Quote Originally Posted by Bob's World View Post
To implement such a proactive approach one would need a program of persistent, benign, transparent activity that placed special operators among the populations living in the places most critical to our truly vital interests. Not in some Embassy. Not in some military base teaching soldiers for the 20th time how to zero their rifle or clear a room. Not in some ninja squirrel clandestine operation. Just in plain sight, and focused on developing our own understanding, influence and relationships. This will gives us timely warning when some other independent (AQ, ISIS, etc) actor or state (Russia, etc) actor shows up to conduct their own UW; and also posture us to conduct whatever mission might someday come down the pipe from civilian authorities.
Say again again. What do you suppose is being attempted - not always well - when actors show up every day for a tryout/tryon or whatever ?

Getting back to the purpose of special forces, started on a list of personnel and skills needed for FMA style military assistance complementary and supplementary to Embassy work and assistance from other parts of government.

Sorted them out in alphapetic order and was surprised at what came out.
Biometricians and police liaison;
Economists, forensic accountants and business/industry liaison;
Ethnographers, historians and college/university liaison;
Hygienists and waterworks engineers and liaison to civil/rural organizations;
Intelligence analysts and military liaison;
Journalists, speech writers and media liaison;
Linguists and humint;
Medicos, surgeons and hospital liaison;
Military analysts (especially psych warfare) and liaison coordinated with that provided by military separately posted as Embassy staff.

Realise that several other skill sets have been neglected. For example wanted to include operational research, systems analysts, computer programmers and industry liaison with feet on the ground but decided some such might be sent as fly-in teams. Eventually got to military, tactics and weapons to supplement US marines usually assigned roles such as embassy protection. Believe that SWAT team could also handle guerilla liaison.

And yes am aware that a low form of organisation can be to try and squeeze many functions into one place but the results can with common sense planning prove useful. Just keep some things elite and highly valued but small.