Developing Security Force Assistance: Lessons from Foreign Internal Defense

Abstract

Developing Security Force Assistance: Lessons from Foreign Internal Defense by MAJ Thomas R. Matelski. U.S. Army, 55 pages. As the United States Army continues to fight the spread of radical religious terrorism and transnational actors, there has been a realization that there is a need for development of an indirect approach as a complement to major combat operations (MCOs). The concept of Security Force Assistance (SFA) was born out of the need to be able to train, equip, and employ Foreign Security Forces (FSF). The Joint Center for International Security Force Assistance (JCISFA) was created in April 2006 to develop integrated tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) that apply to the whole force including General Purpose Forces (GPF) and Special Operations Forces (SOF). As JCISFA has grown in scope and responsibility, Security Force Assistance (SFA) requires clearer definition and deconfliction with the current concepts and doctrine of Foreign Internal Defense (FID) in order to implement SFA across the DoD. There are mechanisms and systems that combine the strengths of SOF and conventional forces. Through an analysis of SOFs experience in Vietnam, Colombia, and contemporary operations there are several common threads that SFA can take forward as it develops: unity of effort, Whole of Government Approach, Civil Information Mangement, and the Embassy Country Team. Each of these ideas supports the others and builds towards the comprehensive focus that SFA seeks to provide in accomplishing the mission. SFA will increase in ability and execution. A more informed SFA will make a better SFA. SOF can inform and should inform SFA. U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and JCISFA should pay careful attention to the many lessons provided by SOF's experience with Foreign Internal Defense (FID) as they continue to develop SFA.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 18, 2008
Accession Number
ADA495486

Entities

People

  • Thomas R. Matelski

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Asymmetric Warfare
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of State
  • Employment
  • Interagency Coordination
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Training
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychological Operations
  • Terrorists
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control