Small Wars Journal

Relationship Between Conventional and Special Operations Forces in Transition

Tue, 10/23/2012 - 5:24pm

Relationship Between Conventional and Special Operations Forces in Transition by Valerie Insinna, NDIA’s National Defense.

Despite a decade of cooperation during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Army conventional and special Operations forces are just beginning to codify their relationship, said the commanding general of U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

One major breakthrough is the publication of Army Doctrine Publication 3-05, in August 2012, said Lt. Gen. Charles T. Cleveland. That might not seem like much, he said, but it’s a huge advance for special operations to have its own place in the doctrine of the Army.

Cleveland said conventional forces and special operations forces work well on the tactical level, but there needs to be more emphasis on cooperation at the operational level, especially in counterinsurgency or other areas where SOF specializes...