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Special Warfare
November-December 09
Volume 22, Issue 6

ON THE COVER
The triangle represents the
Clausewitzian trinity of the
three forces that drive the
nature of a war — passion,
reason and chance.
Passion is most often
associated with the people,
reason with the government
and chance with the military.
In IW, the roles of passion
and the people are much
more important than in
traditional warfare, thus
the nontraditional posi-
tioning of the triangle, with
the people on top.
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10th SF Group soldier receives frederick award
The Brigadier General Robert T. Frederick Award is presented annually to one American Special Forces Soldier who exhibits the highest degree of professionalism and continues the tradition that the original members of the First Special Service Force set during World War II.

Sergeant First Class James L. Cannon, a member of Operational Detachment
Alpha-0112, 1st Battalion, 10th SF Group, based in Stuttgart, Germany, was honored at this year’s presentation.

Cannon distinguished himself as the senior weapons sergeant for his detachment during a deployment in support of the International Security and Assistance Force in the Kapisa Province of Afghanistan.

Cannon and his detachment conducted 192 days of continuous combat operations in one of the most hostile locations in Afghanistan. Throughout the deployment,
Cannon was notable for his exceptional leadership, courage under fire and warrior spirit. In conjunction with the Frederick Award, he was awarded two Bronze Star Medals, one with the Valor device.
SFC James L. Cannon receives the Brigadier General Robert T. Frederick award

 
Cannon was acknowledged as the consummate Special Forces Soldier, whose actions personify the combat adviser. — 10th Special Forces Group PAO

SWCS, ARI to Survey the PSYOP Force
Over the last several months, the United States Army Special Operations Command’s lessons-learned program has evolved to focus less on archiving information and more on analyzing it to resolve issues and provide feedback to Soldiers at all operational levels.

Initially, USASOC’s emphasis on lessons learned focused on educating users about the program and capturing observations, insights and lessons, or OILs, in the Joint Lessons Learned Information System. (Those lessons are available on SIPR at http://www.jllis.smil.mil/ussocom/.) Now the focus has evolved to using those OILs to identify trends and issues that can be resolved through a review of doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, personnel and facilities, or DOTMLPF, and to bring timely solutions to the force.

USASOC’s Lessons Learned Fusion Cell was established to collect and integrate multiple-source information gained through operations, exercises, experiments and training events. The fusion cell’s goal is to share that information rapidly among warfighters, support the resolution of DOTMLPF issues and provide responsive feedback for units to implement. Unit analysts, or UAs, are located in each of USASOC’s subordinate commands and their subordinate units. The UAs serve both as the unit’s connection to the fusion cell and as the commander’s lessons-learned subject-matter experts and analysts.

A key component of resolving issues is the Lessons Learned Working Group, or LLWG, which meets monthly to review the prioritized issue list developed by the fusion cell with input from the UAs. The outcome of the LLWG review is the assignment of DOTMLPF issues to the appropriate USASOC staff section for resolution. Some issues being staffed are: the synchronization of pre-mobilization training; the serviceability of the combat-application tourniquet; multi-mode band jammers; the inadequacy of infrared lights and trailer compatibility issues on the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle; the requirements for lightweight indirect-fire systems; and the increased mobility provided by motorcycles.

The fusion cell functions at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. At the operational and tactical levels, the fusion cell focuses on issues that directly affect warfighters. The projected addition of a UA to support the JFK Special Warfare Center will provide an additional conduit for lessons learned from institutional training, such as the Robin Sage exercise and the Special Forces Warrant Officer Basic Course. These lessons, along with the UA’s daily interaction with students, will help ensure that the program remains an appropriate and vital asset. At the strategic level, the fusion cell shares information with the National Defense University, which serves as the interagency lessons-learned facilitator.

The sharing of information across the command is critical, and the UAs play a pivotal role in that process. In the past, UAs served solely as a means for gathering and centrally storing after-action reviews from the field. Collating information is essential; however, UAs now conduct detailed analysis of information and share lessons learned and analysis across the command on peer networks and within the LLWG.

At the same time, the UAs have evolved into a uniquely qualified group of analysts who provide responsive lessons-learned support to commanders for effective training, mission planning and operations. UAs now have the ability to receive after-action reviews, conduct detailed analysis on their application within the command, and present them for action. As an example of that utility, command planning groups have directed UAs to provide information on current and previous operations relevant to mission planning. Ultimately, the UAs’ development from archival entities into ones that provide responsive lessons learned to commanders will ensure that operational and training experiences become lessons applied within the force. - Contributed by Lee McKnight, USASOC Lessons Learned Fusion Cell.
Milwiki Pilot Program Ongoing at Fort Leavenworth
The U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Combined Arms Center, at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., recently launched a 90-day pilot program that allows Soldiers and Army civilians to make real-time updates to Army tactics, techniques and procedures, or ATTPs, using Wiki.

