DOCSLIB.ORG

The Importance of Special Operations Forces Today and Going Forward Steven P

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Importance of Special Operations Forces Today and Going Forward Steven P THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION The Importance of Special Operations Forces Today and Going Forward Steven P. Bucci, PhD n the post-9/11 period of war and subsequent security conditions that can minimize the need for military drawdown, Special Operations Forces larger deployments of conventional military forces. I(SOF) appear likely to grow in numbers, fund- Getting this balance right is the key challenge for the ing, and importance—but not necessarily in gen- military and policymakers. eral understanding. One of the most flexible and This essay will address numerous issues regard- useful instruments in America’s national security ing Special Operations Forces while attempting to toolbox, SOF are regularly referred to incorrectly, answer several questions, including: incompletely, and with little depth of knowledge by policymakers. l How SOF serve as a tool of U.S. military efforts, SOF are neither a panacea nor an insignificant oddity. If utilized correctly, they bring great bene- l How SOF provide strategic warning and prepare fit to the nation; used poorly, their capabilities and the environment, sometimes their lives are wasted. How, then, should this nation think about these compelling and often l How SOF enable hard power by providing conven- mythologized warriors and their role in supporting tional forces a “warm start” and create options America’s vital national interests? not otherwise possible, and During times of austerity, the government often looks for ways to get “more bang for the buck.”1 l How SOF amplify the effectiveness of hard power When this budgetary philosophy is applied to the by doing things like leveraging infrastructure and military, SOF, with their reputation for doing great using their ability to exploit actions/successes. things with fewer troops and resources than large conventional forces, seem like a bargain. This vision Finally, this essay will review SOF’s potential as of a “surgical” capability that is made up of mature, a bridging capability during this time of strained “hard” professionals who make the right choices at resources. SOF will be a key part of America’s abil- the right time and that avoids the need to deploy ity to meet the challenges of an increasingly wor- larger formations of citizen soldiers at great expense risome threat environment while its conventional can be very compelling. forces are in decline. Although they are not a sub- Given America’s current fiscal difficulties, there stitute for other capabilities in the U.S. military, is a growing danger of overutilizing or misapplying SOF can mitigate risk by helping to set the operat- SOF, but this is not to say that SOF should not be ing environment in the most advantageous man- used. In fact, SOF can and should be a major enabler ner possible. for other elements of power as well as a shaper of 47 2015 INDEX OF U.S. MILITARY STRENGTH Special Operations: A Primer U.S. Special Operations Command. The par- The term “Special Operations Forces (SOF)” is ent command of all SOF is U.S. Special Operations the only correct generic term for the organizations Command (USSOCOM), which is headquartered at being discussed. It includes certain designated units MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.4 Estab- of all services and all capabilities. First and fore- lished in 1987, USSOCOM is responsible for man- most, SOF are the men and women that make up ning, training, and equipping all SOF units. It does the units. They are, for the most part, mature and this in conjunction with the four services, which also highly trained. A typical special operator (regard- provide the troops to the SOF units. Although not a less of service or specialty) is married with a family; service branch, USSOCOM has certain service-like averages 29–34 years old; has at least eight years on responsibilities including the procurement of SOF- active duty in the general purpose forces (GPF); has specific items as needed. some cultural and language training (most are mas- SOCOM has had some disagreements with the ters of cross-cultural communication); has attended services over funding, authorities, and which units numerous advanced-skills schools; and has at least get assigned to USSOCOM; it also has sparred with some college education, if not multiple degrees (this the Geographic Combatant Commanders (GCCs) includes the enlisted ranks).2 over the authority to direct SOF missions. Currently, SOF competently operate a great deal of highly USSOCOM enjoys the widest operational mandate advanced U.S military equipment and are also profi- it has ever had and is seen by both the services and cient with the equipment of other services and coun- the GCCs as a very positive contributor to national tries. They are valued for their out-of-the-box thinking, security. USSOCOM maintains manning, training, imagination, and initiative. SOF can and do operate and equipping responsibilities for deployed forc- with a small footprint and can survive and thrive es through the Theater Special Operations Com- with a very light support tail. These SOF are seen as mands (TSOCs) that are under the operational con- the consummate military professionals and as such trol of each GCC. The GCCs operationally manage are “detached from Main Street” in ways that the the TSOCs, but USSOCOM’s worldwide situational 18–22- year-olds in the general-purpose forces are not. awareness allows them to synchronize operations The Department of Defense defines Special Oper- across GCC boundaries. ations (SO) as operations that: There are five major subcomponents to USSO- COM: U.S. Army Special Operations Command Require unique modes of employment, tactical (USASOC); Navy Special