Special Warfare Journal - Tag vertical mobility

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Stability by Design: How ARSOF Culture Empowers the Operator and Anchors the Household

Military service is built on a shared cultural identity. Conversations across the force often default to the concept that every Soldier is part of one Army. All Soldiers, from Stryker infantrymen to Special Forces weapons sergeants, share the foundational identity represented by the U.S. Army nametape worn above their heart. Likewise, every Soldier is bound by the same oath and serves the same Constitution. However, this shared foundation overshadows the profound organizational and cultural differences between the conventional force and Army special operations forces (ARSOF).

Tag: vertical mobility

Soldiers from the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School board a C-27 aircraft prior to taking part in free fall training.

Jan. 30, 2026

Perspectives: Parachute and Jumper Recovery (and Why the Army Should Care)

Despite over 80 years of Airborne Operations capabilities, the US Army remains without an organic process or mechanism for the recovery of paratroopers or equipment entangled at height in the wood-line. This equates to apparently unknown and unverifiable quantities of FY24 funds expended by USASOC and allegedly around $1,000,000 from within XVIII Airborne Corps for replacement of aerial delivery systems. Despite various investments across USASOC subordinate organizations in the name of “mobility”, vertical applications remain beyond our scope and practice. This article also seeks to challenge the accepted level of risk normalized amongst leaders with regards to currently prescribed and common recovery practices.