Available 24/7 worldwide to all military and civilian personnel with an active AKO/DKO account and authorized access to for official use only level information, the Wiki portal is designed to act as a secure collaborative site where authorized contributors may apply their real-world experience and subject-matter expertise to keep Army doctrine current and relevant.

The Army Doctrine Web (https://wiki.kc.us.army.mil/wiki/Portal:Army_Doctrine) currently houses 26 ATTPs representing a number of Army schools and centers of excellence. The JFK Special Warfare Center and School selected ATTP 3-05.202, Special Forces Foreign Internal Defense Operations; ATTP 3-05.301, Psychological Operations Process Tactics, Techniques and Procedures; and ATTP 3-05.401, Civil Affairs Tactics, Techniques and Procedures, as the Army special-operations forces contributions to the pilot program. The documents were uploaded to the Army Doctrine Web in August and September.
Although all changes are reviewed by the proponent for validity, contributions are reflected immediately on the Web. In order to encourage proper use and conduct, all contributors are reminded of the Army Doctrine Portal rules of conduct:
• This is a professional forum.
• You have the opportunity to change, add to or delete the content of sections of the ATTPs (portions of the ATTPs may have been locked by the respective proponent for the publication).
• If you are unsure of your contribution, feel free to post it in the discussion tab so that the community can vet it before it gets posted.
• There are no anonymous postings. We will use your AKO profile if we have questions about any of your postings.
• With this Wiki program, you have the ability to contribute directly to Army doctrine. When you contribute, consider whether your tactics, techniques and procedures apply broadly, across all environments, or only in one specific set of conditions. Make sure you include the appropriate context.
• This is a self-policing site, so your fellow professionals can review any contributions and can further correct, edit or retract a contribution.
• Posts should be short and to-the-point.
• TTPs should be written in the common language of the profession, using doctrinally approved terms from FM 1-02, Operational Terms and Graphics, where appropriate. If current doctrinally approved terms do not cover an emerging concept, you can use a new term and define it within the section in which it is used.
• In order to ensure the consistency of language, the doctrinal proponent reserves the right to adjudicate any conflicts between postings and existing doctrine. — Peter Campbell, Editorial Branch supervisor, Media Production Division, Directorate of Training and Doctrine, USAJFKSWCS.
Haas Takes Control of Special Operations Command Africa
Photo: COL Christopher K. Haas U.S. Army Colonel (P) Christopher K. Haas assumed command of Special Operations Command Africa from Brigadier General Patrick M. Higgins during a change of command ceremony Aug. 24 at Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart, Germany.

Haas was formerly the Director of the U.S. Special Operations Command Legislative Affairs Office in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Duquesne University, where he was commissioned through the Army ROTC as a second lieutenant in Infantry.
“To all the members of SOCAFRICA; I am in awe of your accomplishments and your professionalism,” said Haas, who counts among his awards three Defense Superior Service Medals and a Legion of Merit. “You all have my deepest respect, trust and confidence. I will, in the coming months, endeavor to earn yours.”

Higgins served as SOCAFRICA’s first commander and assumed command of the unit in August 2007 when it was just a transitional headquarters. He said he was extremely proud of the command he will leave behind to become the Director of Special Operations Directorate-Iraq, Multi-National Forces-Iraq.

“Together we built what I consider one of the finest teams I have ever been a part of — a staff of dedicated and talented people who believe in AFRICOM’s mission and in an innovative approach to meet the daily challenges of that mission — a mission of peace, not war,” Higgins said. “I have been proud to stand side-by-side with each and every one of you. The important work you do here is making a difference to our nation and to the prosperity, security and freedom of the African people.”

As SOCAFRICA’s commander, Haas exercises operational control of SOF within the command’s area of responsibility, which includes 53 countries and more than 13 million square miles. The primary focus of the command is on SOF missions that develop African partner capacity, provide assistance and support theater security-cooperation objectives.

Haas is a 24-year Army veteran who has served in multiple special-operations assignments. He has held command positions as commander, 3rd Special Forces Group, and served two tours as commander, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan. >Top

 

  
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