By, with, and through: the theory and practice of special operations capacity-building
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Authors
Heisler, Anthony F.
Subjects
Special Operations
SOF
USSOF
building partner capacity
BPC
capacity building
Theater Special Operations Command
TSOC
SOCSOUTH
SOCEUR
USSOCOM
Colombia
Paraguay
SOF operational planning
persistent engagement
SOF
USSOF
building partner capacity
BPC
capacity building
Theater Special Operations Command
TSOC
SOCSOUTH
SOCEUR
USSOCOM
Colombia
Paraguay
SOF operational planning
persistent engagement
Advisors
Fox, William P.
Date of Issue
2014-12
Date
Dec-14
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis presents a theory of how U.S. special operations forces (USSOF) build partner capacity. Building partner capacity (BPC) is a cornerstone of America’s post-9/11 security strategy and a signature mission of USSOF. However, USSOF lacks a theory that articulates how capacity is built or the keys to its success. This thesis explores BPC from the top down, through national security documents, doctrine, and case studies. It identifies that BPC is not a single act, but rather a series of tactical, operational, and strategic engagements carried out over an extended period of time in a dynamic and unpredictable partnership environment. The partnership environment is the aggregate of factors and conditions that influence the partnership and ultimately bound capacity-building potential. Given these antecedent conditions, USSOF requires a BPC enterprise to provide the continuous synchronization, vertically from the policy level to the tactical level and horizontally with the partner nation, to ensure the right skills and equipment arrive in the right place, at the right time, for the duration necessary to achieve the capacity-building objective. This thesis constructs and examines the BPC enterprise, the actors that can bring it to life, and offers seven principles likely to be associated with capacity-building success.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.