Winning the War in Afghanistan

[Ken White]

First, we do practice and implement more complicated DA/SR tactics based on the mission, the quality of our people, equipment, organization and so forth.

I know -- but I also know that as you later note, it's a training level issue as much as anything. My point was not to dispute what is but to remind anyone reading this that what is now has not always been and, far more importantly, can be changed and will likely be changed in a larger commitment than either Iraq or Afghanistan (and both).

your son doing some CIF

Not what i wrote; he's there but is non SF and non CIF, never has been. The CIF guy also there is another relative who has long had a beanie.

...the combined operations are generally less complex for various reasons.

Various; yes...

I can find some unclassified examples of SOF tactics that GPF doesn't use.

I can think of several real quick and could probably dredge up a dozen more in a minute or so -- I can also come up with some the GPF uses that SF does not and cannot. That's not an issue or a question IMO. My point was just that in the past the line was more blurred and the future may make it so again...

I don't buy the argument that DA and SR are hyper conventional, that is a turf battle comment, not reality.

Doesn't that depend on many factors? Isn't that comment itself a little bit of a turf comment?

I fully grant that some DA stuff and much SR is beyond the capability of the GPF -- some is beyond the capability of the CIF Cos, much less a garden variety ODA. Some SR would stymie the Army of Northern Virginia and John Mosby. Horses for courses and all that...

Their tactics require more control/micromanagement...We can't afford to train that stupidly in SOF.

Again, now true (though I could argue the tactics requiring more micromanagement -- I wouldn't say requiring, just currently enduring...). Should it remain so? Probably not but it likely will until the next big war comes then a good time will be had by all -- with a whole lot of changin' goin' on...

...it requires different training and a whole new mindset in their officer ranks.

Yes to all that, noting that the same thing has been long ago done with GPF units. Still what's now is what is. Agree that the Officer corps (not GPF specific) needs to rethink their value system.

SOF is important and SOF units are needed. SF is important and SF units are needed (and IMO should not be given DA or SR missions among others, that's using a Cadillac de Ville to do a Mustang job and wasting a whole slew of that cultural and language training on a shooter job...). I'm not convinced Rangers are either important or needed but they exist (mostly because the Army realized in 1973 that they were dumbing down the GPF to such an extent that they needed somebody to be a little high speed...). The GPF is important and is needed. Everyone has a niche but the deliberate dumbing down of training for the GPF has had a number of adverse consequences.

Touting the superiority of SF / SOF in some things -- things that it was designed and is funded and equipped to do -- doesn't change the fact that many missions now being done by SF/ SOF were once done by the GPF and almost certainly will have to be again given a larger war. One can put the GPF down but one had better hope one never has to have that GPF come get ones tail out of a sling...

Parochialism and turf battles do more damage to the US Armed Forces than any evil enema...