A theory of special operations : the origin, qualities, and use of SOF

2007·1.3 MB·English

by  Spulak, Robert G

Joint Special Operations University
Brian A. Maher, Ed.D., Education, President
Editorial Advisory Board
John B. Alexander Alvaro de Souza Pinheiro
Ph.D., Education Major General, Brazilian Army, Ret.
The Apollinaire Group and JSOU Associate Fellow
JSOU Senior Fellow Kenneth H. Poole
Joseph D. Celeski Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Ret.
Joint Special Operations University Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret. JSOU Senior Fellow
and the Strategic Studies Department JSOU Senior Fellow James F. Powers, Jr.
Gilbert E. Doan Director of Homeland Security,
The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) provides its publica- Major, U.S. Army, Ret. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
tions to contribute toward expanding the body of knowledge about JSOU Institutional and JSOU Associate Fellow
joint special operations. JSOU publications advance the insights and Integration Division Chief Stephen Sloan
recommendations of national security professionals and the Special Paul R. Harmon Ph.D., Comparative Politics
Operations Forces (SOF) students and leaders for consideration by the Colonel, U.S. Air Force University of Central Florida
SOF community and defense leadership. USAFSOS Commandant Robert G. Spulak, Jr.
JSOU is a subordinate organization of the United States Special Thomas H. Henriksen Ph.D., Physics/Nuclear Engineering
Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The Ph.D., History Sandia National Laboratories
Hoover Institution Stanford and JSOU Associate Fellow
JSOU mission is to educate SOF executive, senior, and intermediate
Univ. and JSOU Senior Fellow Joseph S. Stringham
leaders and selected other national and international security deci-
Russell D. Howard Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Ret.
sion makers, both military and civilian, through teaching, outreach,
Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Ret. Alutiiq, LLC and JSOU
and research in the science and art of joint special operations. JSOU Director of the Jebsen Center for Associate Fellow
provides education to the men and women of SOF and to those who Counter-Terrorism Studies, The Joseph A. Stuart
enable the SOF mission in a joint environment. Fletcher School, Tufts University Ph.D., Educational Leadership
JSOU conducts research through its Strategic Studies Department and JSOU Senior Fellow JSOU Dean of Academics
where effort centers upon the USSOCOM mission and these operational George Emile Irani J. Paul de B. Taillon
priorities: Ph.D., International Relations Ph.D., International Affairs
• Preempting global terrorist and chemical, biological, radiological, Toledo International Center for Royal Military College of Canada
nuclear, and explosive threats Peace and JSOU Senior Fellow and JSOU Associate Fellow
• Enhancing homeland security John D. Jogerst Graham H. Turbiville, Jr.
• Performing unconventional warfare and serving as a conven- Colonel, U.S. Air Force, Ret. Ph.D., History
tional force multiplier in conflict against state adversaries 18th USAFSOS Commandant Courage Services, Inc. and
• Conducting proactive stability operations James Kiras JSOU Senior Fellow
• Executing small-scale contingencies. Ph.D., History Jessica Glicken Turnley
School of Advanced Air and Space Ph.D., Cultural Anthropology/
The Strategic Studies Department also provides teaching and curriculum Studies and JSOU Associate Fellow Southeast Asian Studies
support to Professional Military Education institutions—the staff colleges Michael C. McMahon Galisteo Consulting Group
and war colleges. It advances SOF strategic influence by its interaction in Lt Colonel, U.S. Air Force and JSOU Senior Fellow
academic, interagency, and United States military communities. JSOU Strategic Studies William S. Wildrick
Department Director Captain, U.S. Navy, Ret.
The JSOU portal is http://jsoupublic.socom.mil.
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Colonel, U.S. Army, Ret.
JSOU Senior Fellow
On the cover. Air Force combat controllers make a call to
aircraft after having penetrated a Florida shoreline with
tactical underwater breathing equipment during a training
event. Air Force Special Operations Command photo.

A Theory of
Special Operations
The Origin, Qualities,
and Use of SOF

Robert G. Spulak, Jr.
JSOU Report 07-7
The JSOU Press
Hurlburt Field, Florida
2007
Comments about this publication are invited and should be forwarded
to Director, Strategic Studies Department, Joint Special Operations
University, 357 Tully Street, Alison Building, Hurlburt Field, Florida
32544. Copies of this publication may be obtained by calling JSOU
at 850-884-2765; FAX [phone].
*******
The Strategic Studies Department, JSOU is currently accepting
written works relevant to special operations for potential publication.
For more information please contact Mr. Jim Anderson, JSOU Director
of Research, at 850-884-1569, DSN 579-1569, james.d.anderson@
hurlburt.af.mil. Thank you for your interest in the JSOU Press.
*******
This work was cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited.

ISBN 1-933749-11-3
The views expressed in this publication are entirely those of
the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, policy
or position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense,
United States Special Operations Command, or the Joint
Special Operations University.
Recent Publications of the JSOU Press
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Dividing Our Enemies, November 2005, Thomas H. Henriksen
The War on Terrorism, December 2005, James A. Bates
Coast Guard SOF, February 2006, Gary R. Bowen
Implications for Network-Centric Warfare, March 2006,
Jessica Glicken Turnley
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Foreword
A
s we enter the seventh year of the current conflict against
violent-extremist terror networks, the importance of Special
Operations Forces (SOF) in this fight remains crucial. SOF
were the lead element in Afghanistan as the initial response to the 9/11
terror attacks. It becomes clearer this conflict is a long war and large-
scale combat operations in Iraq will eventually be reduced. These two
factors will likely cause the United States leadership to increasingly
turn to SOF, in conjunction with other government departments and
agencies, to prosecute the campaign against violent extremists.
In many ways, SOF will be the force of choice, because SOF skill
sets and capabilities are optimized to conduct operations against
these types of terror groups. The challenge will be to delineate what
makes SOF “special” and therefore distinct from conventional or
general purpose forces. As the conventional military forces continue
to improve their capabilities, it is interesting and quite useful to ask
the question: Are SOF really unique? Robert Spulak’s treatise is an
answer to this question.
Building on Rear Admiral William McRaven’s seminal work “Spec
Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice,”
Dr. Spulak expands McRaven’s theory beyond direct action and small
raid concepts and builds a theory of SOF looking at SOF as a whole
and across the spectrum of operations. He focuses on SOF attributes
and how they allow SOF to accomplish missions beyond the capabili-
ties of conventional forces. Through the prism of the principles of war,
the author argues SOF’s inherent capabilities allow them to overcome
the risk and obstacles that would preclude conventional forces from
undertaking the mission.
The challenge today is how to focus SOF on these “special” mis-
sions. Throughout history, leaders have a tendency to overuse or
misuse SOF. By the very nature of SOF attributes, SOF will always
be a limited force vis-à-vis conventional forces. Consequently, care
must be taken to use SOF where its special skills and capabilities
are best suited. I encourage you to read this monograph, then review
McRaven’s work. These works are an excellent way to appreciate SOF
and their role in the complex current environment and conflict.
Michael C. McMahon, Lt Col, USAF
Director, JSOU Strategic Studies Department
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