Should the US Military create its own Selous Scouts?

2020-08-04T12:27:08-04:00

The Selous Scouts were a Rhodesian SOF COIN unit. Would there be a place for a similar unit in the US Military?

https://sofrep.com/news/bush-war-tactics-and-isis-forging-the-american-scouts/

How to Create American Selous Scouts | SOFREP

The goal of the Scouts' selection and training pipeline would be to identify tough, resourceful men by subjecting them to superhuman physical training.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 4 at 2020 12:34 PM

2020-08-04T12:34:21-04:00

When you talk COIN- where- desert, jungles, etc, The Scouts were great in the environment where they lived/trained. But, anything we do has to be multi-environment. It was tried with SF, each group training primarily for 1 area, but when the manning had to increase- you had training bleed over and slower response time. Keep in mind COIN is not winning hearts and minds, near as much as destroying units/bases- which the Rangers relish.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Aug 4 at 2020 1:31 PM

2020-08-04T13:31:57-04:00

I'm certainly no COIN expert... but having working closely with local-national forces before, here's my $.02

Something of this nature "worked" in Rhodesia because of its somewhat "unique" cultural and demographic composition. White and black soldiers in these units were BOTH indigenous; the war they fought was one of control over their country... as opposed to stabilizing a foreign nation with local allied assistance. No matter how skilled an American is in the language and customs, no matter how well they bond with their counterparts... they are STILL foreigners.

A more simplistic approach may be to ask why current SOF does or does not already fill this role. I think the answers are complex, but basically come down to three parts:

1. SOF wasn't designed to be autonomous. Such forces have to work in conjunction with, and supported by theater-wide forces and command authority.
2. The mission must be well-defined. The Rhodesian Bush War involved such a "clear" mission. If we were to apply the same strategies and tactics in say Iraq, Afghanistan... or Syria; what would the "end state" be? This must include not only the definition of "success"... but "failure" as well. Remember that ultimately, the RLI lost.
3. Once you "split the pie", each "piece" is smaller than the whole. If we maintain a laser focus and specialty for each SOF asset; be they SEALs, SF, Raiders, Rangers, PJs, TACP, DEVGRU, CAG, "Scouts", etc... we may be reducing the capability for these units to operate in concert across multiple or expanded mission profiles... and possibly in greater disparity alongside conventional forces.

My take is this... we need more "SOF-light" units that work well across a wider range of mission sets either separate from, or in support of true SOF assets. This could as simple as increasing the capabilities of conventional infantry units, becoming less dependent on 'FOB-centric' strategies, and/or co-opting more conventional missions with traditional SOF tactics.

That involves both money and politics... so it isn't easy, let alone "popular".

Response by SFC James Cameron made Aug 4 at 2020 11:51 PM

2020-08-04T23:51:16-04:00

There in lies the problem with specialization. You need a scalpel for surgery but if a chainsaw has gotten the job done up until now...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 5 at 2020 3:05 PM

2020-08-05T15:05:37-04:00

If I started COIN operations in Afghanistan I would ask:
- What are the insurgents ideology, strategic objectives, center of gravities, and tactics.
- Understand the Taliban, the people, and the government intimately.
- How do I get support of the people, and gain their trust?
- How do I pursue FID?
- How do I promote good governance?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Taliban?
- What is the structure of the Taliban? Is it centralized or decentralized?
- What are my military problems?
- Can there be a political solution to a military problem or conflicting ideologies?
- What is required to defeat the Taliban?