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Army Special Forces officer COL Ed Croot sat down for a Mission Essential Conversation on the identity crisis in Special Forces. During the discussion, COL Croot goes in-depth about U.S. Special Forces’ evolving demands influenced by prevailing global circumstances. Special Forces face vastly different challenges in the current Great Power Competition than mission requirements when founded in 1952. Today’s environment impacts critical variables such as scope, scale, and an adversary’s speed.
COL Croot’s 2020 Duke University dissertation on the topic identified fundamental disconnects between recruitment, training, and deployment for Special Forces.
About COL Edward Croot
COL Edward Croot is an Army Special Forces officer from Long Valley, NJ. He is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh (B.A. Business / B.S. Psychology), Army School of Advanced Military Studies (M.A. Theater Level Operations), and Kansas State University (M.S. Education). He joined the Army in 1995, earning his commission through ROTC. He has commanded at the company and battalion level and served on operational assignments in Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Yemen, Zambia, Iraq, Bangladesh, and Jordan. COL Croot has interagency and policy experience from two U.S. embassy assignments in Sanaa and Dhaka and multinational experience on both a UN and NATO staff. He has focused on national security threats in the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific, and Africa.
COL Croot recently completed the Counterterrorism and Public Policy Fellowship at Duke University, where he conducted research on the current culture and identity of the U.S. Army Special Forces.
NEW ALBANY, Ohio, December 10, 2020 – At a Polygraph Cleared Job Fair hosted by ClearedJobs.Net on Wednesday, December 9, Mission Essential recruiters Carrie Collins, Crystal Mitchell, and Phillip Yergin were voted “Best Recruiters” by job seekers.
These three team members, and our entire group of best-in-class recruiters, work tirelessly to provide exceptional support and solutions for candidates. Thank you for your hard work and congratulations on your well-deserved recognition!
If you are interested in joining the Mission Essential team, check out our Careers page here.
Mission Essential celebrated Major General (Ret.) Clay Hutmacher who serves as the President and CEO of SOWF.
HERNDON, Virginia, November 11, 2020 – On November 10, Mission Essential hosted a hybrid virtual and in-person, socially distanced whiskey tasting to honor the President and CEO of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF), Major General Clay Hutmacher, and the 40th anniversary of the philanthropic organization. The in-person event was held at Chef Warren’s Market and Bistro in Southern Pines, North Carolina.
SOWF ensures full post-secondary educational support to surviving children of special operations personnel and immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations personnel. SOWF provides students with tools for educational success, including preschool funding, academic counseling, private tutoring, college planning, coaching and mentoring, and college-to-career transition.
During his two years at the organization’s helm, Major General Hutmacher has made a significant impact.
- Extended the eligibility criteria to include children of all Medal of Honor recipients, living and deceased.
- Expanded eligibility criteria for immediate financial assistance to include SOCOM personnel with Category III illnesses, in addition to those wounded in combat and injured in training.
- Established a program to fund education programs for eligible special needs students. Established an Ambassador program to expand the SOWF family and network nationally.
Participants enjoyed comments from Major General Hutmacher’s friends and colleagues, including Major General Mark Clark, whiskey trivia, and conversation.
The whiskey tasting was led by Leatherwood Distillery. The distillery is owned by Andy Lang, a 24-year vet, Army Special Forces, and his Partner Masoud Rezai, a North Afghanistan native and interpreter for the U.S. Armed Forces. They met in Afghanistan in 2011. Virtual attendees sipped samplers sent directly to their home live on Zoom.
Mission Essential is honored to support the SOWF mission.
ABOUT THE MISSION ESSENTIAL GROUP
The Mission Essential Group, founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Gregory K. Miller, is an agile, trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence communities, friendly foreign governments, and select private sector segments. The company is a leading provider of intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions/technology, Cyberspace/Security superiority, Human Capital Management, and language and cultural advisory services. Mission Essential executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department. With home offices in Columbus Ohio and Herndon Virginia, The Mission Essential Group’s global footprint encompasses over 45 countries and 17 domestic U.S. locations.
HERNDON, Virginia, November 9, 2020 – Mission Essential is proud to announce that two employees were selected as finalists in the 2020 WashingtonExec Pinnacle Awards, which honors businesses and individuals spurring innovation for federal government clients across D.C.
Mission Essential’s Vice President of Language and Training Programs, John Doran, was nominated in the DOD Industry Executive of the Year category. Doran joined the Mission Essential team in 2008 as a senior project manager stationed at Fort Gordon in Georgia. Throughout the years, he established himself as a strategic and motivated leaders in multiple positions within the company. In 2019, Doran was tapped to lead Mission Essential’s largest business unit, language services. Doran’s dedication to Mission Essential’s customers, his employees, and the mission is what truly sets him apart as an executive.
