Support of U.S. Army Special Forces in Expeditionary Warfare

The purpose of this monograph is to explore the relationship between the emerging U.S. Army doctrinal concept of expeditionary warfare and logistical support of U.S. Army Special Forces. By first defining expeditionary warfare, exploring the role of U.S. Army Special Forces in conducting expeditionary warfare, and identifying the implied logistical requirements within expeditionary warfare, case studies will explore the operational lessons learned from forces involved in expeditionary warfare. From case analysis, the lessons learned from the British military's experience during Operation CORPORATE and the U.S. military's experience in Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, reveal that the austere operational and logistical environments associated with expeditionary warfare require a logistical system capable of promoting the operational commander's flexibility, rapidly deploying under compressed timelines, and improvising logistical support. From an examination of current U.S. Army Special Forces logistical structures and these lessons learned, I recommend defining expeditionary warfare as: the rapid deployment of military forces worldwide on short notice to a potentially austere operational and logistical environment to conduct full spectrum operations across the spectrum of conflict. In addition, I recommend the next MTOE revision of the Special Forces Battalion Service Detachment include a truck squad with personnel, adoption of an armored version of the U.S. Army's Light Medium Tactical Vehicle, and return of the ammunition specialist to its force structure. Finally, I recommend a realignment of the Support Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne) Reserve Component units to the Active Component.