Security Assistance & Regional Partnerships.Norman Cota yelled, “Rangers, lead the way!” to soldiers of the 5th Battalion, coining the Rangers’ future motto. Naval demolition units cleared obstacles from the beaches and Rangers scaled the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc. June 6, 1944: Special forces units played key roles in the Normandy landings. The 1st Air Commando Group provided fighter cover, airstrikes and transportation for “Wingate’s Raiders,” a British force operating behind enemy lines. March 29, 1944: The first American air commandos, along with British “Chindit” commandos, launched a dramatic aerial invasion of Burma as part of a successful attempt to push back Japanese forces and re-establish the land route between India and China. Every member of the unit received the Bronze Star. In five major and 30 minor engagements, the 5307th Composite Unit (provisional) disrupted Japanese supply and communications lines before being disbanded Aug. Frank Merrill’s commando force, nicknamed “Merrill’s Marauders,” began an arduous campaign through the jungles of northern Burma.

Marine spec ops