U.S. Special Operations: Personal Opinions

[reed11b]

This could mean an ODA with a combined arms company of infantry, engineers, CA, MPs, Log, and artillery attached perhaps; or a BCT supporting a JSOTF; allowing one to retain SOF focus while expanding the size of the JOA considerably and not needing to commit an additional BN or Group of SF; or (hold your breath), maybe even thinking about picking an SF general to have overall control for the planned expansion of operations in Afghanistan. After all, as COL Gentile often notes, just working harder with more guys isn't the answer, but working smarter as well.

Afterall, every SF officer was once an infantryman, artilleryman, etc from across the conventional force. Given the nature of the operations we are currently in, I personally find it hard to rationalize only considering generals who earned their stars commanding conventional forces in overall command. One step at a time though.

I would volunteer for that mission in a heart beat!! Jobs I am good at ,in a unit structure I would like, more deployments for shorter durations, nirvana. Salivating just thinking about it. If you make that happen, I will be back active in a heartbeat! I wonder if other soldiers feel as strongly as I do?
Reed

[Ranger94]

I would volunteer for that mission in a heart beat!! Jobs I am good at ,in a unit structure I would like, more deployments for shorter durations, nirvana. Salivating just thinking about it. If you make that happen, I will be back active in a heartbeat! I wonder if other soldiers feel as strongly as I do?
Reed

I certainly agree that all of the above. I am former SF support (got my short tab while with 1st SFGA), combat deployment with LRS and current ETT. The closest that I have found are IA deployments for NG soldiers attatched to JSOC.

[ODB]

First I want to address CSS within SF. We have had many discussions over this in recent weeks with a few key points continually coming up:

1. Currently there are many growing pains with now having a GSB. For years battalions have supported themselves while complaining they needed a GSB, now they have them they are complaining about the support they receive. It is a matter of the GSB folks playing catching up and figuring out the nuances of SF.

2. The single worst thing that can happen is to send a brand new support soldier to a SF Group. There should be no lower enlisted slots in Group. Nothing worse than hearing a brand new private being inprocessed by specialist calling E-8s by there first name. I got it, different environment but have to draw the line at some point. Then 3 years down the road that private now has to go back to big Army, they are in for a huge culture shock.

3. There should be some sort of initial intergration/assessment (don't wanna say selection) process. Unfortunately we have a hard enough time even getting CSS personnel who are airborne qualified or want to go to school. This brings up another issue in itself for another conversation.

Overall I believe having a GSB will pay off in the end, just like anything though there is going to be growing pains. As far as officer manning does anyone honestly believe big Army would give up their best and brightest to SOF?

I agree with many of the comments regarding SF and DA missions. Many who have come SF since 01' think all SF is is door kicking. Now that DA is winding down they say SF isn't what it used to be, when in actuality it is starting to get back to it's roots. IMHO funding is a huge part of this. There is entirely too much politics involved. The whole look at us we can do this and we can do that, what do you need them for. Everyone is trying to do everyone elses job and forgeting there own missions in the process. When one looks at SOF as a whole all the pieces are there, just get back to using them in their role. Many of us can see SF evolving one of two ways:

1. Being more of a DA/CT force but then this leaves a huge void to be filled, but then why MARSOF? SEALS tried FID wanting a piece of the action and then realized they want absolutely nothing to do with it. So the question is who fills the void if SF evolved this way?

2. The way many of us see SF evolving is taking a larger role in HUMNIT and possibly becoming much more focused on this aspect than anything else. In doing so FID/UW would not go on the back burner as FID would be the proverbial foot in the door.

Another huge issue about to rear it's ugly head is when SF gets back into it's normal role of FID and all these guys are used to operating with a ton of logistical support and conventional forces all over country. What happens when you are the only 12 Americans in the country minus the Embassy personnel? Too many have gone the past 7 years without having to deal with this. There is definately some bumps in the road ahead but nothing that cannot be overcome.

