In this episode of the Dead Warrior Society Podcast, we take a hard look at the roots of Unconventional Warfare (UW) in the annals of American military history and what it really meant in the post–World War II era and how its legacy has been shaped, stretched, and sometimes distorted over time.

Green Berets have long claimed the title of “masters of UW”, pointing to missions in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and beyond as proof. But does the historical record back that up? Not exactly.

We dive into the complicated and often misunderstood origins of UW, how U.S. policymakers and military leaders viewed it after WWII, and why the story of Special Forces and UW isn't as clear-cut as many would like to believe.

This episode challenges the legend and explores the real story behind the Green Berets’ rise, their true mission in the early days, and how Unconventional Warfare has evolved in theory vs. practice.

In this episode, I dive deep into the question: What exactly are Special Operations? To unpack this, I turn to one of the most influential voices on the subject—Admiral William H. McRaven (ret). Using his 1996 dissertation and his well-known book, Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice, I explore the six core principles McRaven outlines for successful special operations missions.

Instead of relying on the case studies McRaven uses in his book, I apply his framework to my own selection of historical operations—some well-known, others less so—to test and better understand how these principles hold up across different contexts, eras, and missions.

The Green Berets—once the undisputed masters of Unconventional Warfare—are now facing a crossroads. Once revered for their deep cultural fluency, guerrilla warfare expertise, and behind-the-lines operations, many in the defense community are now asking: What went wrong?

While Special Forces continue to fly the UW banner, the hard truth is that other units—often leaner, better-resourced, and more agile—have quietly taken over many of the missions SF was designed for. Is it a matter of doctrine? Leadership? Or has the world simply moved on?

This episode dives headfirst into one of the most controversial and emotionally charged conversations happening in the special operations community today. We’re talking mission drift, organizational relevance, and whether the Green Berets can—or should—reclaim their original purpose in the modern battlefield.