ABSTRACT
The creation of United States Special Operations Command provided an important benchmark in Special Operations Forces (SOF) evolution. It is generally accepted that the birth of modern SOF occurred during the Second World War. In this context, SOF was born in crisis from a position of weakness. Historically, SOF has always filled a gap in times of crisis. Despite the overwhelming institutional prejudice, crisis forced conventional-minded military commanders to turn to SOF yet again. SOF's ability to provide significant strategic utility to political and military decision makers created the rise of SOF Power. In essence, SOF provides the government a wide range of cost efficient and effective capabilities and options outside of the normal military context and capability set. Their ability to produce – at short notice – courses of action and desirable outcomes, in a number of domains, regardless of location, with a high probability of success, gives them great saliency to political and military decision makers.
