Resourcing for Special Operations Forces (SOF): Should Responsibilities be Passed from USSOCOM Back to the Services?
Abstract
The U.S. Code Title 10 responsibilities for resourcing special operations forces (SOF) was transferred from the service departments to U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) following the legislation mandating the creation of a unified combatant command for SOF and the establishment of USSOCOM. The Commander, USSOCOM, is the only unified command commander levied with service-like resourcing responsibilities in additional to the normal Title 10 combatant commander responsibilities to be a primary warfighter. These additional resourcing responsibilities must still be accomplished within congressionally mandated Major Headquarters Activities ceilings and in an environment where USSOCOM is fully involved in the global war on terrorism as a supporting and supported command. This paper will examine whether the resourcing responsibility is a distraction for a unified command fighting the war on terrorism, and if this shift in resourcing responsibility from the services is still necessary today. Finally, possible strategies and policy adjustments are examined as a means to reduce the risk of overburden associated with the dual responsibilities as a force provider and warfighter.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 08, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA448943
Entities
People
- William R. Lane
Organizations
- United States Army War College