ISSUE 12 LEADING THE UNDERSEA ENTERPRISE INTO THE FUTURE IN THIS ISSUE 2 WORDS TO THE FORCE Adm. Eric T. Olson talks about SOCOM and the Force Formula for success 4 MAKING HISTORY ONE DAY AT A TIME Women fill critical military roles and their missions are growing The Understand, 5 IRONING OUT THE ISSUES 2011 Navy SOCOM talks 6 THE DEEP END Adapt, The future of NSWG-3 and a look at SDV missions 13 EXTENDING A WELCOMING HAND Way Evolve. ISMO recognized for work with foreign military students Articles in this issue of Ethos provide context for some of the 14 LACK OF CULTURAL EXPERTISE, LANGUAGE SKILLS: AN changes SOF is seeing and the adjustments and shifts our operators are being asked to make as our adversaries and the battlefields OBSTACLE TO SUCCESS - THEN AND NOW change. The articles are intended to enhance understanding of How LREC enhances operational effectiveness Ahead the evolving art of war as we are experiencing it today and garner support for the way ahead. 16 COMMANDER’S GUIDANCE Front and center, USSOCOM Adm. Eric Olson has authored Rear Adm. Edward G. Winters discusses the way ahead an article, sharing with us his take on NSW, where we are now and where we need to go. It is reflective of some of his recent 19 ONE SHOT, ONE KILL communications to us in his published guidance for 2011, his VTC The path and mindset of NSW snipers and All Hands calls with the NSW HQ and our components, the Much has SOCOM-Navy Talks, and in the SOF posture statement he delivered 22 MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS been written to the Senate Armed Service Committee earlier this year. It is a about the growing terrific article that everyone in the NSW family should read! Behind the scenes, MCT members keep comms flowing dependence I have included in this Ethos issue, the unclassified version of my 24 SCAN EAGLE GET A NEW EYE on Special Operations Forces (SOF) and the Commander’s Guidance to NSW leadership and the Force. The unique capabilities we bring to the fight. While we intent is to give you and your families an idea of where I believe Upgrades to Scan Eagle increase range and use will always excel in our core competencies – special we are going and what I believe is important. Unfortunately, some reconnaissance (SR), direct action (DA), counter terrorism aspects of NSW cannot be covered here because of classification 26 FAR AWAY FROM HOME (CT), guerrilla warfare, and Foreign Internal Defense/Security requirements; those of you who can log on to SIPR Net have access At home, strong families are the backbone of Sailors forward Force Assistance (FID/SFA)-- prioritization of these competencies to the complete guidance. The future is unknown but as always, will change from day to day, year to year, decade to decade, we will do what our country needs us to do. You can be sure that 27 MERGING FOUNDATIONS depending on what our nation needs at the time. Over the past because of NSW’s character, courage, warrior ethos and problem Naval Special Warfare Foundation merges with SEAL Warrior Fund ten years, we have been engaged in the DA mission set at levels solving determination, the nation will depend on NSW to do those SOF has not seen since the Vietnam War. However, steadily over things that are most difficult – WE MUST ALWAYS BE PREPARED 28 CAREER MATTERS this same time frame, we have moved back toward a FID/SFA TO DO THOSE THINGS THAT OTHERS CANNOT DO! environment. The DA mission gave our nation the space needed Center for SEAL/SWCC aids in career management There is a terrific update on the realignment of our undersea to execute a FID/SFA strategy and is enabling our partners in the capabilities in Hawaii. The missions that SEAL Delivery Vehicle fight to take on a lead. This was exactly the plan. Team One (SDVT-1) is doing are simply amazing; unfortunately, 32 TROPHIES OF WAR In this long-term, global fight we will not win by solely you won’t be able to read about that in this publication because of Winner takes all mentality no longer acceptable practice “shooting” our way to success. To enable success, our senior their classification. However, if you knew what they were doing, the leaders correctly stress the need for a more persistent presence, feeling that would come to you immediately would be “PRIDE.” building stronger relationships and bettering our understanding of From both all-hands calls and spouse calls, there have been not only the geographic terrain, but also the human terrain. These numerous questions about our foreign language program. For are the cornerstones of a successful FID/SFA strategy. We must good information on the development of our program, see the two ON YOUR MIND evolve and apply what has been our legacy to our future; we must examples of where we are realigning and shifting to reinvest in develop a better understanding of the cultures, languages and priorities. 