Strategic usefulness of conventional force/special operations force interdependence in irregular warfare
Loading...
Authors
King, Eric D.
White, Matthew R.
Subjects
special operations forces
conventional forces
interdependence
hybrid warfare
Global War on Terror
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Afghanistan
Iraq
Philippines
irregular warfare
indirect approach
conventional forces
interdependence
hybrid warfare
Global War on Terror
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Afghanistan
Iraq
Philippines
irregular warfare
indirect approach
Advisors
Rothstein, Hy
Date of Issue
2017-06
Date
Jun-17
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Over the past 15 years, the United States has been involved in many irregular conflicts worldwide. The most prominent of these conflicts occurred in Iraq and Afghanistan, where both conventional forces (CF) and special operations forces (SOF) were deployed on a large scale. As the United States attempted to figure out how to deal with these insurgencies and irregular threats, CF and SOF were often interdependent with one another. These interdependent operations often had tactical success, but strategic gains have proved elusive and it is unclear what effect these actions have had on SOF and their ability to counter irregular threats. Other conflicts, such as Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines (OEF-P), only saw the employment of SOF to counter the irregular threats. This independent operation allowed SOF to remain flexible and bolster the Philippine government through an indirect approach. While interdependence is being applauded by both CF and SOF leaders from experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, this thesis suggests that SOF may gain the greatest strategic utility in irregular wars when operating independently against irregular threats.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Defense Analysis (DA)
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
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.