ARSOF Test Flashcards
What is ARSOF’s role in Multi-Domain Operations? (Central Idea)
When directed, ARSOF penetrates denied areas to dis-integrate enemy anti access and area denial systems by producing multiple physical, virtual, and cognitive dilemmas and provide the JFC an operational advantage.
What is the threat focus for MDO?
Russia, China (near-peer pacing threats)
Iran, North Korea, VEOs (proliferation of A2/AD)
What are the three components of the solution for MDO?
Compete
Penetrate, Dis-Integrate, and Exploit
Re-Compete
What is the problem for MDO?
Stand Off
The enemy is trying to keep us from getting in, out, and close by employing A2/AD systems.
Where does SOF work within the MDO framework?
The operational deep fires area.
The competitor’s non-permissive area where all domain fires originate and is targetable by friendly forces.
What are the three tenets of MDO?
- Calibrated Force Posture - ability to maneuver across operational and strategic distances
- Multi-Domain Formations - ability to operate across multiple domains
- Convergence - ability to simultaneously integrate capabilities onto the enemy
Who are the 6 members of the National Security Council?
POTUS VPOTUS SECDEF SECEnergy SECState National Security Advisor
What are the 7 components of the National Security Organization?
NSC DA DONavy DAF CJCS/Joint Staff Specified Commands Unified Commands
What 5 things did the National Security Act of 1947 establish?
- National Military Establishment
- Created the NSC
- Service Secretaries
- Unified and Specified Commands
- Legitimized the Joint Chiefs
What did the Amendment of 1949 do for the National Security Act of ‘47?
- Created DoD from the National Military Establishment
- Created the SECDEF in CoC to POTUS
What did the Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 establish?
- SOCOM
- Authority to CCDRs instead of service chiefs.
What was a byproduct of the Homeland Security Act of 2002?
The DHS
What are the 7 Geographic Combatant Commands?
CENTCOM AFRICOM EUCOM NORTHCOM SOUTHCOM INDOPACOM SPACECOM
What are the 4 functional combatant commands?
CYBERCOM
TRANSCOM
STRATCOM
SOCOM
What is the difference between a unified and specified combatant command?
Unified = broad and continuous mission, more than one military department
Specified = one, functional military department
Define Joint
Activities, operations, etc., in which elements of two or more military departments (Army, Navy, Air Force) participate.
Define and list the joint functions.
Related capabilities and activities placed into seven groups to help commanders synchronize, integrate, and direct operations.
WFFs + Information (CP - leadership)
What are the three levels of war?
Strategic
Operational
Tactical
Define Campaigns
A series of related major operations aimed at achieving strategic and operational objectives within a given time and space. Exceeds the scope of major operations.
Define Operations
A sequence of tactical actions with a common purpose or unifying theme.
What is a JTF?
A joint task force is a sub command with authority to organize forces to best accomplish an assigned mission. Functional or geographical focused.
Dissolved when purpose has been achieved or is no longer needed.
What are the four component commanders under a JTF?
Land, SpecOps, Maritime, Air
JFLCC, JFSOCC, JFMCC, JFACC
Who could potentially be the JFSOCC?
The TSOC commander
What organization does the GO under a JFSOCC command?
SOJTF
Can be the same person.
What are the four components of a SOJTF?
SMU
JSOTF (O-6)
JSOAC
SOLE (coordinates air for SOJTF with JFACC)
What is the role of a SOCCE?
Act as a C2 element for coordination and synchronization between a JSOTF and the CF JFLCC.
What is a SOLO?
In-country SOF advisors to the U.S. country team.
What is a SOFLE?
A task organized rotational SOF element deployed within a specific nation or embedded within CF to conduct liaison activities.
What is a SOST?
Cornerstone of USSOCOM at the National Capital Region
What does a SOC-FWD do?
Links the TSOC to forward deployed tactical SOF units with a permanent presence that executes distributed special operations.
Define Tactics
Tactics include the ordered placement and maneuver of units in relation to each other, the enemy, and terrain to obtain decisive results. Descriptive.
Define Techniques
Non-prescriptive ways or methods used to perform missions, functions, or tasks. More specified than tactics a less structured than procedures. Descriptive.
