Special Forces: Creating Synergy in the Contemporary Operating Environment

An irregular enemy opposing US and partner forces in an expeditionary, nonlinear battle space defines the contemporary operating environment and post-modern warfare. This environment calls for improving our methods of operating, identifying, and building upon our strengths, and applying multiple efforts to achieve our national end state. Does the current doctrine help Special Forces commanders facilitate the successful integration of forces, capabilities, and effects in the contemporary operating environment? General purpose forces, Special Forces, and partner nation forces must achieve some degree of interoperability in order to create synergy. The purpose of this paper is to review the current doctrine with regard to command relationships, battlespace, and liaisons and to see if there are methods that Special Forces, partner nation forces, and general purpose forces can use to attain this all-important synergy. This monograph will show that commanders from both general purpose forces and Special Forces are striving to attain synergy. These commanders are applying joint doctrine in a descriptive manner, focusing mission accomplishment. Special Forces commanders understand the importance of the liaison functions and are multitasking subordinate units to fulfill this need while conducting other special operations.

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