Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world. Topics include 1st SF Cmd’s Information Warfare Center, USAF SERE training, US SOF and drones, origins of the Gulf War, CA and RAA opns, Canadian SOF and GPC, Barrett M82, ISIS, info opns, pubs, videos, and podcasts.

SOF News

1st SF Cmd and it’s Information Warfare Center. Colonel Ed Croot, the chief of staff at 1st Special Forces Command, provided a virtual presentation to a recent AFCEA TechNet event. His presentation provided information about the command’s Information Warfare Center. “Special Forces to build ‘influence artillery’ for online campaigns”, C4ISRNET, February 18, 2021.

USAF SERE Training. The United States Air Force is looking to push more students through the Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape instructors course as the focus of the U.S. military turns to great power competition. “Cracking the Code”, Air Force Magazine, February 19, 2021.

Atlantic Diving Supply – In the News Once Again. A business that was ranked as the 24th largest federal contractor in fiscal year 2019 with more than $ 3 billion in sales seems to be able to get Pentagon contracts under the small business contracting system. Atlantic Diving Supply (ADS) was a small outfit that started out as a dive shop near Virginia Beach. ADS has strong ties to the special operations community and works with other firms tied to other members of the special operations community – many from the Navy’s elite Special Warfare Development Group. Read more in “How a ‘Small Business’ Kingpin Wins Billions in Defense Contracts”, Project on Government Oversight, February 18, 2021.

Role Player for SOF Exercise Enjoys His Time. An Air Force Airman recently had the opportunity to take part in a special operations force exercise. Read more in “Best Job I Every Had”, by Airman 1st Class Marcus Storer, 27th Special Operations Wing, February 17, 2021.

Jobs for SF Vets. There are some jobs that are tailor-fitted for Special Forces veterans. “Civilian Jobs After Leaving the Special Forces Club”, Clearance Jobs, February 19, 2021.

7th SFG(A) Soldier Pled Not Guilty to Murder Charges. Sgt. 1st Class Duke Webb, a member of the 7th Special Forces Group based at Eglin AFB, FL, pled not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. His appearance was via video from the Winnebago County, Illinois, jail for his arraignment. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 30, 2021. Three people were killed and three wounded in a shooting at an Illinois bowling alley and bar. (NWF Daily News, Feb 19, 2021)

US SOF, Drones, and Project Hornet. US special operations forces have been operating drones of many sizes for a variety of missions. The drone fleet may get a little bit bigger in the near future. Project Hornet is “an advanced, hand-launched unmanned aerial system (USA) that can be used by forward-deployed personnel to interdict and disrupt adversary electronic capabilities in contested environments.” Find out more in “Pentagon Gives a Glimpse of Special Forces’ Secret Hand-Launched Jammer Drone”, by David Hambling, Forbes, February 18, 2021.

SOF History

Origins of the Gulf War? James Wharton provides a British perspective on the events that took place 30 years ago that brought about conflict with Iraq. Read “What Caused the Gulf War?”, Forces.net, January 15, 2021.

Reliving the Parachute Jump into Normandy on D-Day. Mitch Utterbak, a retired Special Forces officer, spent one summer attending a ‘civilian’ jump school in Frederick, Oklahoma. The World War II Airborne Demonstration Team’s jump school is a nonprofit living history organization. They run a nine-day jump school that replicates one conducted during World War II – right down to the C-47 Skytrain – Boogie Baby. Read Mitch’s account in “Jumping Into the Past With the World War II Airborne Demo Team”, Air & Space Magazine, December 2020.

Story of Ola Mize – MoH Recipient and SF Officer. One of the legends of the Special Forces community is Colonel Ola L. Mize – a Medal of Honor recipient who died at the age of 82 in 2014. Read an account of his life in “The Story of Sergeant Ola. L. Mize, U.S. Army, Korea, Medal of Honor”, Special Operations Association, February 20, 2021.

Commentary

CA Identity. Wyatt Huges, a Civil Affairs officer, argues for the development of a Civil Affairs creed that will help establish a clear identity for the CA community. Read “Developing the Civil Affairs Identity”, Eunomia Journal, The Civil Affairs Association, February 19, 2021.

Leadership and Organizational Culture. An essay that examines the role of different types of people within an organization. The “moral multipliers” (20%), “organizational insurgents” (10%), and “influenceable intermediate (70%) all contribute to an organizations culture (and effectiveness). Leadership should isolate the organizational insurgents by investing their time with the moral multipliers. Read “How to Wage a Counterinsurgency Against Organizational Culture”, by Benjamin Ordiway (CA officer), From the Green Notebook, February 20, 2021.

CA and Remote Advise and Assist Opns. The US military footprint worldwide is being reduced at the same time that the political will to assume risk on US military operations has decreased. However, one method to continue to conduct operations is through Remote Advise and Assist (RAA) methodology. While the effectiveness of RAA is less than that of a personal presence it still carries some benefits. Read more on how a Civil Affairs Team can still achieve its objectives with a host-nation counterpart from afar in “Partnered MDMP: Achieving Shared Objectives Through Remote Advise and Assist Operations”, Eunomia Journal, The Civil Affairs Association, February 21, 2021.