Define Procedures
Consist of a series of steps in a set order that are completed the same way, at all times, regardless of circumstances. Format used without variation. Prescriptive
Define UW
Activities conducted to enable a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce, disrupt, or overthrow a government or occupying power by operating through or with an underground, auxiliary, and guerrilla force in a denied area.
Define resistance movement
An organized effort by some portion of the civil population of a country to resist the legally established government or an occupying power by disrupting civil order and stability.
Define Insurgency
The organized use of subversion and violence to seize, nullify, or challenge political control of a region. Can also refer to the group itself.
7 Phases of UW in order
Preparation Initial Contact Infiltration Organization Buildup Employment Transition
Four components of UW
Guerrilla
Underground
Auxiliary
Public
US phases of UW with Mao equivalent
- Latent and Incipient (Strategic Defense)
- Guerrilla Warfare (Strategic Stalemate)
- War of Movement (Strategic Offense)
3 types of Guerrilla Warfare missions
- GW Missions ISO Theater CDR’s UW Campaign
- GWM to assist CF engaged in combat operations
- GWM conducted after L/U with FF
7 dynamics of an insurgency
IPEELOO
Ideology Phasing and Timing Environment and Geography External Support Leadership Objectives Organization and Operational patterns
Principles of Security for Guerrilla Forces
Mobility
Dispersion
OPSEC
Three Zonal Security areas
Zone A - The insurgency base
Zone B - Not well controlled by enemy where insurgency can operate
Zone C - Enemy has relative control and population may be hostile
Two components of an effective narrative
A believable story and an actionable plan
Diagnostic Frame
Contains a description of the problem and an identification of the victims.
Prognostic Frame
Articulates a proposed solution to the problem, possibly with a plan of attack and strategy.
Motivational Frame
Provides rationale for engaging in collective action and involves the development of an appropriate vocabulary to mobilize individuals.
6 core activities of UW
Intelligence Operations Subversion Sabatoge Unconventional Assisted Recovery Guerrilla Warfare PE
5 types of support to resistance
- Resistance against occupying power
- Insurgencies against sovereign state government
- Indigenous resistance element ISO FID
- Indigenous resistance element ISO CT, CP, Stability Ops
- Indigenous resistance element in a contested, ungoverned space
4 key efforts of STR
Enable political activities
Shape the information environment
Provide material and non-material assistance
Conduct mil and para-mil operations
Explain the difference between direct and indirect support
Indirect is mostly training and exchange programs. Direct includes equip, advise, and assist functions
What is the Internal Defense and Development Strategy (IDAD)?
The full range of measures taken by a nation to promote its growth and to protect itself from subversion, lawlessness, and insurgency.
What are the four functions of the IDAD strategy?
Balanced development
Security
Neutralization of threat
Mobilization
Define Area Complex
A clandestine, dispersed network of facilities to support resistance activities in a given area designed to achieve security, control, dispersion, and flexibility.
What is the purpose of Mission Command?
To empower subordinate decision making and decentralized execution.
What is the Commander’s Intent?
A clear, concise statement of what must be achieved to accomplish the mission. Contains higher’s mission, tasks that must be successfully achieved or properly set for mission success, and the conditions created by a successful mission.
Define a Pilot Team
A deliberately structured organization of SFOD members (likely augmented by IA & other skilled personnel) designed to infiltrate a designated area to conduct PE activities and assess the potential to conduct UW in support of USG objective.
Two ways a PT can operate
Vanguard (UW)
Feasibility assessment team (PE)
What phases of UW do PT Ops take place?
1-3
Define IW
A violent struggle between state and non-state actors to gain legitimacy and influence over the population.
Activities of IW
FID UW CT COIN STABILTY OPS
What is the purpose of a narrative?
A narrative is a story that explains how facts came to be. A good narrative provides meaning to physical fights.
What is the purpose of framing?
Frames are action-oriented sets of beliefs and meanings that inspire and legitimize the activities and campaigns of a social movement organization.
What are some components of an area complex?
- Logistics and supply installations
- Communications systems
- Base Camps
- Reception sites
- Training areas
- DZ/LZs
- Med Facilities
- Security and Intel Systems
- Caches
- E&R sites
What is the military problem of MDO?
How does ARSOF advance US interests in GPC against China and Russia while denying VEOs freedom to attack the homeland and threaten vital interests, enable the joint force to penetrate and dis-integrate great power stand off systems in armed conflict, and then consolidate gains and return to competition?
