Tampa, Fla.—In his debut public address as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine delivered a rallying cry to America’s special operations forces (SOF), emphasizing the need for greater effectiveness and efficiency amid a “dynamic and dangerous” global environment.
Celebrating Creativity, Warning of the Urgency to Deliver
Caine, a former leader within Joint Special Operations Command, praised the SOF community for its innovation, entrepreneurship, and unwavering dedication to solving complex problems. However, he issued a clear warning: “Our forces in the U.S., along with our allies and partners, must deliver.”
Focus Areas: Integration, Capability, and Readiness
Highlighting three main priorities—enhanced integration, capability, and readiness—Caine underscored the importance of adapting to rapidly evolving threats. Addressing international cooperation, he expressed gratitude to allies and partners from 63 nations present at SOF Week, stating, “We never fight alone, and this is especially true for our SOF community. Together, we win.”
Yet, he stressed that future operations demand a “new and different” approach to integration. “We must harness every ounce of combat and cognitive effect—inside our forces, with allies, and through the interagency,” Caine said. “The combined effort—our actions, combined with the joint force, interagency, allies, and private sector—creates exponential returns in both time and capital.”
Later, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Cavoli, echoed this sentiment, noting that such collaboration “creates dilemmas” for adversaries like China.
Industry Called to Accelerate Capability Development
Caine challenged industry partners to expedite the creation of essential combat capabilities for SOF, emphasizing the importance of arming all levels of the force. Of particular concern are the proliferation of first-person view attack drones across multiple domains. “I ask you to go faster,” he urged, adding that the Joint Chiefs are working on becoming more effective buyers and integrators of new technology.
Readiness as the Bedrock of Deterrence
Ultimately, Caine stressed that cutting-edge capabilities are meaningless without a prepared force. “We must have our forces ready—our policy makers, our families, everyone involved,” he said. “When our adversaries see that we are prepared, they are dissuaded.” He concluded by reaffirming that facing SOF and aligned forces is “a terrifying proposition” for any opponent, underscoring the importance of maintaining unwavering readiness.
In his first public remarks since assuming the role, Gen. Caine’s message was clear: success in future conflicts depends on innovation, integration, and relentless preparedness.
