9 SF Principal Tasks
- Unconventional Warfare (UW)
- Foreign Internal Defense (FID)
- Security Force Assistance (SFA)
- Counterinsurgency (COIN)
- Special Reconnaissance (SR)
- Direct Action (DA)
- Counterterrorism (CT)
- Counter-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (CP)
- Preparation of the Environment (PE)
2 Criteria for SR
- The requirement is beyond the capabilities of conventional reconnaissance units.
- The nature of the operation makes it inappropriate for conventional reconnaissance units to conduct.
5 Criteria for DA / SR
- Is the mission appropriate for SF?
- Does the mission support the Geographic Combatant Commander’s Campaign Plan?
- Is the mission operationally feasible?
- Are the required resources available to conduct the mission?
- Does the expected outcome justify the risk?
3 Conditions for US FID Support
- The internal disorder is of such a nature as to pose a significant threat to US national interests.
- The threatened country is capable of effectively using US assistance.
- The threatened country requests US assistance.
First report upon arrival into theater
ANGUS – Initial Entry Report (send within 24 hours of infill)
A mission/ ODA
B location
C Casualties
D DTG contact w/ friendly elements
E strength of FID/ guerrilla force
F location of mission support site/ patrol base
G DTG surveillance established on target/area
H additional information
6 Core Resistance Activities
- Subversion
- Sabotage
- Guerrilla Warfare
- Personnel Recovery
- Intelligence Operations
- Preparation of the Environment
7 Dynamics of a Resistance
- Leadership
- Ideology
- Objectives
- Environment and Geography
- External Support
- Phasing and Timing
- Organizational and Operational Patterns
- Bonus (new): Internal Support
Mao’s 3 Phases of a Resistance
- Strategic Defensive (Latent & Incipient Phase) – Goal: Prepare population into accepting insurgent direction and overt military operations; gain support of local population and weaken power of existing government. Actions: subversive activities (recruit, infiltrate key government organizations and groups, establish cellular intelligence, operational and support networks, solicit funds develop sources for external support.
- Strategic Stalemate (Guerrilla Warfare) – Goal: Degrade government’s security apparatus to the point that it is susceptible to defeat. Actions: grow the force in an attempt to achieve parity between guerrilla force and security force combat power.
- Strategic Offensive (War of Movement) – Goal: Bring about the collapse of established government or withdrawal of occupier. Action: establish post-hostility activities (establish civil administration, military organization, balanced social and economic development, protection of the population from hostile action, support for the resistance organization.
4 Components of a Resistance
- Guerrilla – Overt military component of the resistance movement / insurgency
- Underground – Cellular covert element within UW that is compartmentalized and conducts covert or clandestine activities in areas normally denied to the auxiliary and guerrilla force
- Auxiliary – the support element of the irregular organization whose organization and operations are clandestine in nature and whose members do not openly indicate their sympathy or involvement with the irregular movement.
- Public Component – overt political manifestation of a resistance
8 Resistance Support Networks
- Finance
- Intelligence / Counter Intelligence
- Recruitment
- Medical
- Communications
- Logistics
- Information / Propaganda
- Transportation
F3EAD / D3A
- Find Fix Finish Exploit Analyze Disseminate
- Decide Detect Deliver Assess
3 Components of COG Analysis
- Critical Capabilities (CC)
- Critical Requirements (CR)
- Critical Vulnerabilities (CV)
3 Fundamentals of a Military Advisor
- Rapport
- Credibility
- Overall Value
2 Common Pitfalls of a Military Advisor
- Going Native
- Culture Shock
- Being the “Ugly American”
- Rolling over to please a counterpart
- Usurping a counterpart’s authority with his subordinates
- Frustration with a counterpart’s unwillingness to conform to US methods
2 Methods for Human Rights Vetting
- Vet the leaders of an organization
2. Vet every individual
1 Theater Security Cooperation Program (w/ and w/o HR Vetting)
Without vetting – 127E Counterterrorism
With vetting – 333 Build Partner Capacity
US Code for FID Authorization
- Title 10 – Authorities for Armed Forces
- Title 10 Ch. 16 – Security Cooperation
- Title 10 Ch. 16 Section 333 – Authorizes FID
- Title 10 Ch. 16 Section 322 – JCET (Training only for USSOF)
- Title 22 (State) – Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Surgical Strike vs. Special Warfare (& Example from Principal Tasks)
Surgical Strike: the execution of activities in a precise manner that employ special operations forces in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments to seize, destroy, capture, exploit, recover or damage designated targets, or influence threats (ADP 3-05). (SR, DA, CT, CP)
Special Warfare: the execution of capabilities that involve a combination of lethal and nonlethal actions taken by a specially trained and educated force that has a deep understanding of cultures and foreign language, proficiency in small-unit tactics, and the ability to build and fight alongside indigenous combat formations in permissive, uncertain, or hostile environments (ADP 3-05) (UW, FID, SFA, COIN)
Planning Considerations for 5 Phases of DA Mission
- Pre-Mission – Mission Analysis, Mission Planning, Mission Planning Considerations
a. METL, ODA Training, Specialized Training / Capabilities, ISOLATION / Rehearsals
b. Typical phasing includes: Infil, Surveillance/Acquisition, Actions on, Exfil - Employment – Infiltration, Actions on the objective, movement to ORP, linkup and handover with recon / surveillance elements, continuous communications with higher HQ
- Fire Support – Joint fires, CAS, CCA, ISR, EW, coordination with CCTs / JTACs
- Post-Assault – Consolidate / reorganize, target exploitation, sensitive site exploitation (SSE), tactical questioning (TQ), detainee operations, (RFF’s i.e. Army chemical reconnaissance detachments CRD’s)
- Post-Mission – Mission debriefing, AARs, follow on missions, recovery
What level command develops theater strategy?
- Geographic Combatant Commander
Subversion vs. Sabotage
Subversion: Actions designed to undermine the military. economic, psychological, or political strength or morale of a governing authority. (JP 3-24)
Sabotage: an act or acts with intent to injure, interfere with, or obstruct the national defense of a country by willfully injuring or destroying, or attempting to destroy, any national defense or war material, premises, or utilities, to include human and natural resources. (ATP 3-05.1)
Sabotage is technically a component of subversion because it consists of actions that do contribute to undermining of the military, economic, psychological, or political strength or morale of a governing authority.
However, subversion generally connotes the actions directed at humans beings and meant to undermine the sources of political power. whereas sabotage generally connotes actions directed at physical things and processes and meant to undermine the sources of material power. (ATP 3.18.1)
Define a JCET
Joint Combined Exchange Training – Fulfills SOF training requirements and the sharing of skills between US and HN counterparts. Primary goal is to train SOF. Friendly forces gain incidental training benefits. Requires Leahy Human Rights Vetting.
Main purpose of a 127E mission
Counter Terrorism – allows SF to equip, non-standard equip, deploy, train, advise, assist, and accompany
How far in advance should a PDSS be conducted & why?
A minimum of 90 days prior to the event to allow time for gathering information and conducting vital coordination and planning for execution of the mission. Timeline must account for time required to set training plan with partner force IOT maximize unforeseen circumstances, maximize resources, and conduct coordination.
