AFSOF, Integration, and Joint Warfighting: Closing the Training Loop to Force Multiply and Succeed

Abstract

The characteristics of the future operating environment will undoubtedly demand AFSOF's unique capabilities. The challenges involved in this future environment will make increased integration with general purpose forces (GPF) imperative for mission accomplishment and achieving the United State's tactical, operational, and strategic objectives. This paper establishes the context for AFSOF and GPF integration, the analysis starts by looking at the future strategic landscape. Next it describes AFSOF's expected roles and missions, showing the SOF niche in this landscape. It then examines the integration imperative in two cases encompassing the challenges set forth in the NDS and QDR. Subsequently, the paper covers current training to reveal deficiencies towards fulfilling the integration imperative. Ultimately, this study provides recommendations to improve AFSOF integration training. AFSOF must institute formal changes to current training to improve integration; both with GPF, and internal to SOF, to enable unified action and thus increase success in their full spectrum of missions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 04, 2008
Accession Number
ADA487299

Entities

People

  • Mike Jackson

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Asymmetric Warfare
  • Combat Areas
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Conventional Warfare
  • Doctrine
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Psychological Operations
  • Second World War
  • Students
  • Terrorism
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation
  • Systems Analysis and Design