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Female operators: Women in special forces

[Content preview – Subscribe to IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly for full article]

While the debate continues over allowing women to serve in special forces units, individual

female candidates are already meeting the selection criteria for special operations and

some armed forces are experimenting with new roles to exploit the unique capabilities

female operators can offer, as Andrew White reports

On 17 January the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) revealed significant news

signalling another historic shift in the ongoing evolution of international special operations forces

(SOF). According to an official spokesperson, a first female candidate has completed the US Army

Special Operations Command's (USASOC's) Ranger Assessment and Selection Program 2

(RASP 2) for the 75th Ranger Regiment, which is part of the USSOCOM order of battle.

The news follows the USSOCOM decision, enacted on 1 January 2016, to open up more than

15,500 combat roles across the organisation to female operators, despite mixed reactions from

force components.

The use of women by US Army Special Forces could be extended beyond the Cultural Support Teams employed in Afghanistan by the Special Operations Task Forces. (USASOC)

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However, the utility of women across the international SOF community in the combat role remains

a difficult subject for this male-dominated niche. Undisclosed critics question their ability to conduct






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the same physical tasks as male counterparts and point to integration issues associated with

opening up combat teams to both sexes.

An extension of capabilities

Nevertheless, the introduction of women into the SOF community remains prevalent across the

contemporary operating environment (CoE), with defence sources explaining to Jane's how such

moves can only assist in the extend capabilities.

"You just have to look at the current operating tempo to see just how important this news is to the

community," an SOF source associated with NATO's Special Operations Headquarters (NSHQ)

explained to Jane's . "More than a decade of coalition special operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,

for example, have focused on commando-type roles. There could be a place for female operators

in these jobs. However, there are vast amounts of specialist intelligence-gathering roles that could

be opened up to female forces, which could only help to reduce the workloads on existing force

elements.

"For example, deploying women into an area of interest can substantially reduce the risk of

compromise by enemy forces and third parties, as opposed to career soldiers, who might not be

able to blend into a local environment quite as well," the source added.

The introduction and utility of women into the ranks of the international SOF community is nothing

new. Defence sources explained to Jane's how during the Second World War some of the most

daring missions were conducted by female operatives, sometimes on their own and behind enemy

lines, as demonstrated by those operating under the auspices of the UK's Special Operations

Executive (SOE).

[Continued in full version…]

Passing the programme

In December 2016 three female candidates (ranked sergeant or above) attended USASOC's

RASP 2. This 21-day programme includes the Army Physical Fitness Test, 5- and 12-mile runs

with equipment, the Ranger Swim Ability Evaluation test, and various psychological screening

tests. This programme is a shorter version of the eight-week RASP 1 for junior non-commissioned

officers (JNCOs).

According to USASOC spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Robert Buckholt, a female officer

successfully passed the programme, becoming the first woman to pass one of the USSOCOM-

qualified selection courses, which also include the USASOC Green Beret Special Forces

Qualification Course and the US Navy SEAL BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) class.

Another female candidate previously attended but failed the RASP 2 course, it was disclosed.

Three female recruits successfully passed the less rigorous Ranger School course at Fort Benning

in 2015. However, this does not qualify personnel for service with the 75th Ranger Regiment, so

the officers were returned to units across the wider conventional armed forces.

Officially under the command of USSOCOM, the 75th Ranger Regiment is tasked with strategic

operations globally, including direct-action, special-reconnaissance (SR), and military-assistance






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(MA) tasks. According to Jane's Special Forces , the unit is based out of Fort Benning, Georgia,

and comprises a Special Troops battalion and three Light Infantry Special Operations battalions.


Norway paves the way

Despite much acclamation over the soldiers passing through the 75th Ranger Regiment's RASP 2

course, several countries have progressed further with the integrating women into special forces

units.

Arguably one of the most advanced concepts is being explored in Scandinavia, where the

Norwegian Special Operations Command, or Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK), opened up

recruiting to female ranks in 2014. This has since been followed with the establishment of the

Jegertropen or 'Hunter Troop' force element, which Norwegian SOF sources described to Jane's ,

as a "test project".

A Jegertropen instructor demonstrates weapon handling tactics techniques and procedures to a recruit during the selection phase for Norway's special operations unit. (Norwegian MoD)

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"The experiences so far are very good. The project has also attracted a lot of attention from

Norway's partners and allies," said one source.