Warfare Command techniques, equipment, and training often con- (NSW); Air Force Special Operations Command ducted in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive (AFSOC); Marine Corps Forces Special Operations environments and characterized by one or more Command (MARSOC); and Joint Special Opera- of the following: time sensitive, clandestine, low tions Command (JSOC)—one for each service visibility, conducted with and/or through indig- with an additional multiservice special mission enous forces, requiring regional expertise, and/ command. Each of these organizations contrib- or a high degree of risk.3 utes something unique to the special operations community. They have different roles and tend There are some who claim that conventional forc- to specialize in certain types of missions or areas es can and do handle tasks that SOF handle. Yet SOF of operation. are often entrusted to perform missions that exceed the authority given to conventional military units, Direct vs. Indirect Approaches such as operating in “politically sensitive envi- SOF operations fall broadly into two catego- ronments” or executing tasks that require special ries: direct and indirect. The direct approach con- legal authorities. sists of SOF raids and other operations that direct- ly target the enemy, such as an operation executed Organizational Structure by Navy SEALs to free American and Danish aid To appreciate how SOF are “special,” one must workers held by Somali pirates.5 According to understand how these forces are organized and how Admiral William H. McRaven, former Command- they operate. er of SOCOM: 48 THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION The direct approach is characterized by techno- more commonly known as Green Berets.9 They have logically-enabled small-unit precision lethality, five active-duty groups. Each is traditionally ori- focused intelligence, and interagency coopera- ented on a region, but this has been stretched by tion integrated on a digitally-networked battle- the wars of the past decade, which required all the field…. Extreme in risk, precise in execution and SF units to rotate into the fight: Pacific (1st Group); able to deliver a high payoff, the impacts of the Africa (3rd Group); the Middle East (5th Group); direct approach are immediate, visible to [the] Latin America (7th Group); and Europe (10th Group, public and have had tremendous effects on our Fort Carson, Colorado).10 There are also two Nation- enemies’ networks throughout the decade.6 al Guard Groups (19th and 20th), which augment their active-duty counterparts. Such missions are typically brief (even if plan- SF units are generally older and more experi- ning for them can be extensive) and usually carry a enced than their fellow SOF. They are specialists in higher potential for the use of weapons; to use a pop- working with foreign militaries. Green Berets, for ular description, they tend to be more “kinetic.” example, perform both direct missions and indi- The indirect approach is characterized by long- rect tasks (discussed further below). They operate term commitments of SOF to help enable and aid in 12-man teams, often remote in relation to other other nations to improve their own military forces American forces. and security. McRaven explains: The 75th Ranger Regiment is another element of USASOC. It is headquartered at Fort Benning, Geor- The indirect approach includes empowering host gia, and commands three battalions of what are con- nation forces, providing appropriate assistance sidered the finest special light infantry troops in the to humanitarian agencies, and engaging key pop- world.11 While they are organized much as other light ulations. These long-term efforts increase part- infantry units are organized, the Rangers’ level of ner capabilities to generate sufficient security training, readiness, and deployability exceeds that and rule of law, address local needs, and advance of their non-SOF counterparts. Although they are ideas that discredit and defeat the appeal of vio- often used in small elements (squad, platoon, or com- lent extremism.7 pany), the full weight of the Rangers is demonstrat- ed when they perform battalion-level assaults and While the direct approach is focused on address- raids. They operate primarily as a direct action force. ing immediate situations such as disrupting terror- The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment ist operations, the indirect approach is longer-term (SOAR) has a variety of highly modified rotary- and seeks to prevent threatening situations from wing platforms.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Role Playing U.S. Special Operations Military Soldiers in the Modern Era a Monograph for the Basic Roleplaying System by Chaosium Inc
    SPECIAL OPERATIONS MANUAL Role Playing U.S. Special Operations Military Soldiers in the modern era A Monograph for the Basic RolePlaying System by Chaosium Inc. By Jason Graham and Stephen Baron No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author or publisher. 1 SPECIAL OPERATIONS MANUAL “We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.” This book is dedicated to the proud men and women of the U.S. Military 2 SPECIAL OPERATIONS MANUAL CONTENTS INTRODUCTION – 4 ARMY RANGERS – 6 ARMY SPECIAL FORCES – 8 NAVY SEALS – 10 MARINE CORPS MARSOC – 12 ARMY DELTA FORCE – 14 NAVY DEVGRU – 16 AIR FORCE PARARESCUE – 18 PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTOR – 20 CIA S.O.G. – 22 UNITS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES - 24 SKILLS – 28 OFFICER SCHOOL – 30 ARMOR – 31 EQUIPMENT – 32 WEAPONS – 33 CHARACTER SHEET - 34 MISSION BRIEFINGS – 36 SCENARIO SEEDS - 39 MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS – 40 RECOMMENDED READING – 46 RECOMMENDED VIEWING – 47 3 SPECIAL OPERATIONS MANUAL INTRODUCTION Special Operations soldiers are a unique the most realistic way possible within the breed. Determined, highly intelligent and confines of the BRP system. specially trained problem solvers who train This supplement is intended for an action constantly to risk their lives protecting oriented campaign where the extra weapons citizens who will never know who they are. and combat skills will be not only desirable These brave men, known as “Operators” do but essential. The characters outlined here not expect parades for their service, in fact, should be far above normal human they know that, should the worst happen, not characters in almost every aspect, combining even their loved ones will be given details of the physical prowess of Olympic level their final mission.
