Special Warfare The Professional Bulletin of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School PB 80–96–2 May 1996 Vol. 9, No. 2 From the Commandant Special Warfare As the new commander of the JFK Spe- cial Warfare Center and School, I look for- ward to the opportunity of commanding the soldiers and the civilians who develop the doctrine and the training for our Spe- cial Forces, Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations forces. We face a challenging task in developing a special-operations force for the future. As we work together to develop that force, we should remember that despite changes in the strategies and in the tools we use to wage wars, the soldier will always be of paramount importance in win- ning them. In this issue of Special Warfare, several discuss the use of SOF in our current and articles emphasize the importance of the future security environments and propose human element of warfare. Lieutenant a structure for a new special-operations Colonel William Jacobs describes how brigade to deal with the nontraditional Ardant du Picq’s 19th-century theories of missions that we will surely encounter. the human aspect of war apply to the SOF’s usefulness in a variety of opera- dilemma faced by Chief Warrant Officer tions comes in large part from the qualities Michael Durant, and how these theories of SOF soldiers — their interpersonal can help us to train for operations on the skills, their flexibility, their adaptability, modern battlefield and to deal with the and their capacity for independent action. timeless factors of fear and loneliness. These qualities have served us well in the Major Sam Young’s history of SF selec- past, and they will be essential to our suc- tion and assessment shows that our cur- cess and survival on the confusing and iso- rent SF selection techniques stem from lated battlefields of the future. those developed by the OSS during World War II. In assessing and selecting individ- uals for unconventional assignments, we still adhere to the basic principles used by the OSS. Colonel Thomas Carlin and Dr. Mike Sanders explain how SOF assess- Major General William P. Tangney ment-and selection-techniques might be applied Armywide as a means of selecting soldiers for the various components of Force XXI. In his assessment of conflict situations that the United States is likely to face in the 21st century, Brian Sullivan predicts that special-operations forces will be our most valuable resource in dealing with those challenges. Major General William Garrison and Colonel Hayward Florer also PB 80–96–2 Contents May 1996 Special Warfare Vol. 9, No. 2 Commander & Commandant Major General William P. Tangney Features Editor 2 Special Operations and LIC in the 21st Century: Jerry D. Steelman The Joint Strategic Perspective by Brian R. Sullivan Associate Editor Sylvia McCarley 8 A View from the Field: Army Special Operations Forces Graphics & Design in the Current and Future Security Environments Bruce S. Barfield by Major General William F. Garrison, U.S. Army (ret.), and Colonel Hayward S. Florer Jr. Automation Clerk Debra Thomas 16 Soldier of the Future: Assessment and Selection of Force XXI by Colonel Thomas M. Carlin and Dr. Mike Sanders 22 A Short History of SF Assessment and Selection by Major Sam Young V E AS R I RT T A E S LI B E T 28 The Role Technology Can’t Fill Special Warfare is an authorized, official quarterly of the by Sergeant First Class Michael W. Devotie United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Its mission is to promote the professional development of special- 30 How to Succeed in Foreign Internal Defense operations forces by providing a forum for the examination by Colonel J.S. Ranger Roach, U.S. Army (ret.) of established doctrine and new ideas. Views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect official Army position. This 36 The Human Element of Battle: The Theories publication does not supersede any information presented of Ardant du Picq in other official Army publications. Articles, photos, artwork and letters are invited and by Lieutenant Colonel William M. Jacobs should be addressed to Editor, Special Warfare, USAJFKSWCS, Fort Bragg, NC 28307-5000. Telephone: DSN 239-5703, commercial (910) 432-5703, fax -3147. Special Warfare reserves the right to edit all material. Published works may be reprinted, except where copyrighted, provided credit is given to Special Warfare and the authors. Official distribution is limited to active and reserve special-operations units. Individuals desiring private subscriptions should forward their requests to: Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. By Order of the Secretary of the Army: Dennis J. Reimer General, United States Army Departments Chief of Staff 41 Enlisted Career Notes Official: 42 Officer Career Notes 44 Foreign SOF Joel B. Hudson Administrative Assistant to the 46 Update Secretary of the Army 48 