While the Jegertropen is noteworthy in falling under the FSK's command and control, force

elements have been working alongside female personnel for years.






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During coalition operations in Afghanistan, FSK teams tasked with conducting MA operations to

train, advise, and assist Afghan counter-terrorism (CT) teams in Kabul retained female personnel

for specialist roles ranging from combat medicine to cultural liaison.


A Jegertropen recruit fires from a confined space, although the tactics, techniques and procedures in this image, which may have been posed for the camera, appear immature compared with current procedures used across the wider SOF community. (Norwegian MoD)

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"The differences between the sexes, and the forces which women represent, [are] of high intrinsic

value during the execution of operations. We want to use [the Jegertropen] to establish its own

capacity consisting of conscript female special troops. Working in small groups, they are trained to

solve assignments in special reconnaissance in and around the developed area of modern

conflicts.

"This requires specialists with high motivation, high ability levels, physical capacity, and good

ability to work independently and in teams. The ability to learn quickly, perform practical and

theoretical [tasks], and be determined are the main foundations to develop the qualities needed to

solve the challenging missions," the spokesperson added.

Contrasts continue to be drawn between male and female operators in the special operations

community. Some commentators have warned against lowering physical entry requirements to

shift gender ratios in favour of women.






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NATO special forces sources, however, have told Jane's that a number of female candidates are

undoubtedly capable of passing physical selection criteria and that women bring other attributes

that make them suitable for service within SOF.

Referring to Norway's selection criteria for the Jegertropen, sources highlighted requirements for

self-motivation and the ability to learn. "It's your own motivation that will determine the outcome,

but it is important to have a good physical basis for further training and development," said

sources. They also stressed the ability to work independently, cope with challenges and

uncertainties, and withstand discomfort over time.

A member of the Norwegian Special Operations Command's Jegertropen Directing Staff addresses members during the 10-month selection course. (Norwegian MoD)

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Such thoughts are echoed by the Norwegian MoD. "If they pass the [10-month selection course],

they will have the opportunity to start as a Hunter aspirant at the Armed Forces Special Operations

Command," said an MoD official. "They will be educated and trained to achieve the knowledge and

skills necessary to serve as a Hunter, including parachute service, shooting with handguns,

operational driving, survival, patrol, and training in advanced retrieval methods."

Further exemplifying the utility for such operators across the CoE, additional training for

Jegertropen personnel includes special forces communications, winter warfare, close-quarter

combat, mobility, and urban surveillance and reconnaissance.






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Conscripted women undertaking the Jegertropen selection course are required to undertake a variety of training programmes stretching from parachute insertion to close-quarter battle drills. (Norwegian MoD)

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A Jegertropen candidate conducts weapon handling-training on her 5.56 mm M4 carbine: the primary personal weapon of this female SOF unit. (Norwegian MoD)

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Mainly aged between 19 and 21, Jegertropen recruits exemplify the rigorous physical and mental

standards expected across the SOF community. An anonymous candidate recently described






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what is required as follows: "You always manage more than you think; you should have enough

confidence to stand through the storm and not give up when the going gets tough."

"There were many who were physically stronger than me, but gave up too quickly," another

student explained. "I decided that I was not going to give up before I was taken out. It does not

matter if you are small or big; it's about willpower and motivation."


Service discontent

However, the integration of women into the SOF community continues to be hampered by thought

processes exemplified by a Rand Corporation report published in December 2015.

Referring to the US Department of Defense's 'Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment

Rule', which allowed the entry of women into combat roles, a Rand Corporation SOF focus group

noted there was opposition from across the ranks of USSOCOM to the opening up of such SOF

"specialities".

"The principal sources of this opposition are the belief that women do not have the physical and

other capabilities to meet the demands of SOF specialties, the belief that the current high levels of

cohesion and trust in units will suffer, and the importance that SOF personnel attach to maintaining

high standards, coupled with deep concern that performance standards might be lowered to

enable women to qualify," the report reads.

"These findings reflected SOF personnel's speculation, rather than actual experiences of SOF

personnel. Similar concerns were voiced in prior integrations of excluded groups. These

challenges are not insurmountable, and much depends on the implementation process. The issue

of establishing gender-neutral standards is a critical component of the successful integration of

women into SOF."

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female operators: women in special forces - jane's 360€¦ · female operators: women in...

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