MDO Flashcards
TLO
Define ARSOF’s role in Multi-Domain Operations
Identify the four interrelated trends that shape the OE
Identity the tenets of Multi-Domain Operations without error
four interrelated trends that shape the future Operational Environment
Contested in all domains
Increasingly lethal and hyperactive battlefield
Increasingly complex environment
Challenged deterrence
Central Idea
ARSOF conduct special operations during competition and conflict, as part of the Joint Forces Commander’s campaign plan, to:
MITIGATE RISK, DETER, DISRUPT, OR DEFEAT HOSTILE AGGRESSION,
…and gain time in order to set up strategic and operational options. By expanding partnerships with local irregular forces, Army special operations allow the joint force to sense and create a picture of the adversary’s layered stand-off system. When directed:
ARSOF PENETRATE DENIED AREAS TO DIS-INTEGRATE ENEMY ANTI-ACCESS AND AREA DENIAL SYSTEMS BY PRODUCING MULTIPLE PHYSICAL, VIRTUAL, AND COGNITIVE DILEMMAS.
…This allows the joint force commander to consolidate operational gains and achieve the strategic objectives to return, under favorable terms, to a competitive environment.
Threat Focus
Focuses on near-peer threat (China and Russia) and aligns with NSS/NDS:
- Provides conceptual solution to near-peers’ operational approaches
- Uses Russia as the tactical/technological pacing threat
- Requires further analysis to address tactical and technical applicability of China
- Accounts for proliferation of anti-access and area denial concepts and capabilities to non-state actors (Iran, North Korea, VEO)
Addresses conceptual applicability to other powers
Components of the Solution ( 1 of 3)
(Compete)
ARSOF mitigates risk in the contact layer by setting deterrence conditions early, contesting misinformation, and providing warnings and indicators of hostile intentions.
Components of the Solution ( 2 of 3)
Penetrate, Dis-integrate, and exploit
In the blunt and surge layers, ARSOF enables the joint force to see, sense, stimulate, and strike across the operational continuum. In the Deep Fires Areas, ARSOF will often be the best “shooter” as well as the most effective “sensor.” ARSOF targets key enemy standoff systems unilaterally, with joint capabilities, and by mobilizing populations to generate combat power from local popular mass. ARSOF actions in Deep Areas supports conventional force freedom of action in Close Areas.
Components of the Solution ( 3 of 3)
ARSOF contribute to the return to competition by supporting the consolidation of gains, denying the enemy’s ability to prolong conflict after fielded forces are defeated, and transitioning control over territory and populations to legitimate civilian authorities.
The Problem
Uses “anti-access/area denial systems” to describe near-peer military strategies and systems/capabilities
Defines “stand-off” as the effect generated by the employment and fielding of political and military anti-access and area denial systems
Defines stand-off broadly to mean:
- Political separation that creates strategic ambiguity among the U.S. and its partners in competition and reduces speed of recognition, decision, and reaction.
- Physical separation of the Joint Force in time and space
- Functional separation of the Joint Force in capability
“Stand off”
The problem is standoff: keep us from getting OUT, keep us from getting IN, keep us from getting CLOSE
MDO Framework: Implications for ARSOF
ARSOF operations in:
Operational Deep Fires Area (500s + km)
Competitors non-permissive area where all domain Fires originate, targetable by Friendly; ONLY SOF GROUND FORCES OPERATE HERE
Tenets of MDO
CALIBRATED FORCE POSTURE Is the combination of position and the ability to maneuver across operational and strategic distances. Consists of FORWARD PRESENCE FORCES, EXPEDITIONARY FORCES, NATIONAL-LEVEL CAPABILITIES, AND AUTHORITIES
MULTI-DOMAIN FORMATIONS possess the combination of capacity, capability, and endurance which generates the resilience necessary to operate across multiple domains. All formations must have the capability to CONDUCT INDEPENDENT MANEUVER, EMPLOY CROSS-DOMAIN FIRES, AND MAXIMIZE HUMAN POTENTIAL.
CONVERGENCE is the rapid and continuous integration of capabilities in all domains that optimizes effects to overmatch the enemy through cross-domain synergy and multiple forms of attack, all enabled by mission command and disciplined initiative.
