United States Army Special Forces in DESERT SHIELD/ DESERT STORM: How Significant an Impact.

Abstract

This study investigates the contributions made by the U.S. Army Special Forces (SF) during the Persian Gulf conflict. Particular emphasis is placed on each mission performed by the SF during operations DESERT SHIELD/ DESERT STORM. Emphasis is placed initially on the building-block foundation of how a Special Forces Group (Airborne) is organized, paying particular attention to the operational A-detachment and the makeup of the SF soldier, which is paramount to this study. Brief accounts and descriptions are made of the various missions assigned to SF's coalition warfare support, which involved providing 'ground truth' and close air support to the Arab-allied units, border surveillance; direct action; special reconnaissance; and combat search and rescue. This provides a base of knowledge into the myriad of operations conducted by the SF during Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM. The study concludes by examining published quotes from key leadership within the Department of Defense which provides this study with a measurable means of determining what significance the missions executed by the SF did have on the success of DESERT SHIELD/STORM.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 07, 1996
Accession Number
ADA312864

Entities

People

  • William M. Johnson

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Combat Areas
  • Combat Operations
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Green Berets
  • Joint Military Activities
  • Military Applications
  • Military Force Levels
  • Military Organizations
  • Personnel Management
  • Reconnaissance
  • Special Operations Forces
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Systems Analysis and Design