The US Army National Guard recently conducted a Special Forces exercise in West Virginia to improve skills in counterinsurgency operations, irregular warfare, and interoperability with foreign forces. Over 420 soldiers, primarily from the Utah-based 19th Special Forces Group (SFG) and representatives from 16 partner countries, participated in the drill, which involved realistic training scenarios and focused on responding to hybrid threats, security force assistance, and foreign internal defense.
  

Key Points: 

1. The Special Forces exercise, designed to enhance the military’s capability in counterinsurgency operations and irregular warfare, involved a diverse range of participants, including over 420 soldiers and warfighters from 16 international partners.
2. Training scenarios simulated real-world conditions, with soldiers operating as “nation” groups, completing missions alongside actual local government officials, law enforcement, and emergency services personnel.
3. The event focused on responding to various threats and situations, including hybrid threats, security force assistance, and foreign internal defense, reflecting irregular warfare’s broad and versatile nature.
4. These exercises also included the planning and execution of strategies against a simulated invasion by opposing forces, enhancing the readiness and realism of the training.
5. The exercise aimed to prepare the US Army and the Army National Guard for future counterinsurgency operations against near-peer threats and potential large-scale deployments, focusing on low-visibility operations and civilian interaction.

Source: https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/07/10/us-army-guard-counterinsurgency-practice/