From the onset of our careers as Special Forces Warrant Officers (SFWO), we are groomed to be combat leaders and staff officers. As a result of almost two decades of continuous ground operations, I would regard the latter as less imperative to success. The former is more conducive to returning home with all the men, weapons, and equipment intact, at least as it pertains to titling. SFWOs are further expected and specifically educated to advise commanders on all aspects of special operations.
Understanding that SFWOs in the rank of WO1 and CW2 serve on a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha (SFOD-A) primarily as the Assistant Detachment Commander (ADC), some might serve as the Detachment Commanders immediately following the SFWOTTCC.…show more content… The status quo has proven to be efficient and effective, yielding some very successful Companies and Battalions, at least as far as the 7th Special Forces Group is concerned. I would defer to the adage that suggests if something is not broken, why try to fix it? In an effort to delve deeper into “why” we as an organization, would be interested in entertaining the idea of Company and Battalion Senior WOs in command roles, we should examine the exact meaning of the word. Joint Publication 1-02 (Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms) defines Command as 1. The authority that a commander in the armed forces lawfully exercises over subordinates by virtue of rank or assignment. 2. An order given by a commander; that is, the will of the commander expressed for the purpose of bringing about a particular action. 3. A unit or units, an organization, or an area under the command of one individual. With this in mind, I would offer that Company and Battalion OPSWOs already do this. Aside from number 3 in the definition, OPSWOs at both echelons in question exercise authority over subordinates and certainly express the will of the commander in order to bring about a particular action. This is inherent in the OPSWO billets by virtue of the level and amount of responsibility that comes with the role. As it stands, the job of the
