Abstract
Abstract : This study offers the Army's AirLand Battle doctrine as an interim doctrine for SOF (Special Operations Force) employment pending the development of approved doctrine of its own. The paper then briefly discusses the relation of SOF employment to AirLand Battle. The primary focus is on AirLand Battle's four tenets: agility, depth, initiative and synchronization. The study establishes these tenets as the criteria for evaluation of selected historical examples. Three historical examples are selected for evaluation using an AirLand Battle evaluation framework. The Son Tay raid (Operation KINGPIN, 1970), the Iran Hostage Rescue (Operation RICE BOWL, 1980) and the Israeli raid on Entebbe Airport (Operation THUNDERBOLT, 1976). All operations are discussed in relation to their application of AirLand Battle's four tenets. The application or failure to apply these tenets are related to the success or failure of the operation, and set the stage for the concluding discussion. The study concludes that AirLand Battle is directly applicable to joint special operations. The concluding discussion shows how special operations, though tactical operations by small forces, have strategic impact.
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