Research Catalog

Title

Improving the understanding of special operations : a case history analysis / Linda Robinson, Austin Long, Kimberly Jackson, Rebeca Orrie.

Author

Robinson, Linda, 1962-

Publication

• Santa Monica, Calif. : RAND, [2018]
• ©2018

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Long, Austin G.
• Jackson, Kimberly.
• Orrie, Rebeca.
• United States Army Special Operations Command, sponsor.
• Arroyo Center. Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources Program, researcher.
• Arroyo Center. Army Research Division, issuing body.
• Rand Corporation, publisher.

Description

xxxvi, 241 pages; 26 cm

Summary

"This report examines major U.S. decisions related to the development or employment of special operations forces (SOF). The purpose of the report is to analyze how change has previously occurred in Army, Joint, and U.S. Department of Defense policy regarding SOF to inform future development of options for policymakers and to better articulate the ways in which the varied Army Special Operations Forces capabilities can help to meet U.S. national security objectives. The report aims to assist the special operations community to better understand the policy process; formulate appropriate, sound courses of action; and engage with other members of the U.S. government interagency community in a constructive manner. Thirteen cases are covered in this report: (1) creation of 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit; (2) creation of the Office of Strategic Services; (3) creation of U.S. Army Special Forces; (4) special forces expansion under President Kennedy and contraction through the Vietnam War; (5) Central Intelligence Agency - SOF cooperation in Southeast Asia, 1961-1975; (6) special operations capabilities: creation of U.S. Special Operations Command and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict; (7) special operations capabilities post-9/11 SOF expansion; (8) special mission unit expansion; (9) operational authorities and employment of SOF: section 1208; (10) operational authorities and employment: the Global SOF Network initiative; (11) operational authorities and employment: irregular warfare directive; (12) operational authorities and employment: SOF and Plan Colombia operational authorities and employment; and (13) SOF support to Syrian fighters. "--Publisher's description.

Series Statement

Research report ; RR-2026-A

Uniform Title

Research report (Rand Corporation) ; RR-2026-A.

Alternative Title

Case history analysis.

Subjects

• Special forces (Military science)
• United States
• United States > Military policy
• Military policy
• Special forces (Military science) > United States > Planning
• Special forces (Military science) > United States > History
• Deployment (Strategy) > Decision making
• National security > Decision making
• History
• National security > United States > Decision making

Genre/Form

History.

Note

• "Prepared for the United States Army."--Title page.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-241).

Contents

Introduction -- Special Operations Capabilities: Creation of 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit -- Creation of the Office of Strategic Services: SOF-CIA Precursor -- Special Operations Capabilities: Creation of U.S. Army Special Forces -- Special Operations Capabilities: Special Forces Expansion Under President Kennedy and Contraction Through the Vietnam War -- CIA-SOF Cooperation in Southeast Asia, 1961-1975 -- Special Operations Capabilities: Creation of U.S. Special Operations Command and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict -- Special Operations Capabilities: Post-9/11 SOF Expansion -- Special Operations Capabilities: Special Mission Unit Expansion -- Operational Authorities and Employment of SOF: Section 1208 -- Operational Authorities and Employment: The Global SOF Network Initiative -- Operational Authorities and Employment: Irregular Warfare Directive -- Operational Authorities and Employment: SOF and Plan Colombia -- Operational Authorities and Employment: SOF Support to Syrian Fighters -- Findings and Recommendations.

Call Number

JFE 18-5888

ISBN

• 083309839X
• 9780833098399

OCLC

1020310066

Author

Robinson, Linda, 1962-

Title

Improving the understanding of special operations : a case history analysis / Linda Robinson, Austin Long, Kimberly Jackson, Rebeca Orrie.

Publisher

Santa Monica, Calif. : RAND, [2018]

Copyright Date

©2018

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Digital File Characteristics

text file PDF

Series

Research report ; RR-2026-A

Research report (Rand Corporation) ; RR-2026-A.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-241).

Funding

RAN167272.

Connect to:

https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2026.html

Added Author

Long, Austin G.

Jackson, Kimberly.

Orrie, Rebeca.

United States Army Special Operations Command, sponsor.

Arroyo Center. Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources Program, researcher.

Arroyo Center. Army Research Division, issuing body.

Rand Corporation, publisher.

Research Call Number

JFE 18-5888