    [Show full text]
  • US Special Operations Forces (SOF)
    Order Code RS21048 Updated April 17, 2006 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress Andrew Feickert Specialist in National Defense Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary Special Operations Forces (SOF) play a significant role in U.S. military operations and the Administration has given U.S. SOF forces greater responsibility for planning and conducting worldwide counterterrorism operations. The 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) has called for a 15% increase in special operations forces beginning in FY2007. Proposals to elevate the command of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and the realignment of civil affairs, psychological operations (psyops) and combat search and rescue (CSAR) functions out from under the control of the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), has raised concerns that SOF is perhaps becoming too focused on immediate versus long-term results. This report will be updated as events warrant. Background Overview. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are small, elite military units with special training and equipment that can infiltrate into hostile territory through land, sea, or air to conduct a variety of operations, many of them classified. SOF personnel undergo rigorous selection and lengthy, specialized training. The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) oversees the training, doctrine, and equipping of all U.S. SOF units. Command Structures. In 1986 Congress (P.L. 99-661) expressed concern for the status of SOF within overall U.S. defense planning and passed measures to strengthen its position. These actions included the establishment of USSOCOM as a new unified command.
    [Show full text]
  • The Command and Control of Special Operations Forces
    Calhoun: The NPS Institutional Archive Theses and Dissertations Thesis Collection 1996-12 The command and control of Special Operations Forces Brown, Harry S. Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School http://hdl.handle.net/10945/39299 NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS THE COMMAND AND CONTROL .OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES by Harry S. Brown December 1996 Thesis Advisor: Rodney Minott Second Reader: Wayne Hughes Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited 19970626 051 Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Public reporting burden for this collection of infonnation is estimated to average I hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction. searching existing data sources, of this gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of infonnation. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect collection of infonnation, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Infonnation Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0!88) Washington DC 20503. 1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED December 1996. Master's Thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE The Command and Control of Special Operations Forces 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR(S) Harry Scott Brown 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING Naval Postgraduate School ORGANIZATION REPORT NUMBER Monterey CA 93943-5000 9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY REPORT NUMBER 11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Operations
    Joint Publication 3-05 Special Operations 16 July 2014 PREFACE 1. Scope This publication provides overarching doctrine for special operations and the employment and support for special operations forces across the range of military operations. 2. Purpose This publication has been prepared under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). It sets forth joint doctrine to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in joint operations and provides the doctrinal basis for interagency coordination and for US military involvement in multinational operations. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders and prescribes joint doctrine for operations, education, and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing their appropriate plans. It is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the joint force commander from organizing the force and executing the mission in a manner the joint force commander deems most appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of the overall objective. 3. Application a. Joint doctrine established in this publication applies to the Joint Staff, commanders of combatant commands, subunified commands, joint task forces, subordinate components of these commands, the Services, and combat support agencies. b. The guidance in this publication is authoritative; as such, this doctrine will be followed except when, in the judgment of the commander, exceptional circumstances dictate otherwise. If conflicts arise between the contents of this publication and the contents of Service publications, this publication will take precedence unless the CJCS, normally in coordination with the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has provided more current and specific guidance.