Mary Harmer, Mission Essential’s Vice President of Human Resources was nominated in the HR Executive of the Year – Small category. Harmer joined Mission Essential in 2009 and oversees the company’s HR, benefits, HRIS, labor relations and training activities. With an eye for strategy and the long-term health of the company and its employees, Harmer has led the company’s HR Team through the multitude of challenges Mission Essential faces as a diverse and global company.
The winners will be announced at the 2020 Pinnacle Awards on Thursday, November 12. Congratulations and good luck, finalists!
HERNDON, Virginia, November 5, 2020 – Mission Essential premiered part final part of discussion between General Tony Thomas, the 11th Commander of US SOCOM, and Major General Clay Hutmacher, who served 40 years in uniform before becoming the President and Chief Executive of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Throughout the series, the decorated duo discussed the U.S. strategy orientation often referred to as a “2+3” strategy – a strategy for countering two primary global powers – China and Russia – and three additional challenges – North Korea, Iran, and extremist groups. General Thomas describes the current positioning with these powers as “arguably the most strategically challenging moment in my lifetime, if not the history of our country.”
Both General Thomas and Major General Hutmacher were mired with the dealings of violent extremists groups during their tenure with the United States Military, especially after 9/11. “When people ask me if we’re winning or losing [against extremists groups] my flip response is, ‘have we had another 9/11?’’ Explained General Thomas. “It isn’t because the bad guys haven’t tried. It’s because we’re playing a really aggressive away game.”
This interview is a part of a larger webinar series, Mission Essential Conversations: A SITREP to trending matters of language and intel affairs.
ABOUT MISSION ESSENTIAL
Mission Essential, founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Gregory K. Miller, is a trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence Communities, and a leading provider of language and cultural advisory services, intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions and technology, and cyberspace superiority. Mission Essential executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department.
HERNDON, Virginia, November 4, 2020 – Mission Essential premiered part three of a four-part discussion between General Tony Thomas, the 11th Commander of US SOCOM, and Major General Clay Hutmacher, who served 40 years in uniform before becoming the President and Chief Executive of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Throughout the series, the decorated duo discussed the U.S. strategy orientation often referred to as a “2+3” strategy – a strategy for countering two primary global powers – China and Russia – and three additional challenges – North Korea, Iran, and extremist groups. General Thomas describes the current positioning with these powers as “arguably the most strategically challenging moment in my lifetime, if not the history of our country.”
For the third part of the webinar series General Thomas explored the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran, smaller, yet still significant threats to the United States in the world of Great Power Competition.
During the conversation, General Thomas made sure to point out that each Great Power in the strategy is interwoven with each other. For example, Russia’s current partnership with China. “[Russia and China] are melded together with one advisory, the United States,” said General Thomas. “Do I think this deal will last for long? No. In fact, I think China is using Russia as a springboard and will leave them in the dust as they continue to climb.”
Join Mission Essential tomorrow for Part 4 of the Great Power Competition: Extremists groups.
This interview is a part of a larger webinar series, Mission Essential Conversations: A SITREP to trending matters of language and intel affairs.
ABOUT MISSION ESSENTIAL
Mission Essential, founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Gregory K. Miller, is a trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence Communities, and a leading provider of language and cultural advisory services, intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions and technology, and cyberspace superiority. Mission Essential executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department.
HERNDON, Virginia, October 28, 2020 – Mission Essential premiered part two of a four-part discussion between General Tony Thomas, the 11th Commander of US SOCOM, and Major General Clay Hutmacher, who served 40 years in uniform before becoming the President and Chief Executive of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Throughout the series, the decorated duo discussed the U.S. strategy orientation often referred to as a “2+3” strategy – a strategy for countering two primary global powers – China and Russia – and three additional challenges – North Korea, Iran, and extremist groups. General Thomas describes the current positioning with these powers as “arguably the most strategically challenging moment in my lifetime, if not the history of our country.”
In part two, General Thomas explored Russia, a military and historic superpower. The discussion covered Russia’s rise to power, their partnership with China, and much more.
During the conversation, General Thomas made sure to point out that each Great Power in the strategy is interwoven with each other. For example, Russia’s current partnership with China. “[Russia and China] are melded together with one advisory, the United States,” said General Thomas. “Do I think this deal will last for long? No. In fact, I think China is using Russia as a springboard and will leave them in the dust as they continue to climb.”
Join Mission Essential next week for Part 3 & 4 of the Great Power Competition: DPRK & Iran and Extremists groups.
This interview is a part of a larger webinar series, Mission Essential Conversations: A SITREP to trending matters of language and intel affairs.