30 WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME? customs of the people who live where we operate. This is a tall From a tactical perspective, see the sniper, mobile An essay on wanting more from yourself and your teammates order when so much is already asked of the force; however, this communications teams and Scan Eagle articles – all good stuff. is an order that only SOF can answer. It is also an order that will Lastly, our Family Support Program and its new initiatives are 31 WAR OF THE FLEA have far reaching historical consequences if it is not answered. highlighted as well as the merging of two very influential not-for- A book review of Robert Taber’s classic study of guerilla warfare There will be challenges and sacrifices ahead. I have pushed profit support programs – the NSW Foundation and the Navy because there is criticality in what’s being asked of us; I am SEAL Warrior Fund. These two organizations have joined forces to confident because I have seen and I know what you are capable become the Navy SEAL Foundation whose members are poised of. I know you will succeed because you are driven by a greater and ready to provide our community with an even more robust calling. It’s bigger than the human ego, bigger than the Team, support system than before. To the Foundation – thank you for your bigger than NSW, and bigger than the U.S. military as a whole. COMMANDER > Rear Adm. Edward Winters ASSOCIATE EDITOR > Ms. Mandy McCammon generous and continued support. FORCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER > Capt. William Fenick PRODUCTION MANAGER > MC2 (SW/AW) John Scorza I am talking about our national security, and for that matter, the The thing I like most about being a part of NSW is that I get to DEP. PAO/EXTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS > Lt. Cate Wallace STAFF > MC2 (SW/AW) Sarah E. Bitter, MC2 (SW) Shauntae Hinkle-Lymas, security of our world. Today more than ever, it is depending on go to work with heroes every day! To each and every one of you, a DEP. PAO/INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS > Ms. Patricia O’Connor MC2 (SW/AW) Dominique Lasco, MC2 (SW/AW) Erika Manzano SOF and our success. THIS IS IMPORTANT! most sincere “Thank You!” EDITOR > MCCS (SW/AW) Michael Raney ISSUE 12 > January - March 2011 Ethos is an official production of the Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs Office, 2000 Trident Way, San Diego, CA 92155-5599. STAFF Send electronic submissions and correspondence to [email protected] or call (619) 522-2825. ETHOSETHOS 11 Ultimately, we will regard combat as the result of our failure develop local training ranges, to improve the levels of Service- to prevent it. It will be, more than ever, up to SOF to serve in provided capabilities to our force, to expand our inventory the prevention role through continuous presence in potential of mobility and ISR assets, and to recognize, increase and trouble spots. We will be expected to anticipate emerging incentivize many non-traditional skills as essential military conflicts. Our value is in both the high level of our skills and requirements. These efforts will improve capabilities and our bold and non-traditional methods of applying them. relieve pressure on a heavily committed force. There is more WORDS TO THE FORCE In order to be even more effective in the coming “new that can be done, and each of your ideas is potentially quite normal,” we must revise some of our training and upgrade important to arriving at solutions that are more complete. Adm. Eric T. Olson, some of our equipment. First and always, we must select, As an NSW operator and commander (and as the 14th screen and retain the right people for duty in SOF. Bull Frog), I am fiercely confident that you will rise to future commander, USSOCOM, Our training (and education) will have to include micro- challenges. Individually and collectively, you will meet and regional expertise, language skills and cross-cultural exceed our highest expectations. You will persevere against discusses where we’ve come communications. We must be able to teach, and to teach all odds, fight with honor and lead each other to victory. You from, finding solutions for our others how to teach. As we are much more likely to be in a will remain humble and eager, and you will serve as models of multi-Service environment, our tactical training must include courage and character. challenges and where the force joint operations early and often. You should take time to study our history, because our spirit Our man-carried equipment needs to be lighter, more can be traced back to the Office of Strategic Services, Scouts is heading in the future.