#145: Today's SOF Challenge - US Army Special Operations Command Commanding General LTG John Braga

Oct 4, 2024

LTG John Braga, the Commander of United States Army Special Operations Command, discusses his vision for modern Army Special Operations. He emphasizes adapting to threats from nation-states like China and Iran while combating global terrorism. The conversation takes a historical turn at Utah Beach, reflecting on D-Day’s significance and its influence on current military strategies. Braga also highlights the essential integration of Special Operations in cyber and space warfare, stressing the need for proactive engagement and innovation in military training.

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ANECDOTE

Jedburgh Teams' Enduring Legacy

The Jedburgh teams were small, brave units behind enemy lines with outsized impact during WWII.
LTG John Braga admired their courage and lineage as foundational inspiration for today's Special Operations.

INSIGHT

Irregular Warfare Core Mission

Irregular warfare, including unconventional warfare and direct action, remains USASOC's core mission.
Strategic, threat-informed operations aim to influence populations and avoid large-scale conflict when possible.

ADVICE

Integrate Information Operations

Every operator should understand intelligence and information operations fully to counter adversaries.
Incorporate psychological operations and information warfare into all plans to win influence battles.

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Army Special Operations Forces are led by LTG John Braga, Commander of United States Army Special Operations Command. General Braga and Creator and Host Fran Racioppi stormed the Utah Beach Communication Bunker responsible for the coordination of German defenses and later the facilitation of the largest amphibious assault in history.

From this iconic setting, we unpacked the significance of World War II on international norms still in play today and challenged at a level not seen since the pre-war era. General Braga shared his vision for Army Special Operations, his focus on threat-informed decision-making, and how Special Operations has evolved; but more importantly where it needs to go and why it’s not there yet.

He also explains how Special Operations are preparing for conflict with nation-states like China and Iran, while also ensuring terrorist organizations have no sanctuary across the globe. Finally, we talk about integration, and why Special Operations is a critical node in the cyber and space fight deep behind enemy lines.

Check out our conversation from underneath Utah Beach. Head over to our YouTube channel or your favorite podcast platform to catch all our coverage from the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.

And don’t miss our first documentary, Unknown Heroes: Behind Enemy Lines at D-Day, the story of Operation Jedburgh available now only on YouTube.

Highlights

0:00 Introduction

3:25 Welcome to the Le Roosevelt Cafe Bunker on Utah Beach

8:14 Significance of Operation Jedburgh

10:15 Rangers on Omaha Beach

13:35 US Army Special Operations mission

19:10 Role of Psychological Operations

24:10 Winning Cognitive Warfare?

29:43 A change to the Special Forces teams?

32:10 Top priority on the next battlefield?

41:10 Combatting an enemy that doesn’t value life?

44:32 The USASOC culture

49:43 Destroying the enemy

55:28 USASOC’s future

1:00:05 Foundations to Success

Quotes

“Here we have the Jedburghs, with small teams having complete outsized impacts.”
“We challenge the force…to be strategically driven in everything you do.”
“We weren’t created for counter-terrorism.”
“You need to be an information officer.”
“People are the weapon system of USASOC. That’s our greatest investment.”
“Every STEM robotics club in high school in America needs to know we have a home for them in Army Special Operations.
“We have to modernize. We have to change. Or we'll be behind the adversary.”
“The only way to win is a whole of nation and whole of society approach.”
“I want to be surrounded by people who want to push themself.”
“Everyone should be challenging the training calendar. What are you training for?”
“We can’t be afraid of changing because we might get something wrong.”

The Jedburgh Podcast and the Jedburgh Media Channel are an official program of The Green Beret Foundation. Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video version on YouTube.