    [Show full text]
  • Koncepcja I Tworzenie JW GROM Jako Jednostki Sił Operacji Specjalnych
    BEZPIECZEŃSTWO SECURITY TEORIA I PRAKTYKA THEORY AND PRACTICE e-ISSN 2451-0718 2020 ISSN 1899-6264 Nr 2 (XXXIX) DOI: 10.34697/2451-0718-btip-2020-2-003 Received: 5.01.2020 Accepted: 22.04.2020 Hubert Królikowski prof. dr hab., Uniwersytet Jagielloński ORCID: 0000-0001-6617-1185 Koncepcja i tworzenie JW GROM jako jednostki sił operacji specjalnych Wprowadzenie W literaturze poświęconej jednostkom i siłom prowadzącym operacje specjalne można znaleźć kilka definicji, które je określają. W źródłach anglojęzycznych siły te są nazywane siłami operacji specjalnych (Special Operations Forces, SOF), czasem zamiennie siłami specjalnymi (Special Forces, SF), a w Polsce Wojskami Specjal- nymi1. Siłom operacji specjalnych stawiany jest szeroki zakres zadań, co wpływa na ich zróżnicowanie organizacyjne i różnorodność działań do jakich prowadzenia są przystosowane (od działań szturmowych, poprzez rozpoznanie, aż do działań psy- chologicznych). Same jednostki sił operacji specjalnych nie zawsze są ulokowane w strukturach wojskowych, czasami występują w żandarmerii, policji czy służbach specjalnych. Porównując i analizując definicje sił operacji specjalnych i samych operacji spe- cjalnych zawarte w dokumentach doktrynalnych Stanów Zjednoczonych i NATO2, można wskazać kilka ważnych elementów charakteryzujących siły specjalne. Są to: • wyznaczanie celów wynikających z polityki i strategii bezpieczeństwa państwa; • realizacja zadań krytycznych dla polityki i strategii bezpieczeństwa państwa; 1 W dalszej części artykułu będę używał tych terminów zamiennie. Należy jednak podkreślić, że w Stanach Zjednoczonych termin Special Operations Forces odnosi się do ogółu sił przeznaczonych do prowadzenia operacji specjalnych, a Special Forces to jednostki Wojsk Lądowych, tzw. Zielone Berety. Natomiast w Wielkiej Brytanii termin siły specjalne określa całość sił przeznaczonych do prowadzenia operacji specjalnych. 2 Allied Joint Doctrine for Special Operations AJP-3.5, 2009; Doctrine for Joint Special Operations.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Operations Forces Reference Manual
    Special Operations Forces Reference Manual Fourth Edition The JSOU Press MacDill AFB, Florida June 2015 Prepared by Joint Special Operations University and the Center for Special Operations Studies and Research MacDill AFB, FL 33621 The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU). The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) provides its publications to contribute toward expanding the body of knowledge about joint special operations. JSOU publications advance the insights and recom- mendations of national security professionals and the Special Operations Forces (SOF) students and leaders for consideration by the SOF community and defense leadership. JSOU is the educational component of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The JSOU mission is to educate SOF execu- tive, senior, and intermediate leaders and selected other national and international security decision-makers, both military and civilian, through teaching, outreach, and research in the science and art of joint special operations. JSOU provides education to the men and women of SOF and to those who enable the SOF mission in a joint and interagency environment. JSOU conducts research through its Center for Special Operations Studies and Research (CSOSR) where effort centers upon the USSOCOM mission: USSOCOM mission. Provide fully capable Special Operations Forces to defend the United States and its interests. Synchronize planning of global operations against terrorist networks. The CSOSR also provides teaching and curriculum support to Professional Military Education institutions—the staff colleges and war colleges. It advances SOF strategic influence by its interaction in academic, interagency, and United States military communities. The JSOU public Web page is located at https://jsou.socom.mil.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Forces Do We Need a Unified Tri-Service Command?
