Special Operations Force Must Build on Gains Made

The American navy has an asymmetrical benefit over any potential adversary with its particular operations neighborhood, and the processes are in place to maintain that benefit going nicely into the long run, mentioned Chris Maier, the assistant secretary of protection for particular operations and low-intensity battle. 

Maier spoke final week and addressed the modifications in irregular warfare that particular operators are making. He steps down because the neighborhood’s civilian chief on Monday. 

In the course of the actions following the 9/11 assaults, particular operators had been usually the lead navy group, Maier mentioned. These women and men had been the face of counterterrorism and took the battle to those that attacked America. 

Whereas there may be nonetheless a counterterrorism mission for the pressure, it is usually transitioning to its position on countering China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.  

Particular operations, by its very nature, is in lots of nations world wide and operates on the private stage with navy leaders of these nations. That alone is a bonus to the US, Maier mentioned. These forces perceive the circumstances on the bottom, he mentioned. They know the individuals concerned and the strengths and weaknesses of the forces concerned. Their stories could make all of the distinction for individuals making choices at increased echelons. 

He mentioned this is applicable not solely to a counterterrorism operation in, say, East Africa, but in addition in nice energy competitors with China or Russia. 

Particular operators are actually additionally increasingly concerned with cyber and house domains. The Chinese language and Russians are on the lookout for areas “the place they’ll decide off the power of our partnerships that we’ve constructed over years,” Maier mentioned. Particular operators understand how the domains match collectively, their positions in these domains and the right way to work the buildings in these areas of experience. 

Whereas DOD is a giant a part of the Nationwide Safety Technique, it’s not the one company in it, nor, usually, an important side of the technique. “Now we have a serious position to play, but it surely have to be seen as a part of the whole-of-government technique,” Maier mentioned.  

Because the technique turns to China and Russia, particular operations forces have modified from being the ‘supported’ aspect to being the ‘supporting’ aspect, Maier mentioned. There are clearly points of the nationwide competitors that don’t entail the navy in any respect — financial points, legislation enforcement polices, diplomatic strikes and extra. China operates in these areas and extra, and irregular warfare is among the arrows within the quiver.  

Particular operators are working hand-in-glove with allies and companions within the Indo-Pacific to discourage China and stop the nation from making a miscalculation. They’re additionally working with NATO allies and others to counter Russia.  

Maier mentioned this should grow to be a trademark of particular operations — they have to work carefully with allies and companions. They have to capitalize on the contacts they’ve solid previously to convey alliances into the long run. 

Maier mentioned the U.S. particular operations pressure is probably the most succesful on this planet. Transferring ahead, they have to work extra carefully with specialists inside DOD on house and cyber capabilities. 

“Now we have that reach-back now, however should develop it extra,” he added.  

Particular operations should additionally work outdoors the division to usher in the experience inherent in different components of the U.S. authorities, he mentioned. This might entail the whole lot from tapping specialists within the Division of Agriculture to climate forecasters to hydrologists and extra.  

Particular operators additionally have to be bridges to compadres in allied and associate nations. “Particular operators have this of their DNA,” Maier mentioned. “We’ve completed that because the forces stood up, and now we’re getting again to it once more.”