Great Power Competition

Canadian SOF and GPC. For the last two decades Canadian special operations forces have been focused on counterterrorism and counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. During this period SOF has been considered the ‘force of choice’. The emergence of great power competition (GPC) is changing SOF’s role. Some national security observers associate GPC with open conflict with Russia, China, and others – and the associated investment in big ticket items such as ships, aircraft, and tanks. However, SOF may have an even more significant role in GPC than it had in CT / COIN campaigns. A recent paper provides the details. Read “Special Operations Forces in Great Power Competition“, by Colonel Kevin Stringer and H. Christian Breede, Insights, Volume 1, Issue 2, Kingston Consortium on International Security, February 2021. For more on this topic listen to an episode of The Politics of Special Forces.

China – and Why You Should Protect Your DNA. The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) is warning Americans that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has been legally and illegally collecting massive amounts of data about the DNA of American citizens. Read a five-page article (PDF) about China’s history of DNA exploitation and the implications for privacy and U.S. national security. (NCSC Factsheet, Feb 2021).

China’s New Enemy? The uptick in China’s assertiveness on the global scene has caught the attention of jihadist movements like al-Qaeda, ISIS, and others. This could mean trouble down the road for Chinese interests around the world. The jihadist realm as well as other non-jihadist groups are now viewing Chinese economic and military activity as intertwined and part of an expansionist grand strategy. Read more in “Jihadist Perceptions of a Rising Superpower”, by Lucas Webber, Small Wars Journal, February 21, 2021.

Russia – Still Busy In Ukraine’s East. Russian and proxy forces are continuing their operations along the frontlines in the Donbas region of Ukraine. The primary tactics appear to be the use of snipers. See “Russia Calibrating Low-Intensity War in Ukraine’s East”, by Vladmir Socor, Real Clear Defense, February 19, 2021.

A Russian Strategy Needed by Europe. Russia’s aggressive policies towards its neighbors has solidified the European states toward a common goal of containment. Although there are a mix of European leaders – some seeking engagement while others want to continue containment – there is a more broad convergence of views within the European Union on Russia. However, Europe needs to refine its strategy to contain Putin’s malign influence. “The Russia strategy Europe needs”, The Strategist, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, February 22, 2021.

National Security

Story of the Barrett M82. A weapon designed for long-range shooting has been adopted by numerous nations as a sniper weapon. It has become one of the greatest large-caliber military sniper rifles in history. One of the first customers was the CIA who bought some of the rifles to equip the Mujahideen guerrillas who were fighting the Soviet Army in Afghanistan. “The US sniper rifle that started a revolution”, Asia Times, February 22, 2021.

ISIS – Down But Not Out. The alliance between the US and the Syrian Democratic Forces crippled ISIS in one of the rare success stories in the Middle East. Now that partnership is more crucial than ever. Read “ISIS is Down but Not Dead Yet”, The Daily Beast, February 22, 2021.

NATO Increases Commitment in Iraq. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has decided to substantially increase its troop levels in Iraq. The mission is mostly institutional capacity building. The current level of personnel is 500 – it will be increased to around 4,000. The U.S. has no immediate plans to increase its level of troops. The U.S. had recently down-sized its mission to 2,500 personnel.

Information Operations

Russia, China, and Estonia – Influence Activities. The Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service (Valisluureamet) has published its annual report entitled International Security and Estonia 2021. The 82-page PDF highlights the security issues of Estonia – with great attention paid to its big neighbor – Russia. The report also pays some notice to the activities of China as well. Prevalent through the paper is the use of ‘influence activities’ by both Russia and China.
https://www.valisluureamet.ee/pdf/raport/2021-ENG.pdf

GRU and PSYOP. A recent report examines the use of psychological warfare by Russia’s GRU. The report (111 pages, PDF) centers on reports translated from Russia that detail how psychological and information operations were conducted at the tail-end of the Cold War. Read Aquarium Leaks. Inside the GRU’s Psychological Warfare Program, Free Russia Foundation, December 7, 2020.

Iranian IO Targets US. In the past few years Iran has become increasingly sophisticated and active in online communities targeting the American public. “How to Understand Iranian Information Operations”, Lawfare Blog, February 19, 2021.

Africa

Summary. The Tigray conflict in northern Ethiopia continues to fester. Regional forces are attempting to take control of the region from the federal government. Al Qaeda is expanding its networks in West Africa and is growing in Mali. The French president (Macron) is cautioning against reducing the Sahel anti-insurgent force.

Somalia. This east African nation has not had an effective central government since the collapse of Siad Barre’s military regime in 1991. It has suffered decades of civil war and lawlessness. The rise of al-Shabaab, a militant group, has exasperated the security and political situation in Somalia. Currently the country is attempting to arrive at a political solution that would enable elections to be held – however, many security observers believe the country is slipping into chaos and open conflict. Read more in “Amid clashes in Mogadishu, Analysts Warn Somalia Could Slip Back into Civil War”, Voice of American, February 19, 2021.

Another article details how a Somali ‘special forces’ unit trained by Turkey may be a disrupting force. See “Turkish-trained special forces take Somalia back to days of civil war”, The Arab Weekly, February 20, 2021.

