About Special Warfare Journal

A collage of eight covers from the Special Warfare Journal. Each cover displays the title Special Warfare prominently.

The covers of various issues of the "Special Warfare Journal," the official publication for the professional development of Special Warfare soldiers.

Special Warfare Journal Charter

In 1988, the United States Army approved the establishment of the Special Warfare Journal (ISSN: 1058-0123), the official Professional Bulletin (PB-80) of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF). Since its first publication in April 1988 (Vol 1, No 1), the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (the Army's Special Operations Center of Excellence) continues this charter through the SWJ Team. This charter is effective 1 June 2025, and it serves to inform and guide future SWJ stewards, ensuring that their branch journal is a torchbearer for others to emulate.

Mission

The SWJ Team receives, reviews, edits, and publishes articles to enhance professional discourse and inform the Army.

Vision

The SWJ Team focuses on article publication, knowledge management, and marketing outreach. Two Harding Fellows each serve as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the ARSOF branch journal. The team understands how the Army and Joint Force work, and leverages streamlined processes to deliver timely publications and deliberate marketing plans that advance the Commanding General's priorities for the branch journal.

Intent

Purpose: We exist to publish articles, inform the community, and support the command with creative, collaborative, and streamlined processes. Our efforts are framed through three lines of effort (LOE): Publishing, Knowledge Management, and Marketing / Outreach.

Our Methods (Actions speak louder than Words)

  • Publishing: a weekly process that focuses on article reception, acceptance / rejection, editing, reviewing, and online publication. Publishing is the primary LOE.
  • Knowledge Management: a deliberate system that tracks each submission from reception through publication, and simplifies the tracking process through a codified standard operating procedure and digital file management. This effort directly supports the Publishing LOE.
  • Marketing and Outreach: all supporting efforts that focus on branding, marketing, social media engagement, unit briefs, and other outreach venues. This effort directly supports the Publishing LOE.

End State

  • Winning Culture: The SWJ Team is a cohesive group with a clear focus on the mission and successful execution.
  • Trusted Professionals: Codified business practices, streamlined production, optimized data management, on-time publications, and meaningful feedback. The SWJ Harding Fellowship is not a platform to promote oneself. Writing articles is encouraged; however, any publications must serve to steward our Army, professional discourse, or the CG's priorities.
  • Disciplined Initiative: Deliver timely reviews, edits, recommendations, and publication – with a deliberate focus on timelines and process management.