Special Forces serve a critical role in the defense of United States national security objectives. Two critical characteristics intrinsic to the success of Special Forces operations include interoperability between Department of Defense military services and unit cohesion within the Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha. This combination has been judiciously challenged by administrative efforts to integrate females into the historically all-male Special Forces cadre. Escalation of threats to United States national security necessitates the innovation of existing combat capabilities. These innovations must include analysis toward the effective integration of female operators into United States Army Special Forces. This study utilized a qualitative research methodology to analyze an effective example of female integration into a foreign Special Forces unit, Norway's Jegertroppen. The purpose of this study was to concentrate analysis on Norway's elite female Special Forces unit to articulate the phenomenon behind Jegertroppen's operational success. This analysis determined the Jegertroppen model should influence a bridging strategy that enhances similar integration efforts by the United States Army. A critical examination rooted in DOTMLPF-P analysis explored the Organization, Training, and Doctrine components related to the development of Norway's Jegertroppen to enhance future attempts by the United States to integrate females into Army Special Forces.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)