By Mike Robinson

For decades, U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) have operated in the shadows of global conflicts, engaging in unconventional warfare (UW) that extends beyond the kinetic battlefield. What remains largely unspoken, however, is the intricate and often indispensable role of civilian noncombatant organizations, including USAID and other nonprofits, in these operations. As a former Special Forces officer, I have seen firsthand how these partnerships are cultivated, leveraged, and executed to advance U.S. strategic interests in contested environments.

A Partnership Approach to Influence

The nature of modern warfare has evolved. While bullets and bombs still shape conflicts, influence, perception management, and civil resilience increasingly determine victory. ARSOF, particularly within 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), has recognized this shift and incorporated civil affairs, psychological operations, and unconventional warfare methodologies that rely on a robust network of civilian partners.

Noncombatant organizations such as USAID, humanitarian NGOs, and faith-based relief groups provide access and legitimacy in politically sensitive and denied environments where overt military action may be counterproductive. By embedding within these ecosystems, ARSOF operatives gain early-warning indicators of instability, cultivate relationships with key influencers, and create conditions favorable for U.S. engagement while countering adversarial influence.

The Civil Affairs and USAID Nexus

Civil Affairs (CA) soldiers, who function as the military’s liaison to civilian populations, are a critical component in unconventional warfare. They work closely with USAID and other development organizations to identify and exploit civil-military opportunities, using humanitarian assistance, governance support, and infrastructure projects as tools for influence.

For instance, in regions targeted by adversarial powers—such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative—CA teams have been embedded with USAID and local NGOs to offer alternative economic pathways. This presence not only provides stability but also disrupts foreign manipulation of local economies and governance structures. As described in recent SOF doctrine, CA operations integrate with Psychological Operations (PSYOP) to shape narratives, counter disinformation, and mobilize populations in support of U.S. interests.

Psychological Operations and Information Warfare

The battle for hearts and minds is waged in the information space. PSYOP teams specialize in crafting influence campaigns that resonate with local populations. Working alongside nonprofits and local media organizations, they create narratives that align with U.S. objectives while countering enemy propaganda.

In one recent example, PSYOP teams partnered with local media outlets and NGOs in Africa to expose Chinese military intentions disguised as economic investments. By leveraging civil society actors, PSYOP forces amplified narratives that mobilized grassroots opposition against foreign coercion, ultimately forcing hostile actors to withdraw from key strategic areas. This form of cognitive warfare, when combined with USAID’s development initiatives, creates sustainable resistance to adversarial encroachment.

Support for Ukraine’s Fight Against Russia

Nowhere is this fusion of civilian and military efforts more evident than in Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, U.S. Special Operations Forces have worked closely with NGOs, volunteer networks, and civilian resistance groups to provide support ranging from intelligence gathering to medical evacuation and supply chain logistics. Nonprofits play a crucial role in collecting actionable insights, often outside traditional military and intelligence channels.

Civil Affairs teams have helped Ukraine build resilience by strengthening governance structures and emergency response capabilities, while PSYOP efforts counter Russian disinformation campaigns aimed at undermining Ukrainian morale. The ability of these forces to work seamlessly with civilian partners has created a powerful asymmetric advantage in Ukraine’s ongoing fight for sovereignty.

Countering Chinese Influence in Panama

Beyond active war zones, Special Operations Forces and civilian partnerships have also been instrumental in countering strategic adversaries like China. In Panama, China has sought to increase its influence over the Panama Canal through infrastructure investments and economic pressure. However, the United States has leveraged Special Forces engagement with local civil and governmental organizations to counterbalance Chinese efforts.

Through a combination of Civil Affairs programs, diplomatic engagement, and NGO-led economic development initiatives, the U.S. has worked to strengthen Panamanian resistance to Chinese encroachment. This soft-power approach, informed by intelligence collected through nontraditional civilian channels, has helped maintain a favorable balance of power in a critical global trade corridor.

My Experience in Strategic Influence Operations

During the early days of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), I served as the only non-Defense industry member of CENTCOM General John Abizaid’s expert advisory board (EAB) on Middle Eastern affairs and strategic communications. With a background in Special Forces and counterterrorism operations, I played a pivotal role in using open-source communications and civilian marketing strategies to influence regional perceptions via Information Operations (IO).

This initiative was remarkably successful in shaping narratives and countering extremist messaging, demonstrating that influence and perception management are as powerful as direct military engagement. Today, nonprofits play a critical role in collecting intelligence and actionable insights, often providing the military and intelligence community with a clearer picture of ground realities than traditional intelligence methods alone.

Strategic Implications and Ethical Considerations

The integration of SOF with civilian noncombatant organizations is not without controversy. While these partnerships provide strategic advantages, they also raise concerns about the militarization of humanitarian aid and the potential for blurring the lines between military and civilian efforts. This is where transparency and adherence to international law become critical. U.S. SOF must ensure that their engagements with NGOs and aid organizations remain aligned with ethical standards, avoiding actions that could compromise the neutrality and safety of these groups.

Winning Without Fighting

Sun Tzu’s age-old adage—”the supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting”—remains the guiding principle of modern unconventional warfare. The fusion of Special Operations Forces with civilian noncombatant organizations represents a powerful approach to competition short of conflict. Whether countering China’s economic coercion, resisting Russian disinformation, or mitigating the influence of violent extremist organizations, these partnerships are essential in shaping the global security landscape.

As the United States recalibrates its national security priorities toward Great Power Competition, ARSOF’s ability to leverage civilian organizations will remain a cornerstone of its unconventional warfare strategy. Success will not be measured solely by military victories but by the long-term stability and resilience of the populations with whom we engage. In this new era of warfare, influence is the ultimate weapon, and civilian partnerships are its delivery system.