Download or read book 9 11 And Canadian Special Operations Forces How 40 Selected Men Indelibly Influenced The Future Of The Force written by Lt.-Col Stephen J. Day and published by Pickle Partners Publishing. This book was released on 2014-08-15 with total page 125 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In less than two decades, Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOF) grew from a 100-man hostage-rescue unit to a 2,500-person Command capable of prosecuting missions across the special operations spectrum. The seminal event causing this transformation is examined within this monograph. The common narrative explaining the rise of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) states that 9/11 is the seminal event. Herein, a new narrative is proposed. One that posits the 2001-02 deployment of a 40-man CANSOF Task Force to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is the seminal event. This Task Force’s disproportionately positive impact on the Canadian national scene caused key national actors to take note of the strategic utility of special operations forces. Twenty-four interviews with defence and security subject matter experts from the political, federal public service, military and academic domains, as well as two leading Canadian national journalists provide unique insights into CANSOF’s ascendancy. Analyzing published defence policy since World War II and Canada’s 20-year experience with her national counter-terrorism task force prove two key points. First, defence policy is extant, consistently expressing the requirement for an irregular capability for the conduct of operations in asymmetrical environments. Therefore, 9/11 did not change Government of Canada (GoC) expectations per se. Second, the one-year CANSOF OEF commitment produces a highly positive national strategic effect for the GoC. As a result, in less than a decade CANSOF transitions from a single, domestically focused, national counter-terrorism task force to where today CANSOFCOM is employed as a distinct element of national military power. This transformation from a single strategic resource to a strategically relevant, ‘hard power’ option currently provides the GoC with greater strategic choice when she looks to deploy military forces alongside her allies.
Download or read book 9 11 and Canadian Special Operations Forces written by Stephen J. Day and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 76 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Casting Light on the Shadows written by Bernd Horn and published by Dundurn. This book was released on 2007-02-28 with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Special Operations Forces (SOF) have never been an integral element of Canada's military capability. Although units have existed periodically throughout the country's history, they have always been in the shadows. However, the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001, changed that. In the aftermath of 9/11, SOF became the force of choice. Casting Light on the Shadows consists of a series of essays on SOF-related issues written by individuals with specialized knowledge and expertise in the field. As well as providing a solid foundation for SOF theory, historical background, and evolution, the book also highlights ongoing developments in SOF.
Download or read book The Future of U S Special Operations Forces written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services. Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Between Faith and Reality written by Mike Rouleau and published by Canadian Museum of Civilization/Musee Canadien Des Civilisations. This book was released on 2012 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The US Special Forces written by John Prados and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2015-05-05 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The assassination of Osama bin Laden by SEAL Team 6 in May 2011 will certainly figure among the greatest achievements of US Special Forces. After nearly ten years of searching, they descended into his Pakistan compound in the middle of the night, killed him, and secreted the body back into Afghanistan. Interest in these forces had always been high, but it spiked to new levels following this success. There was a larger lesson here too. For serious jobs, the president invariably turns to the US Special Forces: the SEALs, Delta Force, the Green Berets, and the USAF's Special Tactics squad. Given that secretive grab-and-snatch operations in remote locales characterize contemporary warfare as much as traditional firefights, the Special Forces now fill a central role in American military strategy and tactics. Not surprisingly, the daring and secretive nature of these commando operations has generated a great deal of interest. The American public has an overwhelmingly favorable view of the forces, and nations around the world recognize them as the most capable fighting units: the tip of the American spear, so to speak. But how much do we know about them? What are their origins? What function do they fill in the larger military structure? Who can become a member? What do trainees have to go through? What sort of missions do Special Forces perform, and what are they expected to accomplish? Despite their importance, much of what they do remains a mystery because their operations are clandestine and the sources elusive. In The US Special Forces: What Everyone Needs to Know, eminent scholar John Prados brings his deep expertise to the subject and provides a pithy primer on the various components of America's special forces. The US military has long employed Special Forces in some form or another, but it was in the Cold War when they assumed their present form, and in Vietnam where they achieved critical mass. Interestingly, the Special Forces suffered a rapid decline in numbers after that conflict despite the fact that the United States had already identified terrorism as a growing security threat. The revival of Special Forces began under the Reagan administration. After 9/11 they experienced explosive growth, and are now integral to all US military missions. Prados traces how this happened and examines the various roles the Special Forces now play. They have taken over many functions of the regular military, a trend that Prados does not expect will end any time soon. This will be a definitive primer on the elite units in the most powerful military the world has ever known.
