Special Operations Forces in Direct Action, Peacetime Contingency Operations

Abstract

These are changing times for our world, our traditional opponents, our national priorities, and our armed forces. At the center of this change is a debate on force structure, capability, roles, and missions to deter or fight an enemy at the lower end of the operational continuum. Special operations forces (SOF) are highly trained forces which can operate particularly well in what has been described as a 'Low Intensity Environment.' In this study, the author describes peacetime contingency operations and the generic roles of SOF conducting direct action missions within a theater. He then describes command and control options and senior leader considerations. The study concludes that SOF's flexible employment capabilities in the contingency role and across the operational continuum are at the leading edge of a change in Army priorities to highly deployable, CONUS-based, contingency forces.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 31, 1990
Accession Number
ADA222921

Entities

People

  • John J. Maher

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Civil Affairs
  • Combat Forces
  • Combat Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Operations
  • Seal Teams
  • Special Forces
  • Special Operations Forces
  • Task Forces
  • Unconventional Warfare
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control