Another important occurrence took place within USASOC on Oct. 18, with the activation of a North Carolina National Guard Special Operations Detachment (SOD). The SOD will support and augment Special Operations Command (SOCOM) elements and operations worldwide as required. Its operations will focus on specific mission planning, bringing civilian subject-matter expertise and knowledge for a variety of mission categories. This SOD is one of 11 that have so far been stood up around the United States, each of which supports a specific SOCOM headquarters.
John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (JFKSWCS)
On May 30, 2014, Brig. Gen. Eric P. Wendt (since promoted to major general), took command at the JFKSWCS from Brig. Gen. David G. Fox (who is retiring), having previously served as the Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) commander at Special Operations Command-Korea (SOCKOR). Cleveland, who presided over the change-of-command ceremony, said of Wendt:
“Brig. Gen. Wendt is the right man to step up and take command of SWCS. He is an exceptionally well-rounded leader and uniquely qualified to command SWCS … [Eric] made substantial strides [in Korea] to improve our relationship with our Korean partners and to build the foundation for a multinational special operations forces approach to any impending problems on the Peninsula. Eric will, without a doubt, carry on SWCS’s well-earned legacy of excellence; making better the initiatives we have underway.”
A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier assigned to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan provides security during an advising mission in Afghanistan, April 10, 2014. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sara Wakai
In July, Wendt was joined by a new deputy commander, Col. Robert C. McDowell, who had just finished up commanding the 1st Special Forces Group (SFG-A) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. In addition, both officers were ably assisted throughout 2014 by their incumbent chief warrant officer 5, Heriberto Serrano Jr., and Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Gilland. Throughout 2014, these soldiers, along with many others like them, continued the vital work of qualifying and training new Special Forces (SF), Civil Affairs (CA), and Psychological Operations soldiers for the many USASOC units supported by the JFKSWCS. This included a full schedule of culmination events for the various community courses within the JFKSWCS, including the famous Robin Sage graduation exercise. Since 1974, the fictional country of Pineland has been fought over by America’s best of the best. Usually held in the counties west of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and supported by the local community, the Robin Sage events ensure that the standards and quality that have made USASOC special warfare professionals so desirable across the world are maintained.
U.S. Army Special Forces Command (SFC)
“As a regiment and command, we are prepared to assume any mission or engage emerging threats presented to us,” said Brig. Gen. Darsie D. Rogers, who spent all of 2014 as the commander of SFC, and the SF Regiment. Ably assisting Rogers throughout 2014 was Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Edwards, his senior enlisted adviser. Like the rest of USASOC, SFC benefited greatly from the fiscal stability of the congressional budget deal throughout 2014, as they were able to resume a full schedule of international engagements and exercises beyond their existing combat commitments. This included the continued growth of the Joint Cooperative Engagement Training (JCET) program, which deploys SF teams to host nations around the globe to enhance and professionalize their own security/military forces. One of the key examples of the “Global SOF Network” concept created by former SOCOM Commander Adm. William H. McRaven and laid out by President Barack Obama in his 2014 West Point commencement speech, JCET is focused upon building partner-nation capability and capacity. In addition, JCET missions have the added benefit of helping build personal relationships with key officers and officials of allied partners.