This monograph investigates whether the U.S. military should establish joint doctrine for unconventional warfare. Since the passage of the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986, joint doctrine has become central to...
Since the events of September 11th 2001, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has taken the lead in fighting the Global War on Terror. In spite of this new charter, however, USSOCOM continues to conduct operations with antiquated...
In the early 1980s, the United States' Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger, ordered that all services re-emphasize special operations in their organizations. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) took this as a challenge to make changes. The...
United States Army Special Forces (SF) has played a critical role in prosecuting the Global War on Terror. Their ability to wage unconventional warfare remains their trademark. Operations in Afghanistan and northern Iraq demonstrated SF's ability...
This study investigates the United States Army Special Forces role in coalition support operations since the Goldwater/Nichols Defense Reorganization Act of 1986. The issue presented is combined operations in a coalition environment are extensive...
An irregular enemy opposing US and partner forces in an expeditionary, nonlinear battle space defines the contemporary operating environment and post-modern warfare. This environment calls for improving our methods of operating, identifying, and...
The purpose of this study is to examine the nature of the command and control relationship between Special Forces and conventional forces. Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan serves as a case study in practice and doctrinal application. ...
Focus is placed on the importance of morale, that it is a function of command (even a weapon of war), and that every officer who commands men must be responsible for the well-being (mental, spiritual, and physical) of his men. Music, soldier shows,...
Given the fact that Special Forces detachments cause effects at the strategic and operational levels of war in the GWOT, it is imperative that SF detachment commanders are adequately prepared to develop a comprehensive understanding of the...
The scope of this thesis is to define an appropriate alignment and force integration of National Guard Special Forces in the transformation of Special Forces into the new Enhanced Special Forces Group. The current force alignment is relevant to...
In January 1943 the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, and Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Navy agreed that the formation of a joint committee to assess enemy Naval and merchant shipping losses during World War II would be desirable. Accordingly the JOINT...
A Theater Special Operations Command (SOC), a sub-unified command, advises combatant commanders on the capabilities of Special Operations Forces (SOF), provides SOF for employment, and integrates SOF fully into theater plans by planning,...
This study examines the potential utilization of Special Operations Forces (SOF) in support of a concept called “Counter-Special Purpose Force (SPF)”—defined by the author as the employment of military or paramilitary forces to find, defeat,...
This monograph examines the role of the special operations forces as a component of the United States Army war fighting system described by FM 100-5, Operations, as AirLand Battle Doctrine. The impetus for this monograph was a lack of recent...
The purpose of this monograph is to examine whether the measures of effectiveness used in Special Forces officer education venues are sufficient to address the operational requirements over a career in a holistic manner. Past education evaluations...
This study has evaluated the current Special Forces Assessment and Selection program by analyzing the functions of recruiting, assessing, and selecting soldiers for Special Forces Qualification training. Critical attributes and psychological...
This research examines the Special Forces recruiting methodologies for the twenty-first century. The analysis highlights the origins of the U.S. Army Special Forces from 1952 to the establishment of the Special Forces as a separate combat arms...
This monograph addresses the suitability of Special Forces doctrine for their primary wartime missions of Special Reconnaissance, Direct Action, and Foreign Internal Defense when considered for application in counternarcotics operations. This study...
This monograph examines the potential roles of indigenous forces in the transition period from decisive combat through post conflict reconstruction. More specifically, should Unconventional Warfare doctrine assess, train and develop suitable...
The Vietnam Studies were written to serve as a value in helping the Army develop future operational concepts while contributing to historical records and providing the American public with an interim report on the performance of our troops. This...