{"id":49516,"date":"2023-10-23T17:49:59","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:49:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/10\/23\/the-army-wants-to-see-more-creativity-from-special-operations-forces\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:18:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:18:26","slug":"the-army-wants-to-see-more-creativity-from-special-operations-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2023\/10\/23\/the-army-wants-to-see-more-creativity-from-special-operations-forces\/","title":{"rendered":"The Army wants to see more \u2018creativity\u2019 from special operations forces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Above all else, the commander of 1st Special Forces Command says he wants to see creativity out of the Army\u2019s special operators \u2014 he thinks it\u2019s what will provide them with an edge in the next fight in light of the rapid tactical innovations occurring on Ukraine\u2019s battlefield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brig. Gen. Lawrence \u201dGil\u201d Ferguson, who spoke with Army Times, is a firm believer in an oft-repeated special operations truism: people are more important than hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTechnology is not going to win the next fight,\u201d he said. \u201cThe side that applies new technology with the most creativity and audacity is going to win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The one-star \u2014 who is currently impacted<\/a> by Sen. Tommy Tuberville\u2019s blanket hold on general officer promotions \u2014 knows what outside-the-box thinking and experience look like, because he embodies it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferguson, who attended the Air Force Academy, departed the active duty Army after a brief tour as an infantry officer in the early 1990s, according to his hometown newspaper<\/a>. He earned a graduate degree and taught at a Jackson, Mississippi prep school before earning his Special Forces tab as a National Guard officer assigned to the 20th Special Forces Group. He then returned to active duty with 7th Special Forces Group in late 2001.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCreativity is a major component of what we\u2019re looking for in the people that we recruit,\u201d Ferguson said when asked about how to foster technological innovation at the small unit level. But in order to reap the benefits, he added, \u201cWe encourage a culture of creativity and innovation within the command.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ferguson eschews the traditional delineations between the Army special ops community\u2019s three components \u2014 Special Forces, psychological operations and civil affairs \u2014 in favor of a synchronized approach that lets the talents of each group reinforce the others on the battlefield or when working with friendly nations before the next war begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an example, he pointed at the success that Ukraine\u2019s government has had combining effective irregular warfare operations with inspiring public messaging and stable governance in communities just behind the front lines. Although American and other NATO forces have played a role in preparing Ukraine for resistance (which Army Times detailed <\/a>in the invasion\u2019s first weeks), Ferguson noted that the willpower of the embattled country\u2019s leaders and citizens has validated many key special operations concepts<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t