4 Jan 00
0830-1130
"Well-trained, well-equipped SOF continue to be an essential instrument of national policy and a positive force to influence the course of international events. SOF have a long and proud history of responding to threats to our nation during war and to various crises and conflicts during peace. Their achievements in fostering calm and stability where anarchy and violence reign, and their ability to perform in high-risk and politically sensitive environments, have propelled them to the forefront in operations other than war."
United States Special Operations Forces Posture Statement,1998
"We are being increasingly challenged by regional instability, transnational dangers, asymmetric threats, and the likelihood of unpredictable events - threats that are not easily addressed by simple force-on-force calculations. To meet these challenges, we must leverage the best capabilities and potential of our armed forces. This will be a difficult undertaking, for as Joint Vision 2010 counsels, 'We will have to make hard choices to achieve the trade-offs that will bring the best balance, most capability, and greatest interoperability for the least cost.' America's special-operations forces, or SOF, effectively satisfy the cost-benefit criteria, and they have an important and growing role in addressing many of the future's challenges."
General Peter J. Schoomaker, 1998
Overview:
The importance and frequency of special operations employment are increasing in the contemporary national security environment. This topic is designed to further the knowledge of force structure, capabilities, strengths, and limitations of Special Operations Forces (SOF).
Joint force commanders require a full range of capable, responsive and flexible forces from which to choose to accomplish their increasingly complex and often sensitive missions. A select, highly trained force like a Navy Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) platoon, or an Army Special Forces (SF) team inserted by Air Force Special Operations helicopters modified to fly low and at night, can be the best choice to accomplish such missions, ideally without attracting undue public attention. SOF provide the National Command Authorities and joint force commanders with a worldwide presence and a unique set of capabilities in war or operations other than war to augment the conventional arsenal of the U.S. armed forces. However, successfully using these forces requires significant levels of understanding, planning, and rehearsal. Unfortunately relatively few senior officers have an appreciation of what SOF can and cannot do, what they are and are not.
Objectives:
- Comprehend the major capabilities and limitations of United States Special Operations Forces.
- Comprehend US Special Operations Command's essential organizational structure and how its forces and operations fit into the larger command and control structure.
- Comprehend the fundamental doctrinal precepts of Special Operations forces and their essential approach to warfighting.
Discussion:
The relationship of SOF to the rest of the U.S. armed forces is by no means uncontentious. In fact, so substantive were the issues concerning understanding, support, training, operations, and funding for SOF that establishing a unique status for these forces was a special focus of the 1986 Goldwater Nichols DOD Reorganization Act. With increased emphasis over the last 13 years, the status of SOF has been elevated both in theory and in reality. One indicator of this change in status is found in Joint Pub 1 where it lists "air, land, sea, space, and special operations forces" (emphasis added). Thus, the joint warfighting doctrine of the U.S. Armed Forces treats SOF virtually as a separate dimension of warfare. However, for SOF to be most effective, they must be fully integrated within the CINC's overall strategy and conventional operations. Finally, USCINCSOC's budgeting and acquisition authority is unique among the unified commands.
This topic is designed to provide a background of SOF and to develop an understanding of their structure, organization, mission and functions. The topic will also incorporate an awareness of the roles of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict.
The seminar is designed to include an analysis of the integration of joint SOF capabilities, plus their limitations, equipment, training, and support. Also discussed will be considerations for mission employment and insights into how civil affairs and psychological operations can support conventional efforts. Above all, you should be aware of SOF's role in the joint employment of forces.
Special operations afford a flexible and precise tool upon which the joint campaign often relies heavily. In certain types of campaigns (for instance, those devoted to assisting in the internal defense of a foreign ally against insurgency), special operations may assume a leading role. In all campaigns, joint force commanders should be alert to integrate special operations capabilities across the full range of operations. Special operations can greatly complicate the enemy's defensive plans, pose threats in widely dispersed areas, achieve deep penetration of enemy territory, and provide unique capabilities for certain high-leverage missions not achievable by other means. (Joint Pub 1, 10 January 1995)
Special operations offer the United States a truly joint force that has the training and flexibility to perform virtually anywhere in the world. SOF generally deploys and employs in support of nine basic missions: unconventional warfare, direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, combating terrorism, psychological operations, civil affairs, counterproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and information operations.
UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE (UW). Conduct a broad spectrum of military and paramilitary operations in enemy held, enemy controlled, or politically sensitive territory.
DIRECT ACTION (DA). Seize, damage, or destroy a target: capture or recover personnel or material in support of strategic/operational objectives or conventional forces.
SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE (SR). Verify, through observation or other collection methods, information concerning enemy capabilities, intentions, and activities in support of strategic/operational objectives or conventional forces.
FOREIGN INTERNAL DEFENSE (FID). Assist another government in any action program taken to free and protect its society from subversion, lawlessness, and insurgency.
COMBATING TERRORISM (CBT). Preempt or resolve terrorist incidents.
PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS (PSYOP). Induce or reinforce foreign attitudes and behavior favorable to U.S. objectives.
CIVIL AFFAIRS (CA). Establish, maintain, influence, or exploit relations among military forces, civil authorities, and civilian populations to facilitate military operations.
COUNTERPROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS (CP). Combat proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons; intelligence collection and analysis; and support of diplomacy, arms control, and export controls.
INFORMATION OPERATIONS (IO). Actions taken to achieve information superiority while defending one's own information and information systems.
Issues for consideration:
- What are the key characteristics and objectives of each of the principal special operations missions and collateral activities?
- What capabilities of the various SOF units/weapons systems are best suited to a particular missions or activity?
- What assets are found in the SOF reserve components? How are they incorporated into current operations? What are their primary contributions?
- What are the unique advantages SOF have to offer as a force multiplier to conventional operations? What are their limitations in "stand alone" operations?
Required readings:
* Peter J. Schoomaker, "U.S. Special Operations Forces: The Way Ahead", Special Warfare, Winter 1998, pp. 2-9. (Reprint or use NDU Library Intranet, Electronic Journals, ProQuest, and search for publication)
* U.S. Department of Defense. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Joint Pub 3-05, Doctrine for Joint Special Operations, 17 April 1998. Washington D.C., 1998. (http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine)
Supplemental readings:
* U.S. Department of Defense. Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Special Operation/Low-Intensity Conflict). United States Special Operations Forces Posture Statement, 1998. Washington, D.C. (Library Reserve)
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