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Any thoughts on the overuse of U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Readiness?
"The solution to overuse and its effect on readiness appears simple—either significantly decrease the number of U.S. SOF deployments or create more SOF." https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS21048.pdf
"The solution to overuse and its effect on readiness appears simple—either significantly decrease the number of U.S. SOF deployments or create more SOF." https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS21048.pdf
RS21048.pdf
Posted from fas.org
MARSOC
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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Rob Peter to Pay Paul. If you don't use SOCOM folks to train indigent troops, to handle problems, then you will have to deploy regular units- a much heavier cost.
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SGM Bill Frazer
Concur Duke, since we don't seem to fully commit anymore, everyone is looking for the cheap way out.
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PO2 David Girten Jr
SSG Duke Allen - Good morning SSG Allen. I'm not familiar with all of the different acronyms. What does SFAB mean?
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PO2 David Girten Jr
Thank you. I found an article addressing what you mentioned. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2018/04/01/1st-sfab-deployed-army-looks-build-more-adviser-brigades.html
Army Plans for More Security Force Assistance Brigades
The Army plans to build six Security Force Assistance Brigades to conduct train, advise and assist missions throughout the world.
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The problem has been, especially in Afghanistan, SOF units have been overused. Commanders got so used to using SOF that they would send in a SEAL team when a conventional army Airborne unit could do the same mission.
On the AFSOC side, we have the same issue. There are AFSOC units pulling regular Air Force deployments on top of thier SOF specific deployments. It wears folks out.
The solution is to reduce the number of SOF missions. Not every mission requires a SOF response. They are plenty of well qualified conventional units in the military.
Training is a little different issue as SOF troops, especially Army Special Forces, are better equipped to train foreign forces than your average unit.
On the AFSOC side, we have the same issue. There are AFSOC units pulling regular Air Force deployments on top of thier SOF specific deployments. It wears folks out.
The solution is to reduce the number of SOF missions. Not every mission requires a SOF response. They are plenty of well qualified conventional units in the military.
Training is a little different issue as SOF troops, especially Army Special Forces, are better equipped to train foreign forces than your average unit.
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PO2 David Girten Jr
Thank you for the response SMSgt Merich! How often would you say SOF troops help train foreign forces?
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Most conventionally trained military commanders have never understood how to properly utilize special operations forces. Until conventional forces get past the envy of their prestige and the higher priority of asset allocation, it will never happen. You cannot easily increase the size of SOF because there is a finite number of troops with the mental and physical toughness required to be effective. Dilution of SOF by lowering standards will create a "ripple effect" by stripping out every high quality NCO or officer from line units without an appreciable improvement to our capability for SOs. It would also in turn create a drastic diminution of line unit effectiveness.
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PO2 David Girten Jr
I agree with you CPT Fleenor! It's the same thing we are seeing across the branches in regards to lowering the fitness standards and granting amnesties and wiping the slate clean to avoid discharges and paperwork for those folks who aren't meeting protocol.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
While I agree with the first statement, let me also say that SOCOM sucks at utilizing conventional forces even when they are either in place or better suited at handling the job. Integration with conventional units seems to depend more on the local SOCOM command element rather than a doctrinal approach to Warfare, especially warfare with non state sponsored elements. If you haven't read "Victory Point, Operations Red Wings and Whaler", I recommend it as a look at how a unit was both utilized and later ignored by the local SOCOM and at great cost to the Special Operations unit. There are a lot of very good Infantry Units, 82nd, 101st, 25th, and the 10th at the top of my list, plus add any of the Marine Infantry units, that are quite capable of doing most of the missions of the 75th Rangers, maybe better suited if they are the unit on the ground in an area that an operation is to take place. How many times do the SOCOM commanders utilize them and how many times do they use their own people instead?
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