Building the Hyper-Capable Operator: Should the Military Enhance Its Special Operations Warriors?
Abstract
Warfighting technologies have been improving since the dawn of mankind, and modern warfare is now more complex, interconnected, and faster paced than ever before. Minor tactical actions produce profound strategic results, both positive and negative. At the knife's edge of this complex environment is America's special operations forces (SOF). Despite exquisite training and enhanced battlefield technology, the actual SOF operator remains a "Human v1.0." As such, the American military must deliberately implement a biological Human Enhancement (HE) program for its special operations warriors, and build the "Hyper-Capable Operator." SOF is the appropriate organization to run such a program due to its peculiar culture, already present support structure, and high consequence of its operations. Addressing the ethical concerns of such a program, this study examines the issue through the lenses of the individual soldier and the military organization. Numerous HE technologies with appreciable military utility, both cognitive and musculoskeletal, are presented. The permanence of any enhancement is of topmost concern, due to its cascading impacts upon the soldier, the military, and society. Additionally, the soldier's decision-making autonomy should never be compromised via an enhancement. Finally, this study delivers specific policy recommendations, to include the use of volunteers and safeguards against coercion, for the implementation of such a program.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 07, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1120842
Entities
People
- Clayton J. Aune
Organizations
- Naval War College