SOF and conventional force interoperability through SOF reconfiguration

Abstract

The goal of this thesis was to decide what environmental variables affected past SOF attempts at achieving interoperability with the conventional military, to examine the status of SOF and conventional forces interoperability as it exists today, and to explain why now is the time for SOP to engage in the reconfiguration of its forces to achieve an optimal level of interoperability. Five variables were used in the examination of SOFs organizational evolution toward interoperability with conventional forces. The interplay of these variables showed that environment changes combined with the sponsorship of civilian leadership had a dominant, yet, short-lived effect on SOF attempts at achieving interoperability with the conventional military, and that the incremental gains in structural and organizational aspects of SOF created conditions for achieving interoperability in the future. This window of opportunity is temporary, since SOF exists in an environment of competitive bureaucracies. Recommendations for SOF leaders in their pursuit of interoperability with conventional forces are presented. An opinion on how SOF might reconfigure itself to engage interoperability is provided.