Are America's special operations forces in crisis?

Interviews with former operators point to troubling signs within the military's most elite troops

U.S. training
(Image credit: (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File))

Frustrations with the never-ending U.S. war on terror are mounting among the country's elite fighting forces. These top-level troops — called special operations forces — are fraying at the edges after more than 13 years of near constant deployments, according to public comments by current and former leaders at the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Now, as the U.S. is poised to broaden its offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (better known as ISIS) in ways that will undoubtedly require a heavy presence of special operations forces, there are serious questions about whether waging a war without end is sustainable for these go-to fighters.

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