Table Of ContentTHE INTEGRATION OF CONVENTIONAL FORCES AND
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES
A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army
Command and General Staff College in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree
MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE
General Studies
by
MICHAEL D. HASTINGS, MAJ, USA
B.A., The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina, 1991
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas
2005
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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17-06-2005 Master’s Thesis Aug 2004 - Jun 2005
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER
The Integration of Conventional Forces and Special Operation
5b. GRANT NUMBER
Forces
5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER
6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER
Hastings, Michael D., MAJ, U.S. Army 5e. TASK NUMBER
5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT
U.S. Army Command and General Staff College NUMBER
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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
14. ABSTRACT
This study is designed to discover perceived issues that plague conventional forces and special operations forces
(SOF) integration on the battlefield. The research did in fact show that although operational and tactical integration
of these disparate forces is overall successful, there exist several impediments to a truly joint and combined arms
fight. The methodology used to conduct the analysis is based on the doctrine, organization, training, material,
leadership, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF) construct, and the most pertinent issues identified from the
contemporary operational environment. Each facet of the DOTMLPF was underscored with examples from recent
conventional force and special operations force integrated operations in Operation Enduring Freedom, and
Operation Iraqi Freedom, and offers modest solutions to these matters. The recommendations are intended to
increase the capabilities of both conventional forces and SOF, whether integrated or not.
Whil thi t d id tifi l tt th t h t l i ti i t ti iti lti t l t i
15. SUBJECT TERMS
Conventional Forces, Special Operations Forces, SOF, War on Terrorism, Integration, DOTMLPF,
Combined Arms, Joint capabilities, OIF, OEF, Cultural Bias
16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION 18. NUMBER 19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON
OF ABSTRACT OF PAGES
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MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE
THESIS APPROVAL PAGE
Name of Candidate: Major Michael D. Hastings
Thesis Title: The Integration of Conventional Forces and Special Operations Forces
Approved by:
, Thesis Committee Chair
Harold S. Orenstein, Ph.D.
, Member
LTC Charles Guerry, M.A.
, Member
LTC Gregory P. Fenton, M.A.
Accepted this 17th day of June 2005 by:
, Director, Graduate Degree Programs
Robert F. Baumann, Ph.D.
The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student author and do not
necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or
any other governmental agency. (References to this study should include the foregoing
statement.)
ii
ABSTRACT
INTEGRATION OF CONVENTIONAL FORCES AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS
FORCES, by Major Michael D. Hastings, USA, 98 pages.
This study is designed to discover perceived issues that plague conventional forces and
special operations forces (SOF) integration on the battlefield. The research did in fact
show that although operational and tactical integration of these disparate forces is overall
successful, there exist several impediments to a truly joint and combined arms fight. The
methodology used to conduct the analysis is based on the doctrine, organization, training,
material, leadership, personnel, and facilities (DOTMLPF) construct, and the most
pertinent issues identified from the contemporary operational environment. Each facet of
the DOTMLPF was underscored with examples from recent conventional force and
special operations force integrated operations in Operation Enduring Freedom, and
Operation Iraqi Freedom, and offers modest solutions to these matters. The
recommendations affect doctrine, organization, training, material, and leadership; but
find no cause to effect change or improvement to personnel and facilities within the
Department of Defense. The recommendations are intended to increase the capabilities of
both conventional forces and SOF, whether integrated or not.
While this study identifies several matters that hamper truly synergistic integration, it is
ultimately up to senior leadership within the military to continue further study and
analysis, and overcome the inertia that hinders our joint warfighting capability.
iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never
forget what they did here. (Lincoln 1863)
The Gettysburg Address
With respect this thesis is dedicated to the memory of Specialist Kyle G. Thomas,
United States Army, A Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry (Airborne), killed in
action 25 September, 2003 while defending freedom in Kirkuk, Iraq.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE THESIS APPROVAL PAGE.............ii
ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................iii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................................................................iv
ACRONYMS....................................................................................................................vii
ILLUSTRATIONS............................................................................................................ix
CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................1
CHAPTER 2. LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................................13
CHAPTER 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...............................................................18
CHAPTER 4. ANALYSIS.................................................................................................27
Doctrine..........................................................................................................................27
Command and Control...................................................................................................30
Organization...................................................................................................................37
Impacts on Army Transformation……………………………………………………..38
Training..........................................................................................................................45
Material..........................................................................................................................52
Leadership......................................................................................................................58
Personnel........................................................................................................................65
Facilities.........................................................................................................................66
Case Study Analysis: JSOTF-North and the 173rd Airborne Brigade..........................66
Background....................................................................................................................67
Doctrine..........................................................................................................................72
Organization...................................................................................................................75
Training..........................................................................................................................76
Materials........................................................................................................................78
Leadership......................................................................................................................80
Personnel and Facilities.................................................................................................83
CHAPTER 5. CONCLUSION...........................................................................................84
REFERENCE LIST...........................................................................................................89
INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST......................................................................................96
v
CERTIFICATION FOR MMAS DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT.................................97
vi
ACRONYMS
AI Area of Interest
ALO Air Liaison Officer
AO Area of Operations
AOR Area of Responsibility
BOS Battlefield Operating Systems
C2 Command and Control
CAS Close Air Support
CFSOCC Coalition Forces Special Operations Component Command
CMTC Combat Maneuver Training Center
CTC Combat Training Centers
COE Contemporary Operating Environment
DOTMLPF Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership, Personnel,
Facilities
ETAC Enlisted Terminal Air Controller (replaced by the term JTAC)
FM Frequency Modulation
HF High Frequency
JCAS Joint Close Air Support
JFE Joint Fires Element
JP Joint Publication
JRTC Joint Readiness Training Center
JSOTF Joint Special Operations Task Force
JSOTF-N Joint Special Operations Task Force-North
JTAC Joint Terminal Air Controller
vii
JSOA Joint Special Operations Area
LNO Liaison Officer
METT-TC Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops available, Time, and Civilian
considerations
METL Mission Essential Task List
NCO Noncommissioned Officer
NSS National Security Strategy
OEF Operation Enduring Freedom
ODA Operational Detachment-Alpha
ODB Operational Detachment-Bravo
OPCON Operational Control
SF Special Forces
SFG Special Forces Group
SFLE Special Forces Liaison Element
SOCCE Special Operations Command and Control Element
SOF Special Operations Forces
TACON Tactical Control
TACP Tactical Air Control Party
TACSAT Tactical Satellite
TTP Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures
WOT War on Terrorism
viii
ILLUSTRATIONS
Page
Figure 1. Division-Centric Army....................................................................................39
Figure 2. Brigade-Centric Army.....................................................................................40
ix
