As the only organization that engages in policy and legislation advocacy on behalf of the men and women in the Special Operations community, SOAA is committed to identifying solutions and making recommendations that best serve Special Operation Forces on and off the battlefield.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the issues we’re currently working on. Join us, as we fight for you!
Recent studies show what we already suspected: That the rate of suicide is higher among our community than that of the civilian population and even that of the rest of the military with TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) being major contributing factors.
Learn about these new findings and what we are doing to help!
Afghan and Iraqi translators and their families are being targeted and killed due to the inefficiency of the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program. There is a backlog of about 19,000 Afghan translators and others who helped U.S. forces. Not protecting those that risked their lives for us would not only dishonor their sacrifices but also who we are as a nation.
Learn more about this critical issue!
For far too long, members of the military have been negatively impacted by burn pits, and it’s time to take action for the victims exposed to toxic exposure.
Register yourself and your SOF community in the Burn Pit Registry if you suspect you have ever been exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits, even if it was just once. Early identification and monitoring could save your life and the lives of your brothers in arms.
It’s not always easy to get the benefits you deserve and it’s even harder for us operators to prove eligibility when many missions are classified in nature. We’re fighting to make sure that the SOF community gets what they have earned.
We’re demanding that the Department of Defense (DoD) make proving eligibility for Veteran’s benefits simple and straight forward for all members of SOCOM across all components.
As past and current Servicemembers ourselves, we know that decisions and policies out of Washington impact the Operator on the ground. We’re working to help educate politicians on how to make policies that free up SOF to do our best work.
Learn more about how Rules of Engagement effect troops in Afghanistan!
From the blog
Losing Africa: China’s Economic Takeover Is America’s Strategic Disaster
As Washington indulges in bureaucratic inertia, focusing disproportionately on counterterrorism and short-term aid programs, China is executing a global coup right under America’s nose—starting with
Safeguarding National Security: Prohibiting Foreign Access to American Genetic Information Act
As current and former Special Operators, we know subversion tactics when we see them. Because of this, we recently voiced our strong support to the
Honor Our Veterans When You Vote this November
As we approach this crucial moment in our nation’s history, we are reminded of the incredible privilege and responsibility we each carry as American citizens
NDS Report Warnings
The most recent bipartisan Commission on the National Defense Strategy Report issues stark warnings about the escalating global threats facing the U.S. and the world,
Empowering Allies, Preventing Conflict: The Strategic Value of Foreign Internal Defense Missions
Foreign Internal Defense (FID) missions provide the U.S. with a low-cost, high-impact preventative measure to conventional conflict by enabling Host Nations (HN) to conduct unilateral
Camp Lejeune Justice Correction Act: We Stand With Camp Lejeune Veterans!
Along with a coalition of Veterans Organizations, we announce our strong support for the Camp Lejeune Justice Corrections Act (HR 8545). This vital piece of
A Call for Vigilance: Rising Terror Threats and Global Instability Post-Afghanistan Withdrawal
On July 8th, 2021, President Biden stood in the East Room of the White House to declare: “The United States did what we went to
Answering the Call: Why We Need SOF Veterans in Office
“Your nation needs you once more. Bring your leadership and commitment to the halls of power.” Our founder, Daniel Elkins, strongly charges SOF Veterans to
2024 Panel Event: The Power of OSINT in National Security
We’re hosting our second annual Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) panel event at the Library of Congress in collaboration with our partner, ShadowDragon. This year, our panels
Operator Syndrome: Book Review by Ryan Ziegler
Our board member, Ryan Ziegler, wrote an informative review of Dr. Chris Frueh’s new book, Operator Syndrome. Ryan is a Physician Assistant and a Green
Championing Justice for Camp Lejeune Veterans and Families
Representatives Greg Murphy and Deborah Ross, and co-sponsors Representatives McHenry, Hudson, Hunt, Manning, Davis, Jackson, Rouzer, Edwards, and Lee are championing a critical new bill
Meet Lito: Our Eyes in Ukraine
No one can understand the horrors of wars in far-off places without going in person and experiencing daily life down range. That is why it