Failed Mercenary Opn in Libya. In June of 2019 a group of commandos for hire arrived in Libya to begin an operation that would assist in the toppling of the United Nations recognized Libyan government. The plan included specialized equipment, drones, inflatable speedboats, NVGs, and comms jamming equipment. The military operation depended on the arrival of three AH-1F Cobra helicopters and other military weapons. The plan fell apart and the mercenaries departed shortly after their arrival. Now an investigation is taking place to gather facts. (Washington Post, Feb 19, 2021).

Books, Pubs, and Reports

CTC Sentinel. The February 2021 issue has been posted by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. Articles about al-Qa’ida’s next (possible) emir, the Boogaloo movement, a case study of the November 2020 Vienna terrorist attack, and terrorist groups in and around Pakistan.
https://ctc.usma.edu/february-2021/

UN Special Forces Manual. The United Nations Peacekeeping Missions Military Unit Manual on Special Forces is a guide and reference for UN commanders and staff deployed in peacekeeping operations. There have been instances where UN Special Forces have deployed to peacekeeping operations around the world – including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Sudan, and Mali. This manual is an attempt to enhance the preparation, operational readiness, and efficiency of UN Special Forces. United Nations, January 2015, PDF, 85 pages.

“Carrying the Gun” Newsletter. There are a lot of newsletters that arrive in the inbox of the SOF News Editor. These provide some of the information that is aggregated into our newsletters and posts. One of the more interesting ones is “Carrying the Gun”. Give it a try.

Book – The Hitler Progeny. Book author (and former Green Beret) Steve Dimodica has a new book out. The Hitler Progeny is set in the current day. “Europe is at a political crossroads and the German people are about to go to the polls. There is growing dissent within the EU, due mostly to the immigration problem and the Schengen program. Some assassinations take place and the blame initially points to a Middle Eastern nation. Yet there are rumors of the involvement of a domestic neo-Nazi organization led by a suspected descendant of Adolf Hitler. An American intelligence agent goes into deep cover to determine if the claims are true. Available at Amazon.com.

Podcasts, Videos, and Movies

Podcast – The Background and Framework of the Special Operations Forces. The Kingston Consortium on International Security has a ten part limited series entitled The Politics of Special Forces. Listen to episode 1. (25 mins).

Podcast – Jessica Donati and SF in Afghanistan. Donati, a foreign affairs reporter for the Wall Street Journal, joins podcast host Alistair Taylor to discuss her new book Eagle Down. “The role of US special forces in the war in Afghanistan”, Middle East Focus Podcast, Middle East Institute, February 19, 2021.

Video – Resistance Operating Concept. Mr. Kerry V. Roberts, JSOU Outreach Faculty, interviews Dr. Otto Fiala, Retired U.S.Army Colonel, Civil Affairs Team Leader during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and lead author of the Resistance Operating Concept (ROC). In this 35 minute video Fiala explains how Special Operations Command Europe, along with other European nations, developed the doctrine that would help to deter and defend the Baltic, Nordic, and other nations from possible future Russian aggression. Joint Special Operations University, November 2, 2020.

Video – Emerald Warrior 21.1 – Water Operations. Watch a 2-minute long video of members of the 24th Special Operations Wing conduct water operations with U.S. Navy aircrew members assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Nine, in a MH-60 Seahawk helicopter during Emerald Warrior 2.1 at Hurlburt Field, Florida on Feb. 18, 2021.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/784029/emerald-warrior-211

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Photo: U.S. Air Force Special Tactics operators assigned to the 24th Special Operations Wing conduct hoist operations with U.S. Navy aircrew members assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron Nine in an MH-60 Seahawk during Emerald Warrior 21.1 at Hurlburt Field, Fla., Feb. 18, 2021. Water operations training is part of exercise Emerald Warrior which focuses on U.S partner nation relationships while emphasizing joint force interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Edward Coddington).

The Lead Inspector General report to the United States Congress on Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) has been published online. The 136-page report covers the period of October 1 to December 31, 2020 – although there are some updates that cover significant events that took place in January 2021.

The report states that Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) continued to contain the Islamic State (IS). The insurgent group has been operating at a low level in Iraq and Syria. It has failed to execute complex attacks, seize territory, or conduct external attacks.

Militia groups in Iraq continue to pose a security threat to U.S. forces and the OIR mission. Iranian-aligned militias have increased violent acts against U.S. interests. The Baghdad regime is caught in the middle between the United States and Iran in attempting to curtail the activities of these militia groups.

In Syria the United States interests are threatened by Iranian and Syrian regime proxies that are operating in northeastern Syria. These groups continue their attacks against the Syrian Democratic Forces and are attempting to gain influence in territory previously held by the Islamic State.

The IG report provides an update on the status of ISIS, reviews major developments in the two countries, and outlines its IG oversight activities. In addition, it has sections (about both Iraq and Syria) on the following:

• Actions conducted against ISIS
• Partner force development
• Role of third parties
• Diplomacy and political developments
• Stabilization
• Humanitarian assistance

There are several appendices that cover the methodology for preparing the report, Department of Justice activities, actions against terrorist financing, acronyms, maps, and endnotes.

