A recent paper at Small Wars Journal discussing SOF ethics. The author leads off with the below:
SOF operators are selected for a willingness and aptitude to conduct traditionally immoral acts, trained to be proficient at the conduct of those acts, but then expected to refrain from those acts outside of approved operational circumstances.
A House Divided: A Look at SOF Values | Small Wars Journal
I’m not sure I necessarily agree with that, but there is certainly something there.
The paper is worth the read. I agree that operators need to be able to “flip the switch.”
However, I always felt that SOF imperative #1 (understand the operational environment) wrapped up everything I needed to know pretty nicely.
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Carrying the Gun 