Summary: U.S. special operations forces consist of highly capable, elite military personnel who are trained to address critical national security objectives. Their versatility, quick deployment, and capabilities make the forces ideally suited for today's security environment, in which significant dangers are posed by regional conflicts, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and transitional threats. The Defense Department needs to ensure that special operations forces are ready to carry out their intended missions and are used in ways that capitalize on their unique capabilities. This report discusses (1) whether general agreement exists on the priorities for the use of special operations forces by the regional commanders in chief and the forces' unit commanders; (2) the pace of force operations and how force units' senior officers and enlisted personnel view the impact of that pace on readiness, morale, and retention; and (3) whether opportunities exist to reduce that pace in those cases where it is perceived to be degrading the readiness of special operations forces.
