The SecDef and the President have all called for expanding the number of Special Operations Units that we have. Question that no one wants to face is this.
Why and how will you employ those units?
Looking at the lineup of Special Operations Units you will see nothing but overlap in roles and mission sets.
*US Army Rangers- Raid specialist. Provide backup to other Special Ops Units.
*US Army Special Forces- They used to be trainers of indigenous forces and would lead those forces in actions against the enemy. Thats changed. Training indigenous forces is now a conventional skill set and Special Forces is a raid unit.
*US Navy SEALs- Raid specialist that operate from the sea. I don't know if they've given up the mission of recon, but its painfully apparent that its raiding thats a primary focus.
*USAF Combat Controllers- Provide terminal guidance for air forces. Act as pathfinders for air assaults.
*USAF Combat Weathermen- Provide weather information at the site of a raid, air assault or bombing mission.
*USAF Para-rescue- Recovery of downed personnel or Special Ops and provide medical treatment.
*USMC Special Ops- Raid specialist that operate from the sea. All indications are that recon is a distant second mission set.
*US Navy SWCC- Provide transport to Navy SEAL teams or other Special Ops units.
*160th Night Stalkers- Provide transport to Special Ops units.
*USAF Special Ops Air Wing- Provide transport to Special Ops units.
Do you get the drift?
Every one of our special ops trigger pulling units is now focused on raiding. Everyone. Even US Army Special Forces that once had language requirements and areas of specialization have given that up to focus on raids. All of them train for ship boarding ops. All train for hostage rescue.
But the main focus is raids.
Ideally, we would rationalize Special Ops into fewer units.
Raids- US Army Rangers
Maritime Ops- US Navy SEALs/Force Recon
Special Ops full spectrum missions- US Army Special Forces
That would stream line Special Ops, remove it from being a separate service and would push these units back underneath the custody of their parent service.
Or more precisely under the command of the secretary of each service.
I still don't see a need for USAF Combat Controllers, Weathermen or Para-rescue. Each one of these units have Pathfinder qualified personnel and SEAL/Force Recon/Ranger/Special Forces trained Corpsmen/Medics.
I see a need to keep the 160th as currently composed but will need to learn more about the "Best Kept Secret" in the Navy (SWCC). Not sure about the USAF Special Ops Air Wing either but need to learn more.
As a sidenote, I would think that if the USMC is forced to go below 175,000 boatspaces then any idea of expanding USMC Special Ops is probably a non-starter.
Additionally, the USMC still needs deep recon and since Force is gone, I highly recommend that our SNIPER platoons be tasked with the mission. No raiding, just recon and shooting.
Why and how will you employ those units?
Looking at the lineup of Special Operations Units you will see nothing but overlap in roles and mission sets.
*US Army Rangers- Raid specialist. Provide backup to other Special Ops Units.
*US Army Special Forces- They used to be trainers of indigenous forces and would lead those forces in actions against the enemy. Thats changed. Training indigenous forces is now a conventional skill set and Special Forces is a raid unit.
*US Navy SEALs- Raid specialist that operate from the sea. I don't know if they've given up the mission of recon, but its painfully apparent that its raiding thats a primary focus.
*USAF Combat Controllers- Provide terminal guidance for air forces. Act as pathfinders for air assaults.
*USAF Combat Weathermen- Provide weather information at the site of a raid, air assault or bombing mission.
*USAF Para-rescue- Recovery of downed personnel or Special Ops and provide medical treatment.
*USMC Special Ops- Raid specialist that operate from the sea. All indications are that recon is a distant second mission set.
*US Navy SWCC- Provide transport to Navy SEAL teams or other Special Ops units.
*160th Night Stalkers- Provide transport to Special Ops units.
*USAF Special Ops Air Wing- Provide transport to Special Ops units.
Do you get the drift?
Every one of our special ops trigger pulling units is now focused on raiding. Everyone. Even US Army Special Forces that once had language requirements and areas of specialization have given that up to focus on raids. All of them train for ship boarding ops. All train for hostage rescue.
But the main focus is raids.
Ideally, we would rationalize Special Ops into fewer units.
Raids- US Army Rangers
Maritime Ops- US Navy SEALs/Force Recon
Special Ops full spectrum missions- US Army Special Forces
That would stream line Special Ops, remove it from being a separate service and would push these units back underneath the custody of their parent service.
Or more precisely under the command of the secretary of each service.