Download or read book Solving the People Puzzle written by Emily Spencer and published by Dundurn. This book was released on 2010-05-24 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The twenty-first century has brought the perfect storm of conditions to create substantive global instability. This contemporary operating environment (COE) is characterized by complexity, ambiguity, volatility, and constant danger. It is a human invention that requires a human solution. Special operations forces (SOF), a group comprised of highly trained personnel with the ability to deploy rapidly and apply special skills in a variety of environments and circumstances, is the logical force of choice to achieve success in the COE. Increasing their effectiveness is cultural intelligence (CQ) – the ability to recognize the shared beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviours of a group of people and then apply that knowledge toward a specific goal. Empowered by CQ, SOF are positioned to dominate in the COE. Solving the People Puzzle makes a convincing argument for the powerful union of the "force of choice" with the "tool of choice." This book will inspire and inform.
Download or read book Oppose Any Foe written by Mark Moyar and published by Basic Books. This book was released on 2017-04-25 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The epic story of America's most elite warriors: the Special Operations Forces. Born as small appendages to the conventional armies of World War II, the Special Operations Forces have grown into a behemoth of 70,000 troops, including Navy SEALs, Army Special Forces, Special Operations Marines, Rangers, and Delta Force. Weaving together their triumphs and tribulations, acclaimed historian Mark Moyar introduces a colorful cast of military men, brimming with exceptional talent, courage and selflessness. In a nation where the military is the most popular institution, America's Special Operations Forces have become the most popular members of the military. Through nighttime raids on enemy compounds and combat advising of resistance movements, special operators have etched their names into the nation's registry of heroes. Yet the public knows little of the journey that they took to reach these heights, a journey that was neither easy nor glamorous. Fighting an uphill battle for most of their seventy-five year history, the Special Operations Forces slipped on many an occasion, and fell far on several. Presidents from Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama have enthusiastically championed Special Operations Forces, but their enthusiasm has often surpassed their understanding, resulting in misuse or overuse of the troops. Lacking clearly defined missions, Special Operations Forces have had to reinvent themselves time and again to prove their value in the face of fierce critics-many of them from the conventional military, which from the start opposed the segregation of talent in special units. Highlighting both the heroism of America's most elite soldiers and the controversies surrounding their meteoric growth, Oppose Any Foe presents the first comprehensive history of these special warriors and their daring missions. It is essential reading for anyone interested in America's military history-and the future of warfare.
Download or read book Choice of Force written by Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.). School of Policy Studies and published by Published for the School of Policy Studies, Queen's University by McGill-Queen's University Press. This book was released on 2005 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Twenty years from now, security issues may dictate that counter-terrorism is more important than operations to secure stability and rule of law. Security at the border, ethnic demography, and the perspective of the next generation will determine what strategic choices Canada will make about special military operations and the elite forces developed to carry out special missions. In Choice of Force military and academic researchers survey what political and bureaucratic leaders expect of special operations and analyse contemporary operations, new challenges, and the factors that will shape special operations in the coming decades.
Download or read book Casting Light on the Shadows Canadian Perspectives on Special Operations Forces written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Special Operations Forces (SOF) have never been an integral element of Canada's military capability. Although units have existed periodically throughout the country's history, they have always been in the shadows. However, the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001, changed that. In the aftermath of 9/11, SOF became the force of choice. Casting Light on the Shadows consists of a series of essays on SOF-related issues written by individuals with specialized knowledge and expertise in the field. As well as providing a solid foundation for SOF theory, historical background, and evolution, the book also highlights ongoing developments in SOF.