ABOUT MISSION ESSENTIAL
Mission Essential, founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Gregory K. Miller, is a trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence Communities, and a leading provider of language and cultural advisory services, intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions and technology, and cyberspace superiority. Mission Essential executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department.
HERNDON, Virginia, October 21, 2020 – Mission Essential premiered part one of a four-part discussion between General Tony Thomas, the 11th Commander of US SOCOM, and Major General Clay Hutmacher, who served 40 years in uniform before becoming the President and Chief Executive of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.
Throughout the series, the decorated duo discussed the U.S. strategy orientation often referred to as a “2+3” strategy – a strategy for countering two primary global powers – China and Russia – and three additional challenges – North Korea, Iran, and extremist groups. General Thomas describes the current positioning with these powers as “arguably the most strategically challenging moment in my lifetime, if not the history of our country.”
Part one kicked off with an in-depth look at China, the preeminent threat to the United States. General Thomas assessed China’s threat level, strategic goals, strengths and vulnerabilities, and much more.
When discussing China’s strategic aspirations, General Thomas said, “China becomes a rich, powerful, respected nation. They undo 100 years of shame. They return to prominence; and that they rectify what they call territorial challenges,” he explained. “[It’s] a very specific plan, it’s out there.”
Join Mission Essential next week for Part 2 of the Great Power Competition: Russia.
This interview is a part of a larger webinar series, Mission Essential Conversations: A SITREP to trending matters of language and intel affairs.
ABOUT MISSION ESSENTIAL
Mission Essential, founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Gregory K. Miller, is a trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence Communities, and a leading provider of language and cultural advisory services, intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions and technology, and cyberspace superiority. Mission Essential executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department.
HERNDON, Virginia, October 12, 2020 – Mission Essential premiered its first two-part conversation featuring Col. Sean Corrigan (R), interviewed by Major General Clay Hutmacher (R). Col. Corrigan, a 30-year veteran of the United States Army, discussed the current dilemma the United States faces with Iran and the potential future of US – Iran relations.
Col. Corrigan’s expertise on Iran and the Middle East comes from his time as the Commander of a task force dedicated to countering malign Iranian influence in Iraq. He was also the Commander of all US Special Forces in Yemen from 2012-13 when Iranian-backed Houthi rebels attempted to seize the US embassy days after the Benghazi consulate. His first-hand experience observing Iranian irregular warfare activities in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, combined with his academic research background, gave him a unique perspective on Iran’s relations with the US and the region.
“The biggest threat [to the IRGC] is internal, a velvet revolution… an imposed internal revolution sponsored by the likes of the US or the UK or whomever,” said Corrigan. “They’re worried more about their own people than they are about us.”
This interview is a part of a larger webinar series, Mission Essential Conversations: A SITREP to trending matters of language and intel affairs.
ABOUT MISSION ESSENTIAL
Mission Essential, founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Gregory K. Miller, is a trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence Communities, and a leading provider of language and cultural advisory services, intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions and technology, and cyberspace superiority. Mission Essential executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department.
HERNDON, Virginia, September 3, 2020 – On Wednesday, September 2, Mission Essential premiered an in-depth conversation with former linguist Joe L. Joe, a Pakistani American, is fluent in Pashto, Urdu, and Hindi.
Throughout the broadcast, Joe speaks passionately about his three years embedded with US troops and intelligence officials in Afghanistan, serving as a Mission Essential employee, translator, and political advisor. He served as a liaison between the US and Afghan governments and conducted interrogations and intelligence gathering of interned Taliban and al-Qaeda enemy combatants.
“I could see the impact we were having in Afghanistan,” said Joe. “You’re not reading about this stuff from thousands of miles away, you’re immersed in the environment. You’re involved in the work. You’re having a direct impact on a mission.”
Following his dynamic life and career, Joe details many of experiences from growing up in the Bronx to interpreting as a Mission Essential employee alongside Green Berets, then to his commission as a Lieutenant in the United States Army.
“You’re bringing strangers from different corners of the world together for a mission. Lives are on the line and it is your responsibility to cultivate that relationship as a linguist,” said Joe.
This interview is a part of a larger webinar series, Mission Essential Conversations: A SITREP to trending matters of language and intel affairs.
ABOUT MISSION ESSENTIAL
Mission Essential, founded by U.S. Army SOF veteran and current Chairman Gregory K. Miller, is a trusted partner to the Defense and Intelligence Communities, and a leading provider of language and cultural advisory services, intelligence analysis and operations support, ISR solutions and technology, and cyberspace superiority. Mission Essential executes prime contracts with numerous Intelligence Community members, as well as with the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force; U.S. Central, European, and Africa Commands; and the State Department.
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