US Army Special Forces Operational Interoperability with the US Army's Objective Force - The Future of Special Forces Liaison and Coordination Elements

Abstract

Public reporting burder for this collection of information is estibated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing this collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burder to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information ABSTRACT Operational interoperability, the ability of units to provide services to and accept services from other units or forces and to use the services so exchanged to enable them to operate effectively together, is critical and central to effective joint operations. Liaison and coordination elements are central to ensuring operational interoperability between branches of the Army. Current US Army Special Forces (SF) doctrine addressing liaison and coordination elements has evolved over the past decades to meet past requirements for interoperability. However, higher degrees of interoperability, both technical and operational, are critical to enabling the Army and SF Objective Forces. The SF Objective Force must transform its liaison and coordination elements to ensure that it can maintain the high levels of interoperability required for future operations with the Army Objective Force. The monograph provides recommendations to transform SF liaison elements in light of the transformation characteristics and requirements of the Army and SF Objective Forces. The paper does this by first examining the definition and current importance of interoperability for the Army as a whole and then specifically for SF. The paper then describes how the Army and SF are transforming their forces and how SF transformation concepts support the overall military transformation campaign. The monograph then examines how interoperability is an essential enabler in that process and how SF liaison and coordination elements are key to achieving the levels of interoperability required by the transformation concepts. Last, the monograph describes how the SF liaison and coordination elements should change to achieve the required levels of interoperability. SF must make organizational changes within its liaison and coordination elements to ensure that they continue to be effective. The paper demonstrates that the increased requirements for interoperability between SF and the Army Objective Force are derived from the SF Objective Force operational characteristics and capabilities. Liaison and coordination elements are essential to achieving this higher level of interoperability because they provide a substitute for technical interoperability, are central to ensuring a common relevant operational picture (CROP), and allow integrated planning and coordination. SF liaison and coordination elements must be increased in size, utilized regularly at levels below corps, made more flexible and responsive, and include representatives from a...

A method for examining the impact of interoperability on mission performance in a system-of-systems

“…Joint and combined combat operations also benefit from interoperability as more connectivity between units, groups, enterprises, and nations is believed to decrease fratricide rate, the time it takes to complete a kill chain, and difficulties posed by organizational barriers. A more streamlined information exchange through various network 1 978-1-4244-3888-4/10/$25.00 ©2010 IEEE 2 IEEEAC paper#1098, Version 1, Updated 2010:01:04 topologies is an enabler to the concept of network centricity. The challenge of implementing network interoperability is of particular interest when looking at unmanned assets, as these assets are very able to take advantage of the latest advancements in information technology.…”

“…The challenge of implementing network interoperability is of particular interest when looking at unmanned assets, as these assets are very able to take advantage of the latest advancements in information technology. [1] Because the level of interoperability has a significant impact on the way mission operations are conducted, it is important to design the appropriate level of interoperability into a systems-of-systems during early phases of design. However, assessing interoperability as a variable in architecture design presents several challenges.…”

Special Forces Transformation in Face of the Contemporary Conflicts Challenges

“…Substantial impacts have also civil and political requirements which necessitate a more precise application of combat power 58 . Joint operations involve series of interoperability problem that relate to four key areas: culture (modus operandi), technology, division of functions and organizational structures 59 .…”