Detachment 101 in the CBI: An Unconventional Warfare Paradigm for Contemporary Special Operations

Abstract

Detachment 101 of the Office of Strategic Services' development of unconventional warfare doctrine in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II presents the practitioner of unconventional warfare a worthy model of consideration for our contemporary special operations forces. However, Detachment 101's approach to unconventional warfare operations does not serve as the approved template from which to dogmatically execute unconventional warfare operations. Detachment 101's approach was tailored specifically for conditions present in the China-Burma-India Theater of World War II and the policies driving U.S. involvement during the period of 1942 - 1945. The study identifies several areas that, if considered by contemporary Special Operations Forces, could improve the efficiency of operations currently conducted in Afghanistan. Specific areas included the need for the more adequate fusion of intelligence efforts, the nesting of operational commands within the existing structure, the more adequate resourcing of guerrilla operations, and finally adjusting the operational scope of Special Forces within the current campaign in Afghanistan.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 13, 2010
Accession Number
ADA523185

Entities

People

  • Randall D. Wenner

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Power
  • Combat Areas
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of State
  • Employment
  • Green Berets
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Psychological Operations
  • Second World War
  • Special Operations Forces
  • Unconventional Warfare
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies