Small Wars Journal

SOF

U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress Updated February 22, 2021

Tue, 02/23/2021 - 6:31am

U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress Updated February 22, 2021

Access the 13 page report HERE 

(Editor's Note: Important discussions on civilian oversight of SOF and the review of the MOA on SOF support to the CIA, to include support to paramilitary activities)

Contents
Background ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Overview................................................................................................................................... 1
Command Structures and Components..................................................................................... 1
Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs) .............................................................. 1
Additional USSOCOM Responsibilities................................................................................... 2
Army Special Operations Command......................................................................................... 3
Air Force Special Operations Command .................................................................................. 4
Naval Special Warfare Command ............................................................................................. 5
U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC).................................... 5
MARSOC to Consolidate at Camp Lejeune, NC................................................................ 6
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)............................................................................. 6
Civilian Oversight of USSOCOM .................................................................................................. 6
Acting Secretary of Defense Miller Announces Implementation of Section 922,
FY2017 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 114-328) ................................................ 7
DOD Review of DOD and USSOCOM Support to the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA)...................................................................................................................................... 8
Potential Issues for Congress........................................................................................................... 8
Acting Secretary of Defense Miller’s Decision on the Status of ASD (SOLIC)....................... 8
DOD Review of DOD and USSOCOM Support to the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA)...................................................................................................................................... 9
Contacts
Author Information.......................................................................................................................... 9

"It's time for a third special operations revolution"

Sat, 08/01/2020 - 8:15am

"Its time for a third special operations revolution"

Military Times · by Dave Maxwell · August 01, 2020

COL(r) David Maxwell (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) discusses pivotal milestones in the creation of the US special operations forces while proposing a three part reorganization of that community to meet both the demands of Congress and those of the modern battlefield.

"Indo-Pacific Terrorism, Special Operations, and the Coronavirus"

Wed, 07/01/2020 - 6:12pm

Indo-Pacific Terrorism, Special Operations, and the Coronavirus

Dr. Zachary Abuza (National War College), COL(r) David Maxwell (Foundation for Defense of Democracies), and Commander Alexander Bein (US Special Operations Command) discussed current terrorism and Special Operations Forces (SOF) dynamics for the Indo-Pacific region in the era of the coronavirus. The webinar was moderated by DKI APCSS Professor Lumpy Lumbaca.

USAJFKSWCS Needs New Nerds: Dungeons and Dragons, SCI-FI/Fantasy Writers, and an Unconventional Way to Consider Irregular Warfare Training

Sat, 02/01/2020 - 6:43am
For Pineland to come alive and deliver the dynamism students should receive requires creativity beyond the Pentagon and the Ivy Leagues. This submission is not intended to be the final word on this. This is a question, or a series of questions to be considered. I look forward to a robust, conversation with others to transform the way we train influence, and transform ARSOF more broadly.

About the Author(s)

Unconventional Warfare: Think Outside the G-Base

Sat, 06/08/2019 - 11:36am
The Green Berets are in danger of self-inflicted irrelevancy because of shortcomings in their training. Most current Unconventional Warfare (UW) training events take the Unconventional Warfare template from Robin Sage and simply impose it on other environments and threat situations. This trend has persisted despite the lack of modern UW examples that resemble Robin Sage. Green Berets should be considering other models of UW that may be more relevant today.

About the Author(s)

Defying Stereotypes: The Untapped Potential of Integrating Female Reconnaissance Operators Into Small State NATO SOF

Mon, 10/29/2018 - 2:41pm
This paper is based on a qualitative study of NORSOF. In the study, twelve high ranking officers in NORSOF and the Norwegian military were interviewed according to an interview template, thereby ensuring consistency in the research. The interviewees participating in this research generated original primary source data, enabling unique insight to the subject. The sample group consists of some of the most experienced people in Scandinavia with regard to SR, in addition to the central leadership in NORSOF. There are no existing publications with such a comprehensive sample group looking into this subject, thus the qualitative data that will be presented in this paper provides a notable insight.

About the Author(s)

How the Rangers Got into SOF - Barely

Mon, 08/13/2018 - 6:24am
Today, the Army Rangers are a key component of the US Special Operations capability. Their participation in world-wide SOF operations, as portrayed in “Blackhawk Down”, highlights their employment in this role. It was not always so, and its transition to SOF was bitterly resisted by many within the Army structure. It was only due to force deficiencies in Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D) during the planning phase of the Iran rescue attempt, that forced their inclusion. From that, all else has flowed. Inclusion, now taken for granted, was a hard and bumpy road.

About the Author(s)

Low Density Logistics: Sustaining Special Operations Forces in Africa

Wed, 08/08/2018 - 2:19am
Special Operations Command Africa cannot go far alone, especially in Africa. While Special Operations Forces (SOF) are among the most expeditionary of all military forces, capable of providing their own SOF-specific sustainment, they still require common user logistics such as replenishment of supplies, reliable transportation, logistics services, and engineering support. It is this category of sustainment that is the most challenging in Africa and requires significant coordination within the logistics enterprise.

About the Author(s)

Subscribe to SOF