Book Reviews 01516 Headquarters, Department of the Army Special Operations and LIC in the 21st Century: The Joint Strategic Perspective by Brian R. Sullivan While it has become something armed forces in the foreseeable number of low-intensity conflicts. of a cliché that the United States future. Finally, international organized will not become involved in a major But that cliché can create a dan- crime is posing a serious danger to conventional war within the next gerous sense of complacency, for it the security of the U.S. and to the 15 years, there are good reasons to is precisely because of our powerful stability of the international order. believe it. The powerful impression image that unconventional and Despite the growing severity of created by U.S. military might dur- irregular military challenges to illegal activities, the responsibility ing the Gulf War, the high level of U.S. interests are quite likely to for combating them remains pri- American defense spending rela- occur. Its position as a global leader marily with law-enforcement agen- tive to that of other states, the pre- makes the U.S. an obstacle to those cies. In a small number of eminence of the U.S. in a wide who wish to upset the internation- instances, however, effective range of military technologies, and al or the regional status quo. When response may require the interven- the frequently demonstrated com- such antagonists seek to remove tion of the U.S. military. For exam- petence of the U.S. armed forces the American barrier by violent ple, some small, impoverished seem likely to deter an attack on means, the only practical methods states may be overtaken by crimi- American interests by regular available to them are insurgency, nal gangs and become modern ver- terrorism or assassination. sions of the buccaneer states of the This article is an expanded and Furthermore, it seems likely 17th-century Caribbean or the revised version of a paper presented that in the coming years our gov- pirate states of 19th-century North by the author at the American ernment will place U.S. armed Africa. Destroying outlaw regimes Defense Preparedness Association forces in harm’s way. The recent may require armed invasion, with conference held in Washington, D.C., interventions in northern Iraq, heavy reliance on our special-oper- in December 1995. It examines possi- Rwanda, Somalia, Haiti and Bos- ations forces. ble roles that SOF could fill in deal- nia have demonstrated that violent The increasing disparity ing with the problems the U.S. may anarchy or widespread suffering between the living standards of encounter in the 21st century. In the and bloodshed can trigger Ameri- economically developed regions next issue of Special Warfare, a sec- can military intervention. Evi- and those of economically underde- ond article by Dr.Sullivan will exam- dence suggests that worsening veloped regions often provokes ine future revolutions in military demographic and economic condi- warnings of future North-South affairs. The views expressed in this tions may increase the chaos in the conflict. In fact, the relative wealth article are those of the author and do poorer sections of the world. As a of Australia and New Zealand, the not necessarily reflect the policies of consequence, threats to U.S. inter- growing prosperity of Chile and the National Defense University, the ests or the pressure generated by Argentina, and the possibility that Department of Defense or the United American public opinion may lead South Africa and parts of South- States government. — Editor. to our armed involvement in a east Asia may develop into econom- 2 Special Warfare ic successes suggest a different plunder, rape and murder. Weak- U.S. to terrorist attack are reasons geographic reality. Global misery ened by economic decline, many why Americans cannot ignore the and disorder are deepening not so central governments may be troubles that will afflict the poor much in the southern parts of the unable to control long-festering majority of mankind. globe but rather in a broad region- ethnic and regional hatreds, with al strip centered on the equator. large-scale slaughter as a result. New challenges Already, a number of failing states Massive illegal immigration into In dealing with those troubles, have appeared in that wide portion the developed world could take on the U.S. will find that the most of the planet. similar aspects of the tribal inva- efficient and cost-effective option There is reasonable hope that sions that toppled the Roman and is the use of its special-operations some countries in that belt – Mexi- Chinese empires. A desire either forces. Special-operations person- co, Peru, Morocco, Ghana, Angola, for vengeance or for extortion could nel possess the required language and even India and Bangladesh – generate widespread terrorism by skills and the knowledge of for- may escape their present low the poor against the rich.