    scholar warrior Special Forces Do we need a Unified Tri-service Command? CLAWS RESEarcH TEAM India has very competent and capable Special Forces (SF) which have proved their mettle in various operations. Besides operating in various parts of the country, the SF have distinguished themselves while operating beyond the geographical confines of the country. ‘Operation Pawan’ in Sri Lanka, ‘Operation Cactus’ in Maldives, ‘Operation Khukri’ in Sierra Leone and deployment in various United Nations peace keeping forces are a testimony to the prowess of India’s SF. This article aims to analyse the command and control set up of the Special Forces1 of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The Indian Army has seven Special Forces (SF) and three airborne battalions,2 the Indian Navy has marine commando (MARCOS) with approximately seven hundred personnel,3 and the Indian Air Force has Garuds consisting of approximately 1500 personnel.4 Three to four additional SF battalions are likely to be raised in the next five years. Present Command and Control set up of India’s Special Forces Presently all Special Forces are under their parent service. One SF battalion is normally allotted to each theatre command of the Army. Subunits may be sub- allotted to Corps/Divisions for operations only. The overall operational control and deployment however rests with the Military Operations (MO) Directorate of the Indian Army. The Garuds and MARCOS are centrally controlled by the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy, respectively. scholar warrior ä AUTUMN 2011 ä 33 scholar warrior Global Trends The United States Army Special Forces are popularly referred to as ‘Green Berets’.
    [Show full text]
  • ADRP 3-05. Special Operations
    ADRP 3-05 SPECIAL OPERATIONS JANUARY 2018 DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. This publication supersedes ADRP 3-05, dated 31 August 2012. HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY This publication is available at the Army Publishing Directorate site (https://armypubs.army.mil) and the Central Army Registry site (https://atiam.train.army.mil/catalog/dashboard). *ADRP 3-05 Army Doctrine Reference Publication Headquarters No. 3-05 Department of the Army Washington, DC, 29 January 2018 Special Operations Contents Page PREFACE..............................................................................................................iv INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................vi Chapter 1 OVERVIEW OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS ......................................................... 1-1 Strategic Context for Special Operations ........................................................... 1-1 Joint Force Commander Requirements ............................................................. 1-2 Operational Environments .................................................................................. 1-2 Support of Global Operations ............................................................................. 1-3 Strategic Environment ........................................................................................ 1-3 Range of Military Operations .............................................................................. 1-4 Types
    [Show full text]
  • Special Operations Forces and Accountability in Counter- Terrorism and Counter-Insurgency Operations
    2016 Thematic: Time to Move Out of the Shadows? 1239 15 TIME TO MOVE OUT OF THE SHADOWS? SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN COUNTER- TERRORISM AND COUNTER-INSURGENCY OPERATIONS JON MORAN* I INTRODUCTION: THE ‘GOLDEN AGE’ OF SPECIAL FORCES On his retirement as head of the United States (‘US’) Joint Special Operations Command, Admiral William McRaven argued that the US was in ‘the golden age of Special Operations’. 1 Indeed, according to one 2010 estimate special operations forces (‘SOF’) from the US were present in 75 countries2 and by 2013 this had risen to 134.3 In addition, SOF from Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom (‘UK’) have been operating in a number of jurisdictions. There are four reasons why SOF have become so prominent in contemporary counter- terrorism and counter-insurgency operations. The first is tactical. In the current context SOF have been better able to perform functions that large numbers of troops operating conventionally have not. These include reconnaissance, forward air control, hostage rescue, training and mentoring local forces and, perhaps most controversially, targeted killing. These types of functions have become core to the latest phase of the counter-terrorism operations which began after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. In this area SOF operations can be either ‘white’ (openly acknowledged combat, kill or capture missions, and/or the training and mentoring of local forces) or ‘black’ (covert or clandestine kill or capture missions and/or assistance to local forces).4 The second reason is strategic. SOF may function, as they arguably are at the moment, as a method of maintaining counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations ‘under the radar’ – reducing the publicity and ‘mission creep’ that accompanies conventional operations.
