Event Recaps – October 2, 2022

In Austin, Texas, former SOCOM Deputy Commander VADM Tim Szymanski, USN (Ret.), addressed BENS members and their guests on the impact of 20 years of constant war on special forces (SOF). Admiral Szymanski shared that SOF’s resourcefulness and creativity was on full display during those 20 years but came at a cost of each force’s unique skills and of training for near peer warfare. One very interesting observation he shared was that everyone serving today below O-5 and E-9 only knows service while fighting the global war on terror. Like the total force, SOF has pivoted to a greater emphasis on near peer warfare.