There is very little mention of U.S. special operations forces. One entry on page 60 of the report states that U.S. SOF sometimes accompany the SDF on targeted operations or support from a nearby mission support site. A “Ctrl-F” search of the document (PDF) for SOJTF, CSOJTF-S, or CSOJTF-I provides zero results. These three acronyms are not even listed in the two-page acronym appendix. Usually there is a classified appendix to this report that would likely provide some insight into SOF activities in Iraq and Syria for Congressional members (and others). However, due to constraints resulting from the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic, the IG agencies did not prepare a classified appendix this quarter. If you are looking for an update on SOF activities in Iraq or Syria over the past few months you will need to go elsewhere.

There are some sections of the report that are very interesting and make for good reading if you are looking to increase your awareness of the current state of the conflicts in Iraq and Syria. For instance the map of Syria (page 56) reveals just how much of the territory once controlled exclusively by the SDF is now patrolled by Turkish, Syrian, and Russian forces. Coalition forces, for the most part, are reduced to operating on the eastern flank of northeastern Syria.

The report provides a good update (from the perspective of the DOD, State, and other agencies) on the overall situation in Iraq and Syria. There is a lot of information in the report on the situation and events taking place in the two countries that doesn’t get reported in the media.

Operation Inherent Resolve Lead Inspector General Report to the United States Congress, covers October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, published online February 9, 2021, PDF, 136 pages.
View online or download here.

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) has published it’s Afghanistan Study Group Final Report: A Pathway for Peace in Afghanistan. This 88-page document is the result of work that began in April 2020 – shortly after the United States and Taliban signed the Doha agreement that set the conditions for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the current negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban.

The study group was established by Congress in December 2019 and tasked with identifying policy recommendations for U.S. policy, resources and commitments in Afghanistan. The Co-chairs for the study group were Senator Kelly Ayotte, General Joseph Dunford (Ret.), and Ms. Nancy Lindborg. Other study group members included Ms. Michele Flournoy, Ambassador James Dobbins, and others.

Contents:

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Interests and Key Judgements
• Analytical Assessments
• Strategic Logic behind a New Approach
• Recommendations
• Alternative Pathways
• Conclusion

The study group believes that a significant revision of U.S. policy is needed – which includes:

• extending the current May 2021 withdrawal date
• make creating conditions for an acceptable peace agreement a key objective of the ongoing U.S. military presence (in addition to CT opns and assisting the ANDSF)
• continued support for the Afghan govt and security institutions
• continued support for members of Afghan civil society
• a reemphasis on diplomacy and negotiation
• continued support for a post-agreement Afghan state

The report finds that:

“The United States is in a position where effective diplomacy, modest continuing aid levels, and strong coordination across civilian and military lines of efforts against a clear and unified objective can create the conditions for a responsible exit from Afghanistan that does not endanger our national security.”

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Afghanistan Study Group Final Report, United States Institute of Peace (USIP), February 2021.
View online or download, PDF, 88 pages.

A recently published book entitled Strategic Latency Unleased: The Role of Technology in a Revisionist Global Order and the Implications for Special Operations Forces is a ‘must read’ for SOF professionals. The book, published by the Center for Global Security Research of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, covers a full range of topics about technological advances that is causing sweeping global change – transforming the face of warfare.

Special Operations Forces must adapt to these changes. This book examines the technological changes affecting SOF and offers recommendations on how to meet these challenges in a complex future. “The good news is that US SOF are also built for rapid adaptation.”

The authors are a mix of leading experts from many diverse fields that were partnered with experienced special operators in their writings. The writing project took 2 years to complete – beginning in 2018. There are close to 40 chapters by almost 60 writers who provide a diverse variety of technical, geopolitical, and operational information. The book “. . . contemplates the changing conditions under which SOF must operate and the role technology plays in making their jobs harder in some ways and easier in others.”

The book’s numerous chapters are grouped in six sections:

• Geopolitics of Strategic Latency for SOF: Context is Everything
• Biology and the Body Politic: Messing with Mother Nature
• The Materials World: Possible SOF Applications
• Global Business and the Role of the Private Sector in National Security: Implications for SOF
• Digital Domains: The SOF Role
• Operational Considerations for Multidomain Warfare

SOF professionals who are interested in the future operational environment of irregular warfare and special operations will learn much from this publication. With its many diverse chapters packaged in 581 pages this book is not a quick read. The content within these pages are well worth the effort. The good news is that it is easily digestible chapter by chapter, section by section. Enjoy and learn!

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Strategic Latency Unleased: The Role of Technology in a Revisionist Global Order and the Implications for Special Operations Forces
Center for Global Security Research
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
January 2021, PDF, 581 pages, free online
https://cgsr.llnl.gov/content/assets/docs/StratLatUnONLINE.pdf

The Lead Inspector General quarterly report to the U.S. Congress on counterterrorism efforts in Africa has been published. The report details operations in North and West Africa against al Qaeda, ISIS affiliates, and other terrorist groups over the months of January, February, and March 2020.

