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Banner illustration for Decision-Driven Data: Restoring Clarity in the New Fog of War (Illustration by Special Warfare Journal staff.)Decision-Driven Data:
Restoring Clarity in the New Fog of War

The modern operating environment produces more data than any previous generation of military professionals has ever confronted. What was once a fog born of uncertainty is now a fog created by abundance: too many feeds, too many dashboards, too many “priorities.” The U.S. Army’s pursuit of a data-centric force reflects a recognition that information advantage underpins decision advantage. However, this emphasis risks equating “more data” with “better decisions.” This article argues that the Army’s emphasis on data-driven decisions unintentionally contributes to this problem by encouraging leaders to search for answers within available data rather than begin with the decision that must be made. 
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Tag: Special Operations Forces

March 6, 2026

The Impact of Digital Media on U.S. Special Operations Forces: Challenges, Perceptions, and Cultural Shifts

Digital media, including podcasts and video media platforms, has become a powerful industry with a substantial and consistent audience. Many different fields have tapped into the power of this type of messaging, resulting in a continually broadening range of publicly accessible information. The United States military has also turned to digital media to reach a wide audience. Podcasts and social media are now a key source of information about the military for many Americans. This information comes not only from Department of War (DoW) entities but also from former service members and others with an interest in the military.

Nov. 25, 2024

Strategic Disruption: An Operational Framework for Irregular Warfare

The effectiveness of special operations forces (SOF) in irregular warfare is hindered by the lack of a clear and structured operational-level framework tailored to irregular warfare, akin to what large-scale combat operations (LSCO) offers in conventional warfare. Whereas LSCO provides a systematic framework for planning and preparing for conventional warfare, the concept of irregular warfare lacks any such framework – irregular warfare lacks its LSCO, so to speak. The absence of this nested, operational-level concept has introduced ambiguity for Army special operations forces (ARSOF). The broader joint force community has led to varied interpretations and approaches to irregular warfare. This ambiguity complicates the understanding of irregular warfare and challenges planners to align their efforts effectively.

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