Special Operations

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Special Operations
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Special Operations

• Special operations are the use of small units in
  military actions that are focused on strategic or
  operational objectives. Units of specialized
  pers, equip, tactics and training.

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Special Operations Forces

• Special Operations Forces are units with an
  ongoing principal function of conducting special
  operations.

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Army SOF

• Special Forces (Green Berets)
• 75 Ranger Regiment
• 160 Spec Ops Aviation Regiment
• (PSYOP) Psych Ops
• (CA) Civil Affairs

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Air Force SOF

• Special Operations Squadrons (C-130, H-53, H-60)
• Special Tactics Squadrons
• Foreign Internal Defense Squadron

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Navy SOF/Naval Spec Warfare

• SEAL Teams
• SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams
• Special Boat Units
• Patrol Coastals

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US Special Operations Command

• Readiness of SOF
• Prof Dev of SOF Pers
• Develop joint SOF tactics and procedures
• Conduct Specialized training
• Develop SOF items
• Independent program and budget (Funded directly
  by Congress)

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Principal Missions of SOF

• Direct Action (DA)
• Spec Recon (SR)
• Foreign Internal Defense (FID)
• Unconventional Warfare (UW)
• Combating Terrorism (CBT)
• Counterproliferation (CP)
• Civil Affairs (CA)
• Psychological Ops (PSYOP)
• Info (IW)/Com Contr Warfare (C2W)

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High Tempo

• Decentralized decision-making based on the
  commanders intent, to allow quick transition
  through the OODA loop.

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High Tempo

• Operate amid chaos and be trained, positioned and
  prepared to take advantage of opportunities a
  battlefield presents.

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High Tempo

• Avoid set patterns and formulas so enemy cannot
  predict actions and break OODA loop.

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Preemption

• Preempt the enemy by neutralizing him before the
  fight.
• FID, UW build indig
• PSYOPS at enemy
• CA occupied areas
• DA center of gravity
• CBT support bases

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Dislocation

• Force enemy from strong position to weak
  position.
• DA attack vulnerable
• PSYOP create diversion
• FID create shield to use other agencies

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Disruption

• Asymmetrical attacks against targets that
  preclude the enemy from countermoves.
• SR support conv force
• DA deep strike crit tgt
• PSYOP enemies rear

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Mission Criteria

• Appropriate SOF mission?
• Support CDR plan?
• Operationally feasible?
• Resources available?
• Outcome justify risk?

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Use Your SEAL Platoon

• You are on Warfare CDR staff.
• AWC
• SUWC
• USWC
• STWC
• C2WC

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SEAL Platoon

• 2 Officers, 13 Enlisted
• Can conduct primary
• DA
• SR
• Secondary
• FID
• UW
• Insert- Sub, Surf, Air

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Exercise

• Write down and be prepared to talk before the
  class about two mission orders to a SEAL platoon
  assigned to support your warfare commander.
• Write the warfare commanders intent to go with
  the missions.

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Air Warfare CDR

• Tipper Op (SR)
• Take out Anti Ship missile batteries (DA)
• Take out enemy aircraft (DA)

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Surface Warfare CDR

• Tipper Port (SR)
• Destroy Ships in Port (DA)
• Target info and BDA on shipping
• Hostile ship takedown (MIO)

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Undersea Warfare CDR

• Tipper on SUB port (SR)
• Target and BDA subs
• Destroy Submarines (DA)
• Mark Submarine with devices

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Strike Warfare CDR

• Destroy threats along Strike route (DA).
• Laser designation of targets and BDA.
• Combat Search and Rescue.

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Command Control Warfare CDR

• Deep attacks (DA)
• Destroy Critical Nodes
• Target Command centers.
• Deception ops.