A Late Publication of the Report. It would have been published in mid-May based on the quarterly schedule; however, there were some classification and operational security concerns of the original content. Of note: there is very little mention of U.S. special operations forces activity in the report. Congress also receives a classified version of this report.

BLUF: Violent extremist organization (VEO) activity “. . . appears to be outpacing, U.S., European, and African efforts to counter it.”

East Africa. The publication reports on the activities of al Shabaab in the Horn of Africa. It details the attack on Camp Simba, Kenya, increased airstrikes in Somali by the U.S., and the efforts of African Union and Somalian forces to degrade al Shabaab. It concludes that al Shabaab remains “. . . adaptive, resilient, and capable of attacking Western and partner interests in Somalia and East Africa.” Mention is made of the Danab Advanced Infantry Brigade – one of the more elite units in the Somali security forces.

West Africa. VEO attacks have increased in West Africa. The United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM) continues to provide limited operational support to African, French, and other forces in the region. France is leading the international counterterrorism effort in that part of Africa. Task Force Takuba was recently deployed – consisting of NATO SOF units from several European countries.

North Africa. The U.S. presence in North Africa is small compared to its presence and activity in other regions of Africa. While VEOs have been relatively quiet the region is still a hotbed of military activity. Libya’s civil war continues – with involvement by a number of international actors from Europe and the Middle East intervening on each side of the conflict. Foreign mercenary forces introduced by Russia and Turkey have escalated the civil war. The classified version of this report most likely contains some interesting accounts of U.S. activity in North Africa.

COVID-19. The coronavirus disease pandemic has been a challenge to U.S. counterterrorism efforts in Africa. Advising to African forces by AFRICOM has been scaled back. The Department of State and USAID have sent many of its staff home to the United States. Two major multinational exercises scheduled to take place were cancelled due to COVID-19 – Exercise Phoenix Express and Exercise African Lion.

Numbers of U.S. Forces. There were approximately 5,100 U.S. military personnel and 1,000 contractors and DoD civilians in Africa during the 3-month period (Jan – Feb 2020). Most are based at Camp Lemonier in Djibiouti – the location of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). Some personnel are serving in austere locations where the network of bases, supply chains, airlift, and medical evacuation is limited.

SFAB. Advisory teams from the 1st Security Force Assistance Brigade were scheduled to deploy to various locations in Africa. However, the coronavirus pandemic has scaled back some of the SFAB’s activities. Congress has expressed concern about the safety of SFAB personnel, available resources, and infrastructure required to support the SFAB.

SOF. The report covers the annual exercise conducted by Special Operations Command Africa – Exercise Flintlock. This special operations exercise is focused on enhancing the ability of Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership nations to plan and execute advanced counter-VEO operations. Not much else is mentioned about U.S. special operations in the report.

Reduced Focus on Africa? The Department of Defense is currently reviewing the posture of U.S. forces in Africa. The intent is to align DoD resources with the objectives of the 2018 National Defense Strategy which shifts focus from counterterrorism threats to competition with Russia and China.

Summary. The VEOs across the northern part of Africa continue to operate and grow their networks. Efforts to defeat the VEOs have thus far been ineffective. Several new initiatives to counter the VEOs are being implemented and are mentioned in the report. Many U.S. allies and African partner nations are waiting on a U.S. decision about its future security commitments to the continent.

East Africa Counterterrorism Operation – North and West Africa Counterterrorism Operation, Lead Inspector General Report to the United States Congress, July 17, 2020, 90 pages, PDF.
View report online.

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Photo: Image: From Lead IG report. Members of a Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) training Senegalese soldiers. U.S. Army photo.

The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) has published an updated listing of research topics for academic year 2021. This listing is tailored to address the special operations priorities that will guide research projects for the special operations community.

The topics are intended to guide the writing by professional military education (PME) students, JSOU faculty, fellows, and others about special operations during the upcoming academic year. The results of the writings will provide a better understanding of the complex issues and opportunities affecting the strategic and operational planning needs for special operations forces.

The 62-page PDF identifies research priorities for the SOF community. The priorities were generated from recommendations submitted by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), theater special operations commands (TSOCs), component commands, research centers, and other organizations.

The JSOU publication provides an explanation of the USSOCOM Commander’s Five Special Operations Priorities:

• Compete and Win for the Nation
• Preserve and Grow Readiness
• Innovate for Future Threats
• Advance Partnerships
• Strengthen our Force and Family

The JSOU publication then lists and describes twelve priority topics that are in one of the five categories above. The next section of the document lists and describes 45 additional topics – all from the five categories above.

JSOU has also announced their annual call for special operations-related research. They are asking for research proposal submissions to be submitted by August 31, 2020. JSOU publishes monographs, occasional papers, and ‘Quick Looks’.
https://jsou.libguides.com/jsoupublications

The Joint Special Operations University provides joint special operations forces education for students and educators to develop leaders for the future SOF operating environment. This is done through joint professional military education and fostering special operations research.

This JSOU publication is interesting and educational reading for the special operations professional. You may not be interested in writing a long paper for submission; but the reading of this pub will give you a look at what USSOCOM considers to be the hot topics, priorities, and challenges of the future.