Ken WhiteThe issue of who works for who (GPF for SOF or SOF for GPF) should be totally mission based and the parochial BS should go. We must fix the unity of command problem in the US armed forces...

Personally I'd love an Inf company OPCON to me, the things I could do and Battalion would be a dream come true, unfortunately I doubt I'll ever see the day, we are just not there yet. Then again it would depend on the personalities, I definately think Inf companies are doable. Then again why would I need them if I was doing my job developing my FID force?

My final comment is on credibility.....getting harder everyday. All I'll say on that, many will know what I'm talking about. Will save other ramblings for later.

[Schmedlap]

Personally I'd love an Inf company OPCON to me, the things I could do and Battalion would be a dream come true, unfortunately I doubt I'll ever see the day, we are just not there yet. Then again it would depend on the personalities, I definately think Inf companies are doable. Then again why would I need them if I was doing my job developing my FID force?

I like it. Could you give me your two cents on THIS?

[ODB]

I like it. Could you give me your two cents on THIS?

Not a bad thought at all. The right side of my brain keeps going to that if I was doing my job properly I wouldn't need a conventional force because I would have trained and equiped my indig force properly. Definately could see this early on while preparing that indig force or if in an AO that didn't have one. I look at the intel thing kinda like local law enforcement vs FBI.

[reed11b]

Then again why would I need them if I was doing my job developing my FID force?

Perhaps to have a QRF that the Host Nation could actually emulate, instead of our traditional over reliance on arty and airpower, which take longer to train then good infantry and many HN's can not afford. That's my thought anyway. Plus you know it would be NCO heavy and could augment training personnel.
Reed
(Of course, I am probably unduly influenced by the fact that I would want that job)

[Ken White]

...Nothing worse than hearing a brand new private being inprocessed by specialist calling E-8s by there first name. I got it, different environment but have to draw the line at some point. Then 3 years down the road that private now has to go back to big Army, they are in for a huge culture shock.

I know that's true but I've long thought Big army has the wrong approach...

...As far as officer manning does anyone honestly believe big Army would give up their best and brightest to SOF?

Probably not but then, SOF shouldn't get the best and brightest in the support arena, they should get what the pipeline spews forth. If the pipeline spews inadequate people, then the pipeline needs to fixed. Most people are average, period...

...IMHO funding is a huge part of this. There is entirely too much politics involved. . .When one looks at SOF as a whole all the pieces are there, just get back to using them in their role. Many of us can see SF evolving one of two ways:

1. Being more of a DA/CT force but then this leaves a huge void to be filled, but then why MARSOF? SEALS tried FID wanting a piece of the action and then realized they want absolutely nothing to do with it. So the question is who fills the void if SF evolved this way?

Heh. Precisely. It is not a job for everyone and while many can do both jobs 'acceptably' (in the eyes of some -- casualty count disregarded) there is no question that about ten percent or so of the guys can excel at both jobs and that 70 plus percent of the folks in all the US SOF can do both at a decreasingly acceptable level but that means about 10 percent or so cannot do both -- and it also means that probably about 50-60% can one job much better than they can do the other. Why are we doing this if it's dumb? You answered it just above: "There is entirely too much politics involved."

2. The way many of us see SF evolving is taking a larger role in HUMNIT and possibly becoming much more focused on this aspect than anything else. In doing so FID/UW would not go on the back burner as FID would be the proverbial foot in the door.

I hear you and generally agree but be careful, the HUMINT business is necessary but it too takes special qualities. It is not a job everyone is suited for and it can start driving the FID train instead of just aiding it if you aren't careful.

...Too many have gone the past 7 years without having to deal with this. There is definately some bumps in the road ahead but nothing that cannot be overcome.

True dat.

Personally I'd love an Inf company OPCON to me, the things I could do and Battalion would be a dream come true, unfortunately I doubt I'll ever see the day, we are just not there yet. Then again it would depend on the personalities, I definately think Inf companies are doable. Then again why would I need them if I was doing my job developing my FID force?

We'll get there. We'll have to, I suspect.