Special Forces Warrant Officers are subject matter experts in unconventional warfare, operations and intelligence fusion, and planning and execution. They also advise commanders on all aspects of special operations and are responsible for the integration of emerging technologies. 

To explore the unique role of the Special Forces Warrant Officer, Fran Racioppi asked the Command Chief Warrant Officer of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School Chief Warrant Officer 5 Gary Ostrander to join him from the Special Warfare Museum at Fort Liberty, NC. 

With over 30 years in the Army, Gary advises the commander and sergeant major of SWCS on best practices for training and developing our US Army Special Operations soldiers. 

After they defined what it takes to succeed as a Special Forces Warrant, they explained SWCS 2030, the importance of duration in assessment and selection, how technology is being integrated into training, how to create a training program that prepares people for anything and innovation in recruiting initiatives. 

Take a listen, watch, or read our conversation with one of Special Forces most experienced leaders then head over to our YouTube channel to watch CW5 Ostrander share the lineage of America’s first Special Forces in the Jedburgh Media Channel’s first documentary, Unknown Heroes, Behind Enemy Lines at D-Day, the story of Operation Jedburgh.   

Highlights:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 3:01 What’s the role of the Special Forces Warrant Officer?
• 11:51 What is SWCS 2030?
• 17:11 What technology is paramount on the next battlefield?
• 19:04 The evolution of the peer-to-peer fight
• 23:56 What are the innovative ways ARSOF is recruiting?
• 29:30 What are you most excited about in the next generation?  
• 31:18 Daily Foundations to Success

Quotes: 

• “The warrant specifically focuses on those long term planning operations and actions.” 
• “We focus on that end product. How do we produce the best product?”
• “More than likely you will be seen by an unmanned system.” 
• “We’re the melting pot for the operational force’s #1 select cadre to come back and train and mentor the next generation.” 
• “How do they look at a problem set and become the world’s most adaptive problem solvers?” 
• “If you show up for the minimums there’s a very slim chance that you are going to be one of the ones selected.”

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.

Special thanks to Roxanne Merritt and the entire team at the Special Warfare Museum for graciously hosting this series.