Spec ops may get new orders

American military’s special warfare forces are getting new orders as the Defense Department makes a major mission focus from post-9/11 terrorist groups to eyeing powerhouse antagonists such as China and Russia. The U.S. Special Operations Command, located in south Florida, is drafting guidance to reorient its top-tier military special operation commands to fight expanding militaries of “near-peer” powers. The guidance, still needing to get a thumbs-up USSOC boss Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III, will allow special operations forces to take on a bigger role in cyber-warfare, information and digital age propaganda, according to Washington Times sources, as well as train allies in those new skills. Since 9/11, SOF personnel have been at the tip of the spear for the U.S.-led global war on terror. DoD’s National Defense Strategy is ushering in a move away from the fight against non-state terrorists to big-boy rival nations. The Middle East will become a theater to be managed, while the new focus will be on Asia and Europe. Whether this shift is an attempt to clip the SOF’s wings is a matter of debate across the military. Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy “spec ops” forces have grown from 45,000 in 2001, it is estimated today’s numbers are about 70,000 today. Some critics say the expansions in size and mission hasn’t been healthy. The advantage spec ops units provide in this new environment is during “competition short of conflict” to deter adversies, Gen. Thomas said. That gray area between a hot and cold war “is arguably the most important phase of deterrence.” But shifting gears from the “kill/capture” missions to subtle missions have already been in the works. A Congressional Research Service survey of Special Forces issues mandated reviews in the FY 2019 National Defense Authorization Act to reflect lawmakers’ concern about the status of the special operations commands and missions. (Source: Washington Times 02/24/19) Gulf Coast Note: The Air Force Special Operations Command headquarters is located aboard Hurlburt Field, Fla. AFSOC is a component of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill AFB, Fla. The command's core missions include battlefield air operations, combat support, aviation foreign internal defense, information operations/military support, precision strike, specialized air mobility; command and control; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and psychological operations. The Army’s 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is located within the Eglin AFB, Fla., Range. Its purpose is to conduct guerilla operations and train friendly governments' armed forces in South, Central and North America as well as the Caribbean.