    [Show full text]
  • US Special Operations Forces (SOF)
    Order Code RS21048 Updated September 28, 2004 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress Andrew Feickert Specialist in National Defense Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division Summary Special Operations Forces (SOF) play a significant role in U.S. military operations and the Administration has given U.S. SOF forces greater responsibility for planning and conducting worldwide counterterrorism operations. The 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) paramilitary clandestine and covert operations should become the responsibility the U.S. Special Operations Command has been included in both versions of House and Senate intelligence reform legislation. This report will be updated as events warrant. Background Overview. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are small, elite military units with special training and equipment that can infiltrate into hostile territory through land, sea, or air to conduct a variety of operations, many of them classified. SOF personnel undergo rigorous selection and lengthy, specialized training. U.S. SOF units total roughly 34,000 active and about 15,000 reserve personnel in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, or about 2% of all U.S. active and reserve forces. The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) oversees the training, doctrine, and equipping of all U.S. SOF units. Operations in the Global War on Terror. SOF forces continue to operate in Iraq and Afghanistan where they are actively pursuing former regime leadership targets. Some estimates suggest that about 80 percent of deployed SOF units are currently operating in Iraq and Afghanistan.1 SOF units operating with Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) are involved in training selected regional armed forces in counterterror and counterinsurgency tactics as well as assisting in the apprehension of terrorists operating in the region.
    [Show full text]
  • Special Operations Forces: Challenges and Opportunities
    Special Operations Forces: Challenges and Opportunities Testimony Before the U.S. House of Representatives House Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Robert Martinage Senior Fellow Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments March 3, 2009 Introduction Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to share my views on the challenges and opportunities facing U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF).1 SOF have figured prominently in U.S. military operations since 2001 and have become central to the implementation of U.S. national defense strategy with respect to the war against violent Islamist extremism, which is likely to be increasingly fought indirectly and in countries with which the United States is not at war. During the unconventional war against the Taliban and al Qaeda in Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom, SOF played a pivotal role by integrating U.S. precision air power with the operations of irregular Afghan opposition forces to achieve rapid regime change and eliminate al Qaeda’s primary sanctuary. Since the fall of the Taliban, SOF have played a critical role in training and advising elements of the Afghan National Army, providing personal security for senior Afghan officials, and capturing or killing scores of senior Taliban and al Qaeda leaders and lower-level operatives. They are now also actively engaged along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and training elements of Pakistan’s Frontier Corps and Special Service Group. In the early phases of the war with Iraq, SOF again played a central role in a special operations-intensive campaign, providing the primary ground force element on two of three fronts, and performing a number of special reconnaissance, direct-action, and unconventional warfare missions in support of the conventional campaign.
    [Show full text]
  • The Conventional Military / Sof Chasm
    SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES SPECIAL OPERATIONS US Army Photo 031209-A-3996M-042 US A patrol from the US 3rd Special Forces Group moving through a river bed, Afghanistan, December 2003. WHEN CULTURES COLLIDE: THE CONVENTIONAL MILITARY / SOF CHASM by Colonel Bernd Horn he ultimate legitimacy of Special Operations military. If they fail do so, they risk again becoming Forces (SOF) became evident in the aftermath constrained and marginalized at a time when they are of the terrorist attacks in the United States needed most. on 11 September 2001. The immediate reliance on SOF by political and military WHO ARE THESE SHADOW WARRIORS? Tdecision-makers to strike back at those responsible for the unprecedented attack signalled that SOF had pecial operations forces are generally defined by completed the transformation from a force of desperation Sjournalists as “the toughest, smartest, most secretive, to the force of choice. The road to that point had been fittest, best-equipped and consistently lethal killers a difficult one. Throughout their relatively short history, in the U.S. [or any other] military.”1 However, a more there have been constant themes – the competition for traditional definition, spawned from the SOF’s Second scarce resources, unorthodox concepts of discipline World War beginnings, describes them as forces that are and accountability, as well as divergent cultural and “specially selected, specially trained, specially equipped, philosophical methodologies of operation – that have and given special missions and support.”2 But this always been associated with the debate on special somewhat simplistic description has been eclipsed by operations forces. a more comprehensive and nuanced explanation that better captures their shadowy role in the international Ironically, the unique attributes and characteristics of security environment.
    [Show full text]