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28 January 2015

NDIA SO/LIC 2015: Information and Quotes from Day Two

The USSSOCOM V-22 received additional armour in 2014.

USSOCOM aquired new ground vehicles in 2014.

The mission of USSOCOM is to synchronise all SOF operations.

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) focuses on IS (Islamic State) and different criminal groups.

Social technology and the cyber room will be challenging to USSOCOM.

Russia is using Special Operation Forces (SOF) to destabilise its neighbours. The Scandinavian countries are raising their budgets and there will be a close partnership with them. USSOCOM Commander will travel shortly there, to see to their points and needs.

Current budgets cuts in the Forces and SOF have a big influence in their readiness and in meeting mission goals.

TALOS is one of the most important hubs for the future. The Mk5 prototype suit by 2018 is on time.

US SOF success is directly related to their partners (allies and training partners).

By 2020, SOF will be directly connected to SOF networks by mobile devices – from home and everywhere.

Manned/unmanned ISR will be a very important domain in the future, USSOCOM has a need there.

Gen. Joseph L. Votel, USSOCOM Commander said: “We can’t focus on the tip of the spear, we have to look months in front of that tip.”

There are currently 12 SOF advisor teams in Iraq. USSOCOM is partnering in 60 countries around the world, and numbers are growing.

Gen. Votel talked about the danger of rising suicide numbers. He and his leaders are asking the troops to go and look for help and assistance. He said in the past there was a stigma built up and they have to fight that. No one is singled out, if he is looking for assistance. The leadership is targeting that topic at the moment. Stress to the operators and their families is a huge factor – and it has a direct effect on the missions.

USSOCOM TOA FY15 is $10.0 (coming from $9.3 in FY14), that is 1.5 % of the total DOB.

Lt.Gen. Charles T. Cleveland, United States Army Special Operations Command (Airborne) (USASOC) explained: “We are getting better, not bigger. […] And we have to differentiate between direct and non-direct forces, so the whole structure had to be changed. Now, we look at the mission and then choose the right troops for that.” So USASOC provides two types of SOF operators.

Since 2014, ARSOF 2022 is THE new document as a basis for all.

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) showed their plan for using their amount of airplanes by 2020: 37 AC-130Js, 57 MC-130Js, seven EC-130Js, 23 C-146s, five C-145s, 50 CV-22s, 12/5/10 MQ-9s, 13/7 MC-12s, and 31 U-28As. AFSOC also said, they need the AC/MC-130J fast and even would accept IOC status with the block 20 airplanes.

Because of political reason it will become more important to work with local forces around the world – under the radar. That means to take a closer look in selection and cultural competence.

United States Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSOC): There are 10 SEAL TEAMS, three SBT, two SUPPACT, one SDVT, one NAVSCITAS, and five NSWU around the world.

NVSOC plans for 2021: Better agility across domains/authorities, modernisation to counter A2/AD domain and a balanced-access capability portfolio. That portfolio will have a big change with less platforms. The platforms of the future will be: Vehicles for shallow water “wet” and “dry,” combatant craft heavy (CCH), combatant craft medium (CCM), and combatant craft assault (CCA).

USSOCOM is planning to lease equipment for their training partners, before they get their equipment to speed things up. That equipment will not be the same than the one later used, but similar as far as possible.

USSOCOM needs equipment that is simple/handable even for countries with not such a high technology background like the US.

Conventional Forces do not have to become SOF in the future, but they have to learn more from SOF, and to be part of that dynamic battlefield.
Andre Forkert

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