Combat Search and Rescue: Building a Joint Capability to Meet the Combatant Commander's Requirements
Abstract
This paper examines the combat search and rescue (OSAR) mission sub-set of personnel recovery from both a Service and joint perspective and analyzes its effectiveness in meeting the combatant commander's operational requirements. It reviews the historical significance OSAR has had in past combat operations and the resulting political impacts to campaign strategic objectives. As a framework for analysis the paper describes joint doctrine and procedures for OSAR command and control organization execution and special mission equipment and considers how each Service is organized to meet these challenging requirements. It argues that OSAR is a complex operation that requires multiservice capabilities and dedicated forces. Finally it proposes that the current approach of unilateral Service OSAR leads to redundancy of effort creates competition for high priority resources and limits interoperability of rescue forces within the joint operational environment. It concludes with recommendations for organizing joint dedicated OSAR forces for the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 19, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA424185
Entities
People
- Eric M. Nelson
Organizations
- United States Army War College