Download or read book Unconventional Warfare written by Susan Marquis and published by Brookings Institution Press. This book was released on 2011-02-01 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For four decades after World War II, U.S. Special Operations Forces—including Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Air Force special operations aircrews and Special Tactics Group—suffered from mistrust and inadequate funding from the military services. They were nearly eliminated from the active force following the Vietnam War. But in the past fifteen years, special operations forces have risen from the ashes of the failed 1980 rescue of American hostages in Iran to become one of the most frequently deployed elements of the U.S. military. They are now adequately funded, better-equipped, and well-trained. Special operations forces are often the nation's first military response when faced with a crisis in today's uncertain and unstable international security environment. What caused this dramatic turnaround? As this book shows, it was a long way from congressional outrage at TV images of burned bodies of U.S. servicemen in the Iranian desert to the establishment of a special operations force of nearly 45,000 active and reserve personnel. The drama of how this happened sheds light on how public policy is made and implemented. It illustrates the complex interaction between internal forces within the special operations community, as well as between the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. The implementation of legislation establishing a special operations capability is seen to rebuild and protect these forces to an extent never imagined by the early "quiet professionals." While offering insights into how the U.S. government makes policy, Susan Marquis also offers a revealing look at the special operations community, including their storied past, extreme training, and recent operational experience that continues to forge their distinctive organizational mission and culture. She describes the decade-long struggle to rebuild special operations forces, resulting in new SOF organizations with independence that is unique among U.S. militar
Download or read book We Will Find a Way written by Bernd Horn and published by . This book was released on 2012-02 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Colonel Bernd Horn's monograph on the legacy of Canadian Special Operations Forces (SOF) highlights the colorful history and heritage of SOF from a vital partner nation. Horn reaches back to the 17th and 18th centuries with the Canadian Ranger tradition. He recounts Canada's entry into World War II and its SOF experience with the British-led Special Operations Executive. He highlights a combined U.S./Canadian unit, the First Special Service Force, which trained together in Montana and fought alongside each other earning the moniker "Black Devils" by the Germans. Colonel Horn then continues to present day. He provides a brief but exciting recap of Canadian SOF history that not only enriches our understanding of SOF from a key ally, but also highlights the historic bonds and military experiences that our two great nations share.
Download or read book The Future of U S Special Operations Forces written by Linda Robinson and published by Council on Foreign Relations Press. This book was released on 2013-04-01 with total page 50 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: U.S. special operations forces are doing more things in more places than ever before. They are now active in some seventy countries and, since 2001, have seen their combined budget nearly quintuple -- a trend that seems likely to continue. As the United States seeks ways to tackle a range of security threats worldwide, shore up the resilience of its friends and allies against terrorist and criminal networks, and minimize need for large-scale military interventions, the importance of special operations forces will grow. Yet, the strategic vision for special operations forces has not kept pace with the growing demands for their skills. Most people -- and, indeed, many policymakers -- associate the special operations forces with secret nighttime raids like the one that targeted Osama bin Laden: tactical operations against a particular individual or group. The abilities of special operations forces, however, extend much further, into military training, information operations, civil affairs, and more. As the United States shifts its focus from war fighting to building and supporting its partners, the author argues, it will become critical to better define these strategic capabilities and ensure that special operations forces have the staffing and funding to succeed. The author further calls on the Pentagon to remove bureaucratic and operational obstacles to cooperation among the special operations forces of each service, and between special and conventional forces. She also recommends that all special operations forces commands work to develop a pipeline of talented, motivated officers with expertise in these issues, and that the role of civilian leadership in budget and operational oversight be reinforced.
