Personnel Recovery Operations for Special Operations Forces in Urban Environments: Modeling Successful Overt and Clandestine Methods of Recovery

Abstract

This thesis presents two prescriptive models for approaching challenges to special operations forces with regard to personnel recovery (PR) in an urban environment. It begins by developing a model for overt recovery methods using McRaven's model of Special Operations as the foundation. This model is then tested against three different case studies from operations in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. The original six principles proposed by McRaven are complimented with four newly prescribed principles that account for the interactions of the isolated personnel. The first case study is Task Force Ranger's organic recovery attempt conducted 3-4 October 1993 during Operation Gothic Serpent. The second case study is that of the recovery of a UH-60 crew shot down on 25 September 1993, and the third is the Tiger Company's recovery of the Quick Reaction Force "Lost Platoon" on 4 October 1993. In all overt case studies, the authors conducted interviews with most key participants and decision-makers, and all leaders personally involved with the recovery. Following this analysis, a nonconventional assisted recovery (NAR) model is presented for clandestine personnel recovery methods. This model borrows the relative superiority concept from McRaven's theory, but proposes six different principles. The model is evaluated using three case studies, one from the French theater of operations during World War II, another from the Korean War, and the third from Operation Iraqi Freedom. These cases support the idea that, while the urban operational environment may vary across time and space, the principles supporting successful personnel recovery operations endure. (28 figures, 72 refs.)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA425043

Entities

People

  • Marshall V. Ecklund
  • Michael A. Mcnerney

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Birds
  • Combat Areas
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Force Levels
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Second World War
  • Urban Areas
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Space