Special Ops Doctrine

The Defense Department recently issued an updated joint doctrine document on special operations.

Among the changes, the new doctrine document:

* Expands the discussion of special operations joint task force, to include the addition of a vignette and a definition.

* Clarifies and defines preparation of the environment, operational preparation of the environment, and advance force operations.

* Revises special operations activities.

* Defines and discusses counter threat finance.

* Modifies doctrine in regard to command and control of special operations forces.

* Expands discussion of intelligence support to special operations.

* Adds sections on civil affairs operations, countering weapons of mass destruction, military working dogs, and engineer support.

Inside the Pentagon reported last week about Senate appropriators' concern that U.S. Special Operations Command does not fully understand its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance needs. The lawmakers are calling for a review of manned ISR aircraft requirements to support special operations forces:

In a report accompanying their fiscal year 2015 defense spending bill, Senate Appropriations Committee members said they agreed with their authorization colleagues that a review for platform requirements for manned ISR is needed. Senate appropriators also called for a $5.4 million reduction to the Pentagon's $40.5 million request to modify MC-12 aircraft that are being transferred from the Air Force to SOCOM.

"The committee is concerned with SOCOM's continuing changes to its requirements for manned ISR aircraft," according to the report approved by the panel last week. "The incremental changes to the manned ISR fleet, including the proposed divestiture of recently upgraded aircraft, seems to indicate that SOCOM does not understand its long-term ISR requirements."