Special Operations Research Topics 2020: Revised Edition for Academic Year 2021, Joint Special Operations University (JSOU), 2020.
https://jsou.libguides.com/ld.php?content_id=55347988

The Lead Inspector General Report to the United States Congress on Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) has been published. the 88-page report covers the period of January through March 2020. This quarterly report is required by Congress.

The Inspector General’s of the Department of Defense, Department of State, and USAID contribute to the report. The DoD IG is the lead for the report. Usually there is a classified appendix containing information about OFS; however, the coronavirus pandemic has precluded that work.

Operation Freedom’s Sentinel is a two-part mission for the United States. The first is to conduct the U.S. counterterrorism mission against al Qaeda, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria – Khorasan. The second part is to, in concert with NATO and other Coalition nations, develop the capacity of the Afghan security ministries and to train, advise, and assist the Afghan security forces.

Significant Events

Withdrawal Agreement. In February the Taliban and the U.S. signed an accord the outlined the departure of U.S. troops from Afghanistan over an 14-month period. The first stage of the withdrawal is the departure of thousands of U.S. troops to bring the military personnel level to 8,600 by mid-July 2020.

Taliban Activity. The Taliban have not decreased their scale of violence and military operations. Although they are not attacking U.S. forces it has continued to attack the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). Usually this quarterly report contains information about the scale and level of Taliban activities. This quarter, however, the Department of Defense said that it was not releasing that information.

Afghan Government – Taliban Talks. The withdrawal agreement with the U.S. obligated the Taliban to begin negotiations with the Afghan government for a peaceful and political resolution to the conflict. Other than the beginnings of the release of prisoners by both sides not much progress has been made on this front.

Presidential Election. The results of the September 2019 presidential election was finally announced – with President Ghani winning by a slight margin. The vote was contested by former Chief Executive Officer Abdullah. This put the government into a state of turmoil. Recently both sides of the dispute have come to an agreement; with President Ghani apparently sharing some political power with Abdullah.

Coronavirus. The COVID-19 pandemic put many of the train, advise, and assist efforts on hold. Some troops departed Afghanistan early due to the cessation of some advisor missions. The ANDSF has also scaled back operations due to the virus.

Contents of Report

• Status of the Conflict
• Measures of the Conflict
• Partner Force Development
• Diplomacy and Political Developments
• Development and Humanitarian Assistance
• Support to the Mission

The respective inspector generals provided oversight on a number of activities. These include planning, audits, inspections, evaluations, and investigtations.

There are several appendices including ones that describe the methodology for preparing this report, ongoing OFS oversight projects, planned OFS oversight projects, acronyms, maps, and endnotes (366).

Interesting Notes

• The IS of Khorasan Province has been weakened but is still active
• Afghan Local Police (ALP) funding to end this fall
• ANA-TF Expansion – the Afghan’s ‘hold force’
• March air strike data against the Taliban was not released
• Insider attacks against ANDSF remains high
• Seven U.S. military personnel died in Afghanistan during the quarter
• U.S. to vacate five military bases in Afghanistan
• Remote advising took place instead of personal face-to-face interactions – telephone, text, email, etc. used instead
• RS has changed how the ADNSF is assessed (once again)
• Elimination of checkpoints remains a priority (as always)
• More CH-47s, less UH-60s for Afghan Air Force

This report provides a detailed summary of events in Afghanistan during the first three months of 2020. It provides an update on the political, diplomatic, and military situation as well as the status on the train, advise, and assist mission to further develop the Afghan security ministries and the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. This report, along with the recent SIGAR quarterly report to Congress, will keep the reader informed on the current situation in Afghanistan.

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Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Lead Inspector General Report to the United States, May 2020, covering January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020.
https://www.stateoig.gov/system/files/lead_inspector_general_for_operation_freedoms_sentinel.pdf

The Lead Inspector General Report to the United States Congress on Operation Inherent Resolve that covers January to March 2020 has been published. This 134-page report provides a detailed summary of the conflict in Iraq and Syria.

The report is led by the Inspector General of the Department of Defense – assisted by the IGs of the Department of State, USAID, and other agencies. Congress requires this report every quarter. There usually is a classified appendix to this report; however, due to the coronavirus disease one has not been done for this reporting period.

Operation Inherent Resolve was established in 2014 to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and to set the conditions for follow-on operations to increase regional stability. OIR consists of military operations, support for local security forces, diplomacy, stabilization, humanitarian aid, and governance. This report describes the activities of DoD, DoS, and USAID to achieve the US government’s goals in the region.

The situation in Iraq is in a state of flux. The coronavirus pandemic has reduced the activities of the U.S., Coalition, and its partner nation forces significantly. In fact, many of the troops have relocated to other bases in the Middle East, Europe, or have been redeployed to CONUS. The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the Syrian Democratic Front (SDF) have paused operations and training due to the virus.

In addition, the U.S. has been conducting a ‘planned’ consolidation of bases within the two countries. This has reduced the visibility that the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) has on the activities of the ISF and the SDF. The stepped up activities of Iran’s proxies in the region – especially in Iraq have presented some security concerns to the United States – also contributing to the need to consolidate bases and decrease activities.

