Complex Adaptive Special Operations (CASO)

Abstract

Success in future war requires Special Operations Forces (SOF) to operate as a complex adaptive system. This paper offers a future operating concept called Complex Adaptive Special Operations (CASO), which incorporates the intrinsically unorthodox nature of "true" special operations with complex adaptive behavior. CASO offers a framework for enhanced understanding of the operational environment, promotes greater diversity in planning, and exploits unorthodox approaches to problems that are fundamentally "wicked." The CASO construct embraces the interactive complexity found in an operating environment through near autonomous adaptive action that nurtures a rival system to a desired condition, or achieves its destruction through iterative systemic incapacitation. The four components of CASO are design, planning, adaptation, and action. These four components are interconnected via multiple sensing loops that monitor the "conflict ecosystem" which in turn facilitates continuous context appropriate behavior of the near autonomous CASO teams. Key enablers for the CASO construct include: (1) Viewing the operating environment as a ?conflict ecosystem? founded on interactive complexity and non-linearity. (2) Accepting that "wicked problems" are unsolvable but can be nurtured. (3) Appreciating the evolutionary nature of "true" special operations. (4) Understanding the requirement for CASO operators to possess a highly developed intuitive capacity coupled with mental model diversity. (5) Comprehension and belief in systemic emergence characteristics. (6) Accepting that context appropriate action of near-autonomous CASO teams can be achieved through a shared operating model and a simple set of rules akin to the flocking action of birds. (7) Grasping the requirement for higher headquarters to adopt a guiding function rather than a controlling function. The CASO construct views SOF operating like a virus within an ecosystem.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2007
Accession Number
ADA505428

Entities

People

  • Paul R. Burns

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Adaptive Systems
  • Command And Control
  • Complex Adaptive Systems
  • Complex Systems
  • Employment
  • Force Structure
  • Governments
  • Interdisciplinary Science
  • Marine Corps
  • Military Operations
  • Personnel Management
  • Second World War
  • Self Organizing Systems
  • Special Operations Forces
  • Training
  • Unconventional Warfare
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Computer Networking
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Systems Analysis and Design