Quenching the Phoenix

This study is an analysis of the creation-destruction cycle of special operations forces known in the SOF community as the Phoenix cycle. Throughout AFSOF's history there have been periods of rapid growth in response to national security needs, followed by the destruction of these capabilities shortly after the crisis has passed. The literature analyzing the Phoenix cycle of SOF is relatively short. Because creation and destruction are two sides of military innovation, this study illuminates the factors underlying the Phoenix cycle using military innovation theories and literature. The author contends that none of the single factor theories for military innovation are adequate to describe the entire Phoenix cycle. The Phoenix cycle is the result of the interplay of political influence of civilian leaders as they perceive threats in the external international environment, military institutions that transform political influence into SOF force structure and doctrine, and organizational culture that influences the magnitude and direction of the forces created.