Smart Women, Smart Power – "Why We Need Women in Special Forces"

Podcast: CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
Host: Dr. Kathleen McInnis
Guest: Jessica Yahn, Special Operations Veteran & Executive Producer of "Guerrera"
Date: May 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the pivotal role women play in special operations forces (SOF), focusing on Jessica Yahn’s experiences as a veteran and creator of the documentary "Guerrera." The conversation delves into the origins and operational necessity of integrating women into elite military units, the powerful stories from Afghanistan, and how women’s participation addresses critical blind spots in modern conflict. Jessica also reflects on the legacy of her fallen teammates and the lasting strategic value of employing gender as an operational capability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jessica’s Military Path and Motivations

• A Military Upbringing: Jessica grew up in a military family; her father was a U2 pilot during the 1990s and early 2000s ([01:30]), instilling an early sense of service.
• Transition from Air Force to Army: Initially attended the Air Force Academy but found the Army a better fit for her leadership style and interests, especially after realizing she didn't meet the vision requirements to be a pilot ([02:04]–[02:58]).
  • Quote: "I was a little too free spirited for an academy... maybe the Army is the place for me. Actually, I really like the woods." — Jessica Yahn ([02:04])

Establishing the Cultural Support Teams (CST)

• Genesis of the CST Program: Emerged from US Army Special Operations recognizing the operational need for female soldiers to engage with Afghan women, especially in culturally sensitive contexts where male soldiers couldn’t interact ([08:12]).
• Operational Blind Spots: Prior to CSTs, US and coalition forces were missing key intelligence and creating vulnerabilities by not engaging with half the population ([09:34]–[10:00]).

"Guerrera": The Documentary

• Origins: Began as a short memorial tribute to fallen teammate Jennifer Moreno, evolving into a larger project when its deeper significance was recognized ([04:44]).
  • Quote: "The first decision, really, was just to try to put something together that would honor the memory of Jennifer Moreno, who was a teammate of mine... Then Will called me after the weekend of interviews and said, this is a much larger story." — Jessica Yahn ([04:44])
• Honoring Sacrifice: The documentary also pays tribute to Ashley White and others who lost their lives as CST members, aiming to inspire and inform future generations ([06:34]–[06:17]).

Lived Experiences & Operational Advantages

• Accessing Critical Information: Jessica recounts how Jennifer Moreno enabled her Ranger task force to uncover weapons caches by engaging women and children whom male soldiers couldn't question ([10:20]).
  • Quote: "That information probably would have never came off target had she not been there engaging with the women and the young children." — Jessica Yahn ([10:20])
• Mitigating Physical & Intelligence Risks: CSTs not only closed intelligence gaps but also neutralized direct threats, e.g., uncovering a female suicide bomber ([11:27]).

Expanding the Human Terrain

• Comprehensive Engagement: Women in SOF provide unique access to the full “human terrain” (female US service members, partner forces, local women, adversarial women), enabling fuller situational awareness ([13:13]).
  • Quote: "It's just, what's your game plan to get after each one of those segments of the population?" — Jessica Yahn ([13:17])

Lessons from Ukraine & Modern Conflict

• Questioning Combat Distinctions: Dr. McInnis highlights the blurred lines between combat and non-combat in current wars, as seen in Ukraine where thousands of women serve on the front lines ([14:54]).
  • Quote: "What's the distinction between combat and non combat anymore?... The landscape is so complicated, it's so porous." — Dr. Kathleen McInnis ([15:46])

Influence Beyond the Battlefield

• Education as Strategic Leverage: Jessica reflects on her experiences in Afghanistan, linking women’s education to generational change and conflict resolution ([17:00]–[17:53]).
  • Quote: "If you want to change a community, educate a woman, and let that have a ripple effect that will have a generational impact." — Jessica Yahn, paraphrasing Pashtana Durrani ([17:53])

The Ripple Effect & Strategic Advantages

• Empowerment and Hope: The documentary aims to inspire by turning the legacy of loss into hope and action for others. There is frustration at the failure to consistently recognize the strategic edge that serious engagement with women offers ([18:28]–[19:18]).
  • Quote: "It strikes a chord. And for each person that may be a little different, what they pulled out of it." — Jessica Yahn ([19:45])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Purposeful Inclusion
  "The cultural support team program was the purposeful employment of gender as a capability... I provided value on target because I was a woman." — Jessica Yahn ([20:52])

• On Power
  "Power to me is influence, particularly on things outside of our direct control to achieve a desired outcome." — Jessica Yahn ([21:15])

• Episode Highlight:

  • The story of conversing with an Afghan cleric about religion and being told, “You’re an infidel and this war will never end,” which foregrounds the challenges of changing mindsets and the importance of shaping young generations ([16:46]–[17:00]).

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment / Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:30 | Jessica’s military family & early influences | | 02:04 | From Air Force Academy to Army ROTC | | 04:44 | Origins of "Guerrera" & honoring Jennifer Moreno | | 06:34 | Remembering and honoring Jenny as a teammate | | 08:12 | The operational need for women in special operations | | 10:20 | Operational advantages: CST stories (weapons cache & suicide bomber) | | 13:13 | Human terrain: engaging the full population | | 14:54 | Lessons from Ukraine and modern warfare’s blurred boundaries | | 17:53 | Impact of educating women – generational change | | 18:28 | Frustrations around under-leveraged strategic advantages | | 20:52 | Gender as capability in operations | | 21:15 | Jessica’s definition of power |

Summary & Takeaways

• Women add operational necessity and strategic advantage to modern special operations, especially in environments where gender norms restrict engagement for male soldiers.
• The inclusion of women on SOF teams sheds light on otherwise inaccessible intelligence and threat vectors ("blind spots").
• Jessica Yahn’s documentary, "Guerrera," amplifies the voices and sacrifices of women in SOF, aiming to educate and inspire future generations.
• The ripple effect of engaging and empowering women not only improves military effectiveness but also fosters longer-term societal stability.
• Gender is best viewed not merely as representation, but as a capability that can be purposefully leveraged for influence and mission success.

This episode is a powerful testament to the necessity of integrating women at all levels of military operations, showing their irreplaceable impact and the broader implications for national and global security.