I still don't see a need for USAF Combat Controllers, Weathermen or Para-rescue. Each one of these units have Pathfinder qualified personnel and SEAL/Force Recon/Ranger/Special Forces trained Corpsmen/Medics.
I see a need to keep the 160th as currently composed but will need to learn more about the "Best Kept Secret" in the Navy (SWCC). Not sure about the USAF Special Ops Air Wing either but need to learn more.
As a sidenote, I would think that if the USMC is forced to go below 175,000 boatspaces then any idea of expanding USMC Special Ops is probably a non-starter.
Additionally, the USMC still needs deep recon and since Force is gone, I highly recommend that our SNIPER platoons be tasked with the mission. No raiding, just recon and shooting.
I have to disagree with you on this one Solomon, in regards to atleast USSF, which is all i can vouch for as this is where my experience is.
ReplyDeleteMost teams, I would say as far back as three to four years ago, do not conduct raids or DA as their main priority mission. While these operations come up on a limited basis from time to time, most DA packets targeting bad guys from the teams are now turned over to units specifically charged with DA operations. In Afghanistan, I would say 90% percent of teams are conducting, Village Stability Operations (VSO) - which is a blend of a complete spectrum different missions.
Traditionally, you pointed to USSF as a FID-first force. I counter that USSF, while long-time FID proponents, is actually UW (unconventional warfare) proponents first (by a long long shot). USSF is the UW proponent, not FID, for USSOCOM and is the only unit that takes on that mission. (what is UW? A good example would be the initial invasion for AFG, where a small amount of teams, linked up with foreign elements and used them to do the heavy lifting (this is quite different then FID))
As for USSF once having language skills & area speciality, in fact, these skills haven't gone away in any measure. Guys coming out of the Q have these skills to a higher degree (atleast by DLPT standard) than ever. Groups are still specific to area, which the exception is other groups on a part-time basis lending teams for the priority missions in CENTCOM (this being purely a man-power iissue). The vast majority of teams still conduct operations, such as JCETs in their target areas when not asked to participate in the more "well known" centcom missions.
Anyway, just a few thoughts from my end.... long time reader, enjoy the blog - especially given its USMC perspective - somethiing I know very little about.
all good stuff, and i bow to your wisdom with regards to SF roles and missions but a couple of questions. i thought SF teams were either DA or training Afghan SF. also and it might be something you don't want to get into, but what do you think about my general premise that SOCOM is pushing DA over any other skill set.
ReplyDeletei forgot where i read it but i distinctly remember reading a SF general talk about getting back to his roots. and i guess my last question would be i know SF participated in the initial entry into Afghanistan but i thought that CIA teams did alot of that lifting.
The USAF Combat Controllers do more then just being pathfinders I think. One of their jobs is to be able to land with Rangers, for example, and act as air traffic control, forward air control, etc while getting an airstrip set up.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Haiti earthquake the controllers were up and running right after landing and ran the air field for two weeks.
not to be contrary but thats classic pathfinder mission set. don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that these guys don't have balls the size of pickup trucks. i think they're all highly skilled. but i am saying that some of these specializations have become mainstream SOCOM.
ReplyDeleteUSAF Special Ops Wing is mostly the EC/MC/AC-130's these days with a few CV-22's thrown in. Their tankers refuel the 160th's helos when needed too.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about there being a lot of duplication but I think a chunk of it is everybody wanting to 'get in the game' as it were. That's why you see SEALS in the Afghan mountains.
You're right. I bet the Rangers, Spec Forces, etc could take over the job with the training. The trick would be making the USAF let it go. The Corps has a jump on everybody with the ANGLICO's already, right?
ReplyDeleteummm i don't know about the USMC having a jump on everybody. the US Army has been running Pathfinder school since Vietnam and everyone is into calling for fire (even conventional forces)...i just don't know if its enough to build an entire Special Ops unit around...especially when everyone in every unit has people thats been to JTAC school.
ReplyDeleteoh and i don't think the USAF would turn it loose...to be honest i kinda expect them to combine all their Special Ops units under one banner...add some SP's to it and make it an all around force sorta like Rangers.
ReplyDeleteActually...it seems they already have in the form of 'Special Tactics Squadrons'.
ReplyDeleteyeah but they farm out people to the Army's SF or Rangers (have yet to hear about these guys deploying with SEALs)...what i was talking about is my thinking that they were going to start adding AF shooters to the mix, well they're already shooters i guess what i mean is i believe the AF is going to start assigning guys to these units that are nothing but shooters.
ReplyDelete