Posted on 01/12/2006 3:56:50 PM PST by SandRat
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 12, 2006 – Special operations commanders know what is needed to meet the ever-changing challenges facing their forces fighting in the global war on terrorism, a panel of special operations leaders said here yesterday.
"We've got to field a warrior or technician that is culturally attuned (and) linguistically capable," Navy Capt. Sean Pybus, commander of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, said. "Those are key requirements in the years to come."
The panel spoke at WEST 2006, a technology, communication and national security conference co-sponsored by the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association and the U.S. Naval Institute. Army Col. Edward Reeder, deputy commander, 7th Special Forces, agreed with Pybus, adding that interpersonal skills, tactical and technical expertise also are musts.
"The Special Forces operator needs to be a subject-matter expert in unconventional warfare," he said. "He must thoroughly understand and be competent in the execution of a broad spectrum of military and paramilitary operations. A Special Forces soldier is physically fit, mentally tough, politically and culturally sensitive to his region of operation ... and lethal when required."
That expertise, combined with cultural and linguistics training, translates to Special Forces with a special understanding of foreign issues as they apply to the U.S., Hejlik said.
"They ... understand that when they go to a country that any inappropriate action has a severe and adverse impact on the way that country looks ... at the United States of America," Hejlik said. "They're more mature, they're more experienced, better equipped." Supporting these special operations forces isn't as simple as just basic equipping and training, panel members said. While those elements go a long way in creating the type of forces needed, more specific support systems also are needed.
Brig. Gen. Dennis Hejlik, commander of Marine Corp Special Operations Command, said communications is the area in which special operations forces "really hurt the most."
"We always need enhanced capability in comms," he said, noting that as with computers, the best available communications gear becomes obsolete in six months.
Biometrics -- automated methods for recognizing humans based on intrinsic physical or behavioral traits -- is another support system the panel agreed was needed. It's essential for tracking what the call "individuals of interest."
"The biometric piece is critical in an unconventional warfare environment," Reeder said. The biometrics system currently used allows for fingerprints to be lifted from debris left in areas where attacks have been launched, he said. Those fingerprints can then be entered into a data base for comparison to others found, thus providing a method for tracking an individual's movements.
Pybus also voiced his concern about proprietary communications systems. Current systems don't always interface, he explained, and that can hamper the flow of information from one location to another. Communications systems that can talk to each other are essential, he said.
"We've got to figure this out," Pybus said. "And my opinion is to get away from proprietary ... technology, looking instead to services' open architecture so that we can take those Predator or Raven feeds, present them to the guy in the Humvee so he can make decisions that might save his life and certainly help accomplish his mission."
Predators and Ravens are unmanned aerial vehicles used to gather information.
With a combination of the right training and support, special forces will continue to enhance unconventional warfare capabilities to expand the set of options available to policy makers, Reeder said.
Erik Prince, a founder of Blackwater USA, also participated in the panel discussion. Blackwater USA is a North Carolina-based private military contractor and security firm. The company provides support to "military, government agencies, law enforcement and civilian entities in training, targets and range operations," Prince, a former Navy SEAL, said.
Another SpecOPS PING
"We've got to field a warrior or technician that is culturally attuned (and) linguistically capable."
It's a good thing they've got The US Army Special Forces groups and schools to show them the way.
"We always need enhanced capability in comms," he said, noting that as with computers, the best available communications gear becomes obsolete in six months.
It is unbelievable how far we've come in terms of Comms, yet at the same time the frustration / failure of these exact Comms still cost of lives.
We can watch an Op unfold on some Mtn in Stan, from Tampa, FL 10,000 + miles away......yet those on the ground still have trouble making contact with a bird they see circling above them -
If you ever worked on a DoD contract you would know why. It is a slow, painful, slog uphill to get any new technology approved by for use by the DoD.
They just need to watch E-Ring.
Have loads of fun learning...Arabic!
Best taught by a hot persian girl. No doubt about it.
In Hoc.
We're gonna give them lessons in bad acting?
Ain't it the truth...
Of course -
I was speaking more in terms of when guys need Comms and can't manage to get in contact with a bird flying above them....yet those 10,000 + miles away still have the ability to see it all unfold -
Without a doubt all in all our Comms have come a tremendous way (positively). You'd never want to go back - More often then not it is Mr. Murphy or lack of communication between men (themselves) that causes some of our goat fks (that, and those from 10,000 + miles away trying to "manage" things!).
Afghanistan = mountains.
'nuff said.
I graduated from BUD/S class 105 in 1979 with CAPT Sean Pybus.
Of course, we were only Enswines then.
In the Marines in the early 80s we used to say the only things that were certain were death, taxes and communication problems.
Command and control along with logistics is what separates the professional soldier from cannon fodder.
BTTT
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