Training the Twenty-First Century Special Forces Warrior: Does Character Matter When Training the Adaptive Leader?

This thesis focuses on the impact of character in Special Forces (SF), or its lack thereof, through the historical analysis of various warrior sects and key historical figures. This research then contrasts current perceptions of character within SF soldiers with the historical examples of character. The objective of the research is to determine whether there is an issue with character within SF, and whether this aspect of the human warrior system should be trained in the Special Forces Qualification Course. Traditionally, the Army has focused its efforts on identifying and selecting individuals for units based on physical, mental, and character attributes that are demonstrated over a designated period. However, this approach misses the mark because it only predicts potential character and performance within an individual. SF soldiers today are being placed into situations that are morally ambiguous and their decisions will have both operational and strategic impact. The problem is that often, they neither hold, nor have they necessarily been adequately trained in the Army's and SF's organizational values. These values are the bedrock upon which a soldier's moral foundation is built, and it is this foundation that enables the Army's soldiers and leaders to judge and discern.