Special operations liaison officer: looking back to see the future
Authors
Leitner, John
Bieganek, Cory
Madsen, Phillip
Subjects
Special Operations Liaison Officer
Special Operations
Liaison Officer
Global SOF Network
Foreign Area Officer
Country Team
National Security Decision Directive-38
SOF-FAO
International Engagement Program
USSOCOM J-55
SOF Career Track
Special Forces Proponency
48–18
AR 600–3
Regional Career Track
Special Operations Command-Forward
Special Operations
Liaison Officer
Global SOF Network
Foreign Area Officer
Country Team
National Security Decision Directive-38
SOF-FAO
International Engagement Program
USSOCOM J-55
SOF Career Track
Special Forces Proponency
48–18
AR 600–3
Regional Career Track
Special Operations Command-Forward
Advisors
Fox, William
Roberts, Nancy
Date of Issue
2014-06
Date
June 2014
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) describes its vision for the global SOF network (GSN) as a globally networked force of special operations forces (SOF), interagency partners, and allies able to respond rapidly and persistently to regional contingencies and threats to stability. USSOCOM’s goals for the GSN are supported by three unique elements: capacity building, low-level presence, and the sum total of access agreements and posturing in the form of responsiveness. The command’s Special Operations Liaison Officer (SOLO) program embodies these three elements. In a time of shrinking budgets and personnel drawdowns, USSOCOM and supported special operations component commands are faced with critical decisions about shaping their respective forces for the future. This capstone focuses on the United States Army Special Forces (SF) officers’ role in the SOLO program by utilizing a multimethod approach to address concerns presented by SOLO program managers. To this end, we have presented three viable courses of action (COAs) for USSOCOM to pursue, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, for a renewed SOLO program. The COAs include: 1) enhancing the status quo, 2) capitalizing on historical lessons, and 3) aligning with current United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) initiatives. While current demands are significant, we can always look to our past to see our future.
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.