Download or read book The Evolving Requirements of the Canadian Special Operations Forces A Future Concept Paper written by and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 29 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Colonel Paul Taillon's paper suggests new directions for Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOF), propelled mainly by the demands of the international environment since the September 11, 2001 attack in New York City. This is of special interest as Canadian forces must both face up to new threats from extremists who use terrorism to advance their interests, and deal with limitations on the size of their security forces. Indeed, the Canadian Armed Forces have sustained a significant negative growth in the last 20 years, placing this significant ally somewhere between Singapore and Uzbekistan in military personnel strength. Though small in size, the Canadian military has been lion-hearted in taking on the democratic world's most demanding security challenges: Canadians have deployed to Afghanistan, Rwanda, Haiti, and even Yugoslavia. Dr. Taillon discusses a way forward for Canada to expand its force and significantly improve its capabilities through a focused military education system that mutually supports the missions of CANSOF and conventional forces. This is a tall order and Dr. Taillon prudently highlights the current fiscal and force size constraints on the Canadian Armed Forces. He suggests that the Canadian Armed Forces revisit the issue of recruiting citizens for SOF service, placing strong emphasis on talent-spotting in colleges, among ethnic groups, and within specialized civilian career fields. He also advances the concept of a robust CANSOF reserve to augment the forces now decisively engaged in support of Canada's interests. From a U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) perspective, understanding potential coalition SOF partners' capabilities is a critical element in developing joint strategic and operational plans. Taillon's paper provides insight into current issues that are certain to impact Canadian SOF while suggesting some issues for USSOCOM to think about as it launches new programs for education and force transition.
Download or read book United States Special Operations Forces written by David Tucker and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2007-09-25 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In October and November of 2001, small numbers of soldiers from the Army Special Forces entered Afghanistan, linked up with elements of the Northern Alliance (an assortment of Afghanis opposed to the Taliban), and, in a remarkably short period of time, destroyed the Taliban regime. Trained to work with indigenous forces and personnel like the Northern Alliance, these soldiers, sometimes riding on horseback, combined modern military technology with ancient techniques of central Asian warfare in what was later described as "the first cavalry charge of the twenty-first century." In this engaging book, two national security experts and Department of Defense insiders put the exploits of America's special operation forces in historical and strategic context. David Tucker and Christopher J. Lamb offer an incisive overview of America's turbulent experience with special operations. Using in-depth interviews with special operators at the forefront of the current war on terrorism and providing a detailed account of how they are selected and trained, the authors illustrate the diversity of modern special operations forces and the strategic value of their unique attributes. From the first chapter, this book builds toward a set of recommendations for reforms that would allow special operations forces to make a greater contribution to the war on terrorism and play a more strategic role in safeguarding the nation's security. Along the way, the authors explain why special operations forces are: " Distinguished by characteristics not equally valued by their own leadership " Strategically crucial because of two mutually supporting but undeniably distinct sets of capabilities not found in conventional forces " Not to be confused with the CIA and so-called paramilitary forces, nor with the Marines and other elite forces " Unable to learn from the 1993 failed intervention in Somalia and the national-oversight issues it revealed " Better integrated into the nation's military strategy and operations than ever before but confused about their core missions in the war on terror " Not "transformed" for future challenges as many assert but rather in need of organizational reforms to realize their strategic potential Despite longstanding and growing public fascination with special operators, these individuals and the organizations that employ them are little understood. With this book, Tucker and Lamb dispel common misconceptions and offer a penetrating analysis of how these unique and valuable forces can be employed to even better effect in the future.
Download or read book Special Operations Forces Culture and Climate written by Linda Robinson and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page 5 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Testimony presented before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations on March 26, 2021.
Download or read book Brothers in Berets written by Forrest L. Marion and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 426 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) special tactics community is a small, tight-knit brotherhood of proficient and committed warriors, consisting of special tactics officers and combat controllers, combat rescue officers and pararescuemen, and officer and enlisted special operations weathermen. These warriors have consistently proven themselves to be an invaluable force multiplier throughout history in conflicts around the world. This is their story.--Provided by publisher.
