SOCOM approves global campaign plan

The head of U.S. Special Operations Command has signed a campaign plan for global special operations, which he previously described as a means “to support my principal task of supporting my geographic partners out here.”

During March testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gen. Joseph Votel told lawmakers that Defense Department guidance “identifies [SOCOM] as the synchronizer for the planning and provision of special operations capabilities in support of the [geographic combatant commands].” The campaign plan, he said, is designed to fulfill that guidance.

In his prepared remarks, Votel said SOCOM was “in the process of coordinating with the services, the department, and the GCCs to collaboratively develop a campaign plan for global special operations.”

“The plan is intended to help optimize and prioritize our support globally, promote ongoing efforts to strengthen international partnerships and will ultimately improve our ability to support the GCCs by providing coherent options and recommendations for SOF employment,” Votel told senators.

A SOCOM spokesman confirmed Friday that Votel has signed the plan, but declined to comment further, citing its status as a “classified, internal” document.