Congressional Testimony from one of our own...

[Warrior-Mentor]

http://www.house.gov/hasc/hearing_information.shtml

Scroll down to 03MAR2009 and open the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee testimony on Special Operations Forces: Challenges and Opportunities.

Testimony from one each Roger Carstens...

Transcripts:
http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/...mony030309.pdf

Webcast Part 1:
http://armedservices.edgeboss.net/wm...tutc030309.wvx

Webcast Part 2:
http://armedservices.edgeboss.net/wm...utc2030309.wvx

Audiocast:
http://hascaudio.house.gov/TUTC030309.wma

[einherjar]

I believe this is the source document relating to the Congressional testimony Warrior-Mentor mentioned above:

Special Operations Forces: Future Challenges and Opportunities By Robert Martinage

From the document:

CSBA’s Strategy for the Long Haul is intended to inform and shape the next administration’s defense strategy review. This report addresses the expansion and growing role of US Special Operations Forces.

The report can be found on the CSBA website here:
http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/PubLibrary/R.20081117.Special_Operation_/R.20081117.Special_Operation_.pdf


I also attached a copy to this post should the link become broken in the future.

[einherjar]

I have been digging into CSBA's SOF Development document a little. Below is an outline of Robert Martinage's suggestions for SOF development as far as USASOC is concerned.

From page xiv:

US Army Special Operations Command

• Meet the objective specified in the 2006 QDR of standing up twenty active Special Forces (SF) battalions by 2013.
• Reorient SF force structure geographically to better reflect requirements associated with the war against violent Islamic extremism and the shift in US national security interest toward Asia.
• Enhance SF proficiency in relevant foreign languages.
• Create an additional Ranger regiment.
• Stand up an additional Special Operations Aviation Regiment by 2015 to close the current rotary-wing capacity gap and keep pace with the ongoing expansion of SOF ground forces.
• Direct the Navy and the Marine Corps to either stand up special-operations-capable helicopter units of their own or provide pilots to fill the training pipeline for US Army Special Operations Command’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
• Create three additional Civil Affairs Brigades and Psychological Operations Groups.

The recommendations for the other branches SOF programs are also interesting. It suggests the Marines back off of Unconventional Warfare and both the Marines and the Navy "enhance foreign internal defense capabilities."

I'll keep reading.

[Scimitar]

Robert Martinage report pp4

The opportunity cost of [the] commitment [in Iraq and Afghanistan], however, has been a significant reduction in SOF presence in other countries, including several terrorist “hot spots” in Africa, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. Admiral Eric Olson, commander of the Special Operations Command (SOCOM), summarized the unfortunate situation: “we’re going to fewer countries, staying for shorter periods of time, with smaller numbers of people than
historically we have done.” This limited, episodic SOF presence outside of Iraq and Afghanistan is unacceptable strategically. Additional SOF capacity is needed, possibly beyond that called for in the 2006 QDR, to sustain a persistent, low-visibility ground presence in scores of areas outside of Iraq and Afghanistan.

$20 says the 2010 QDR is going to ask for an increase above 20 AD SF Battalions...How, I don't know.

Mind you, from memory the Dems did promise to double the size of SF...

S

[Scimitar]

From some more of his writtings

While the decision of whether or not to increase SF force structure beyond twenty battalions can be deferred to the 2013 QDR, the upcoming QDR should examine what steps might be taken in terms of recruitment, assessment, training, and retention to lay the groundwork for another significant expansion in SF force structure. Depending on the rate at which SF can be withdrawn from Iraq (which is likely to be slowly), developments in the war against violent Islamic radicalism, and the evolution of US-Sino relations over the next several years, one could certainly foresee the need for additional end-strength. According to SOCOM, a growth rate of 3-5 percent annually would be sustainable beyond 2013.

Admiral Olson
Speech at Centre for a New American Security
March 3, 2008

S

[Richard]

All this discussion has awakened some deep memory cells and I am digging through some of my boxes of old papers (my wife claims I have way too many of them) for a DOD concept proposal in the late 60s - early 70s called FIRST EARTH BATTALION - a multi-national crises response force of SF-like personnel, trained to the nth degree in the martial and military arts, extremely aggressive light fighters, nearly impervious to the effects of the elements, mid controllers, and so on - to be used as a sort of global quick reaction force to quell unrest of any sort before it could develop into a larger and more complex situation.

I found a paper copy of the VGTs in a file - CRS - but found it an intrigueing concept at the time as it kind of reminded me of a sort of Starship Trooper scenario.

I'll post it if I can find it.

Richard's $.02

[Richard]

Whoa. I found this - apparently the concept, which was never adopted by DOD, was developed even beyond the original proposal I found nearly a decade earlier.

The First Earth Battalion was the name proposed by Jim Channon, an American Soldier who had seen service in Vietnam, for his idea of a new US military to be organised along New Age lines. Such a battalion was never formed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Earth_Battalion

http://ejmas.com/jnc/jncart_channon_0200.htm

Now I'm interested in reading The Men Who Stare At Goats...which someone recently mentioned they were reading.

Richard's $.02

[Scimitar]

Ok...that stuff is way out on its own very special ledge all by its self!

Thanks for the post Richard

S

[nmap]

Originally Posted by Richard

Now I'm interested in reading The Men Who Stare At Goats...which someone recently mentioned they were reading.

Richard's $.02

Then you might find the story of Stargate and Joseph McMoneagle of interest. Google "stargate army" and McMoneagle's name to find more.

As to the value or veracity of the information, I don't claim to know.