A low-level insurgency continues to exist in both Syria and Iraq. The political environment in Iraq is mixed. Attempts to form a government have been stalled. Public protests have kept the security forces busy. The economic situation is less than ideal – compounded with the significant drop in oil prices. The situation in Syria is dire for the people of Syria. Turkey, Russia, and Iran – as well as the U.S. have been supported different warring factions and there are some dire humanitarian conditions in some parts of the country.

The report reviews the following topics in both Iraq and Syria:

• Status of OIR
• Status of ISIS
• Actions against ISIS
• Partner Force Development
• Role of Third Parties
• Stabilization
• Humanitarian Assistance

In addition there are several pages on oversight activities covering strategic planning, audit and inspections, and investigations. There are four appendices – acronyms, map of Iraq, map of Syria, and endnotes.

This report is a good read to come up to speed on the activities of the United States in both Syria and Iraq. There is not a lot of detailed reporting on the activities of the Special Operations Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve (SOJTF-OIR). Although . . . there is a discussion on how equipment and funding is managed by SOJTF-OIR. If you have an interest in Middle East conflicts then you will find this report informative.

Operation Inherent Resolve: Lead Inspector General Report to the United States Congress, May 2020.
https://www.stateoig.gov/system/files/lig_oir_q2_mar2020_gold_508_0513.pdf

A book published in 2017 makes for some interesting reading about the history of British special operations in World War II. In Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Mavericks Who Plotted Hitler’s Defeat the author Giles Milton provides an account of a secret commando unit of the United Kingdom. This unit formed up and evolved to provide Britain with the weapons and men needed to conduct sabotage, subversion, and guerrilla operations in Nazi-occupied Europe.

In 1939 a secret organization – Section D – was established in London that would aid in the fight against Hitler and the Germans through special operations and sabotage. The War Office’s MI(R) (a research office on guerrilla warfare), and the Foreign Office’s Department EH (a propaganda organization) had also been established with similar goals and objectives in mind – the defeat of Nazi Germany.

In 1940 Section D and the other organizations would merge together to form the Special Operations Executive (SOE). The Special Operations Executive was given the mission by Winston Churchill to “. . . set Europe ablaze”.

This book profiles the lives and activities of several men and women involved in the formation of these early special operations organizations, the training of the personnel sent to conduct operations in Nazi-held Europe, and the conduct of activities to support the brave men and women who parachuted into enemy territory.

The book begins as the Germans are starting their conquest of Europe. We learn about the recruitment of various individuals who provided the leadership for the newly formed organizations. It then provides a fascinating account of the various weapons developed for the special operations campaign and the training programs for the special commandos. Along the way the book recounts various operations that took place not only in France . . . but also in other countries of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Not the Gentleman’s Way of War. The title of the book alludes to the debate that occurred during the war about what was appropriate as a strategy and tactic and what was not. Many members of the British defense establishment were not in favor of this new type of warfare – considering it not the way of gentlemen but of thugs and bandits. The chapter entitled “Thinking Dirty” explains the resistance the UK military had to unconventional warfare – the use of guerrillas, partisans, saboteurs, and assassins.

Red Tape and Bureaucracy. Milton also provides an understanding of the bureaucracy and red tape that these special operations warriors faced from the ‘established’ defense structures. The SOE also faced opposition from the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) who saw them as rivals and a threat to their operational security.

Winston Churchill was a staunch supporter of special operations during the war. He actively supported these activities with moral and financial support and beat back the opposition mounted by the military establishment and bureaucrats. The War Office would have liked to abolish the organization in its infancy but Churchill came to its rescue more than a few times.

Recruitment. The book is illustrative of the out-of-the-box thinkers and doers required of special operations organizations. Amateur scientists, eccentrics, and others combined their talents to provide the weapons and training needed for the many types of operations conducted in Europe and around the world by operatives during World War II.

The elite schools of Britain were fertile recruitment bases for the organization as well. Many of the recruits would also come from specialized military units of the UK. Some from as far away as India. The organization needed “. . . rule-breakers, mavericks, and eccentrics with a talent for lateral thinking and a fondness for making mischief.”

Special Weapons. Milton’s book pays attention to the development of special weapons and munitions developed by ad hoc laboratories and workshops for use by resistance groups and saboteurs. There were numerous roadblocks established by the Ministry of Supply and the Royal Ordnance Supply Factory. As as result the organization and associated entities embarked on their own weapons development and production program.

Some of these weapons developed for the commandos found their way into the conventional forces during WWII. One important development was the ‘limpet mine’ – a prototype magnetic mine that a combat swimmer would place on an enemy warship. Another was the ‘hedgehog’ used in anti-submarine warfare. Other special weapons included the ‘Sticky Bomb”, “Beehive”, “W-bomb”, “PIAT”, and “Time Pencil”. The author traces the development of explosives used for the demolition of bridges, railways, turbines, and other important targets.

Early Publications on Special Warfare. Milton’s book also informs us of the early writings that would be used as instructional manuals for special warfare. These include The Art of Guerrilla Warfare, The Partisan Leader’s Handbook, and How to Use High Explosives. Many of these tracts were provided to the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS) to be used as training manuals at ‘Camp X’ and other training locations. The book on explosives by Millis Jefferis “. . . contained highly accurate advice for anyone who wanted to blow a bridge, building, railway or road.” This was the first manual in the history of the British Army to teach men how to destroy civilian targets with a small explosives kit.

