Countering Enemy Special Purpose Forces. An Evolving Mission for United States Special Operations Forces

Abstract

Abstract : This study examines the potential utilization of Special Operations Forces (SOF) in support of a concept called Counter-Special Purpose Force (SPF) defined by the author as the employment of military or paramilitary forces to find, defeat, neutralize, or destroy the enemy's special purpose forces potential before it can be brought to bear effectively against friendly forces or friendly centers of gravity. This paper suggests that Army SOF supported by other service SOF, and in support of America's national military objectives, can best accomplish the Counter-SPF mission. To make this case, the study affirms that special operations and special purpose forces will continue to pose a threat to United States interests. The paper then researches the historical success of special purpose forces and cites two particularly vulnerable areas the United States military should be cognizant of the SPF threat Rear Area Operations and the Urban Area. The study concludes that much of the successful methodology and characteristics employed in previous successful Counter SPF operations are found in the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). USSOCOM characteristics supporting this position are low visibility, low cost, maturity, interagency operability, linguistic ability, and cultural knowledge. Finally, USSOCOM, because of their unique operational capabilities and force structure are currently well suited and doctrinally appropriate to find and defeat enemy SPF.