Training Centers Established. Experts from within the UK’s military and from around the world were recruited to train up the new commandos, saboteurs, and ‘Jedburghs’. A training center was established in Scotland as well as other locations. The commandos were taught on the use of silent killing, explosives, communications, parachuting, weapons, and other skills necessary for the saboteur and guerrilla fighter.

Operations Conducted. Several historical vignettes are provided that give the reader an appreciation of the wide variety of operations conducted around the world by the SOE. Descriptions of several operations conducted by these specialists in guerrilla warfare provide for some very interesting reading.

The author’s account of the Jedburgh’s hindering the movement of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich from countering the Normandy beach landings following D-Day was especially informative. A movement by rail that should have taken 72 hours was stymied due to the use of carborundum inserted into the axles of tank rail car transports. The division then had to move by road – hindered by ambushes, blown bridges, lack of spare parts, and broken down tanks traveling beyond their range. A movement that took 17 days – arriving too late to stop the allied breakout from the beaches on the coast.

Many other examples of guerrilla warfare, espionage, sabotage, and secret operations are provided in the book. This historical account of special warfare by the United Kingdom during World War II is a good read for the special operations practitioner, WWII historian, and intelligence professional.

Available for purchase in hardcover or paperback.
Churchill’s Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
By Giles Milton, Picador, USA: 2017, 368 pages.

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Image: from book cover.

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has released a 69-page report entitled United States Special Operations Command Comprehensive Review. USSOCOM was directed by Congress to conduct a review of its culture and report back to it with its findings.

The USSOCOM report, dated 23 January 2020, is the result of a review by USSOCOM “. . . that gathered insights and observations from across the force, at all levels, . . .”

SOF Incidents Involving Crimes

For the last few years the United States special operations community has come under great scrutiny for a number of negative incidents that have put it under the glare. These incidents of misconduct and unethical behavior caused the public and government leaders to question the culture and ethics of the SOF community. The U.S. Congress mandated that United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) conduct a ‘culture and ethics’ review.

There are a number of high profile incidents that have captured the attention of the U.S. public, the media, and Congress. A quick summary of these incidents include:

• an Army Special Forces Major accused of murdering an unarmed Taliban bomb-maker in Afghanistan
• two Army Special Forces NCOs convicted of smuggling cocaine from Colombia into the United States
• a Navy SEAL and two Marine Raiders accused of murder / manslaughter of an Army Green Beret in Mali
• a Navy SEAL accused of war crimes while deployed with his SEAL platoon in Iraq
• Navy SEAL platoon having a drunk fest in Iraq on the 4th of July and getting sent home
• Army Special Forces NCOs stealing money from operational funds
• numerous incidents of sexual assault, sexual mis-conduct, and drug use

About the Report

There are six Chapters in the report:

• Chapter 1: Executive Summary
• Chapter 2: Structure of the Report
• Chapter 3: Background
• Chapter 4: Method and Approach
• Chapter 5: Findings and Recommended Actions
• Chapter 6: Conclusion

In addition there are several appendices providing information on the Advisory Team and Review Team participants, a Special Operations Forces Culture and Ethics Memo, NDAA 2018 Guidance on Assessment of Culture and Accountability in SOF, Cdr’s Guidance on Ethics, research method, engagement strategy, interview questions and guidelines, results and analysis, and Review Team implementation and recommended actions.

The Review Team was led by a SOF general officer. Assisting on the team was a group of 20 military officers, enlisted, and civilian personnel. An Advisory Team, composed of former SOF, DOD senior leaders, and academia SMEs provided transparency and guidance. [1] Over 2,000 interviews were conducted with all components and at all levels of the special operations forces.

Conclusion

“The Review Team did not assess that USSOCOM has a systemic ethics problem. The Review Team did assess that in some instances USSOCOM’s cultural focus on SOF employment and mission accomplishment is to the detriment of leadership, discipline and accountability.” [2]

The report recommends 16 actions to address the findings by the review. A strong implementation plan is recommended and the adoption of the will to execute it. The report says that if “. . . implemented correctly, the comprehensive review will make USSOCOM better as a more credible, capable and precise force.” [3]

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United States Special Operations Command Comprehensive Review, USSOCOM, January 23, 2020, 69 pages, PDF.
http://www.sof.news/pubs/USSOCOM-Comprehensive-Ethics-Review-Report-January-2020.pdf

Letter to the Force – Special Operations Forces Culture and Ethics Comprehensive Review, USSOCOM, January 28, 2020
https://www.socom.mil/special-operations-forces-culture-and-ethics-comprehensive-review-letter-to-the-force

Review Finds No Systemic Ethical Problems in Special Ops, DOD News, January 28, 2020.
https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2067911/review-finds-no-systemic-ethical-problems-in-special-ops/

Endnotes:

[1] See page 46 for a list of members of the review team.

[2] See page 4 under “Executive Summary”.

[3} See page 8.