Off the Radar, Special Operations Training Detachment

This part three for a four-part series focused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit.   During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.   About the Guests: Spencer: Detachment Sergeant for the Tactical PSYOP Detachment (TPD) on REDSOF. He has over 15 years of Army experience, 8 of which are SOF PSYOP. Multiple operational rotations in both conventional and SOF units.   Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT). Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR.   Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.   About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.   This episode covers: - OC perspective on the integration of the ARSOF tribes as a cross functional team - Special Operations integrating with conventional forces; REDSOF integration and interdependence with Task Force Reaper of Blackhorse; nesting operations and objectives across the domains - The importance of interpersonal skills and building relationship to enhance integration; establishing creditability - How integration breaks down barriers and enables decision makers to remove roadblocks for down trace units - Overview of an operation from concept through execution to accessing the effect on the “enemy”; utilizing the cross functional team to leverage resources across the domains to create a layered effect - Using the information domain (with physical and non-physical methods and products) to control the narrative to maintain tempo and momentum - Describes effects of Special Operations to the conventional force to build creditability - Balance risk to force, risk to mission, risk to nation - Understanding initial commander’s intent and being creative to achieve that intent and more   Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO. To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].   Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is part two for a four-part series focused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit.   During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.   About the Guests: Spencer: Detachment Sergeant for the Tactical PSYOP Detachment (TPD) on REDSOF. He has over 15 years of Army experience, 8 of which are SOF PSYOP. Multiple operational rotations in both conventional and SOF units.   Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT). Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR.   Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.   About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.   This episode covers: - Cross functional team mentality; not drawing lots for ground force commander, but working together, effectiveness was measured off creating dilemmas in the enemy’s rear area across the civil and informational dimensions - Interdependence and interoperability especially between CA and PSYOP, linking the human dimension to the information dimension then bringing that to the cross functional team enabling lethal and non-lethal targeting - Cross functional targeting, task organizing the cross functional team, split team operations increased speed but degraded integrated planning - Communication architecture issues within SOF tribe integration, integrating SOF tribes in garrison to enhance SOF tribe integration at tactical and operational levels - Integrating with conventional forces, building trust and developing a network with everyone you can, “always be (re)cruiting “ - Staff processes approached by war fighting function, CA and PSYOP fill in with war fighting functions - You look at the picture from your foxhole, meaning each person sees the situation differently and identifies different things as important - Speed of decision-making process and ability to maintain tempo enables momentum and stay on the offensive, “If you’re not first, you’re last” layered narrative building     Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO. To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].   Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

This is the introductory episode for a four-part series focused on how Special Forces, Civil Affairs, and Psychological Operations integrate and interoperate at the team/Detachment level. During a recent rotation, a Special Forces Operational Detachment-Alpha, Civil Affairs Team, and Tactical PSYOP Detachment conducted operations at the National Training Center (NTC) as Opposing Force (OPFOR). This cross functional team approach to REDSOF was the first iteration of its kind and yield effective results on the rotational conventional unit and Special Operations unit.   During this interview, the leaders of each element will describe how each ARSOF Tribe integrated and interoperated to achieve their endstate.   About the Guests: Spencer: Detachment Sergeant for the Tactical PSYOP Detachment (TPD) on REDSOF. He has over 15 years of Army experience, 8 of which are SOF PSYOP. Multiple operational rotations in both conventional and SOF units. Former combat engineer.   Michael: Team Leader of the REDSOF Civil Affairs Team (CAT). Former Infantry officer with e multiple CTC rotations both on BLUEFOR and REDFOR.   Andrew: SFOD-A Detachment Commander for REDSOF SFOD-A. From 10th Special Forces Group, SOF operational experience in SOCEUR. Former Infantry officer.   OC/TS: SFC Keanu Caroline: Civil Affairs Team Sergeant. Former CA medic. Operational experience in INDOPACOM and AFRICOM.   SFC Cody Braido: PSYOP Detachment Sergeant. Former Infantrymen from 82nd Airborne. SOUTHCOM and CENTCOM operational experience.   About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.   This episode covers: - Differences between BLUEFOR and REDFOR, the challenges and benefits of both - Identifying targets that are SOF specific; communicating that with the conventional force, if it isn’t SOF specific then chances are the conventional force should do it not SOF - Train up prior to the rotation, trying to build the cross functional team before arrival at NTC - “Everyone wants to be the prettiest girl at the party” – understand what your role is and what it is not, fulfill your role and allows others to fulfill theirs, building the team is better than building your ego - Leader Training Program, best way to integrate with the conventional unit - Be prepared to execute the mission both physically and equipment wise, don’t go into a mission with negative biases, let the bias be that together you will be the best team on the field   Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO. To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].   Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds

In this episode, MAJ Sam Pavolko discusses the changes to Special Operations Civil Affairs Doctrine with a focus towards SOF CA conducting Large-Scale Combat emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human). MAJ Pavolko observed a rotation at the National Training Center (NTC) to see firsthand how SOF CA is approaching LSCO and MDO at the tactical and operational levels in the dirt.   About the Guest: MAJ Sam Pavolko is the current United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWC) Civil Affairs Branch Proponent Doctrine Chief. This role focuses on reviewing and revising doctrine to ensure current tactics, techniques and procedures are captured in doctrine as well as the lessons from recent trainings and operations are reflected in doctrine. Prior to this role, MAJ Pavolko has served in various leadership positions in CA to include Company Command, Detachment Command, and roles in the conventional Army.   About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.   This episode covers: - SOF CA working with conventional forces; Civil Affairs in competition during the annexation of Crimea in 2014 - The importance of doctrine; improving one’s branch through enhancing and revising doctrine - Flash to bang inception of a concept to written in doctrine: 21-24 months but requires three successful tests or experiments overseen by USASOC force modernization - Specific Branch Doctrine must be nested within Joint publications, Army publications, and USASOC publications - NTC scenario is deep and wide enough for CA to really dive into and get significant training from - The interaction of SOF CA and conventional CA; how important that is to SOF-CF I3; how that interaction and integration looks on the ground - CA in LSCO: creates multiple dilemmas for the enemy through our civil networks - The handoff of CA responsibilities and governance between SOF and CF CA; as the battlefield geometry changes and the areas of focus shift responsibilities shift as well - value of civil information; the criticalness of analyzing and synthesizing information into intelligence that can feed commander’s decision-making process; displaying civil information graphically - The CTCs, specially NTC, provide valuable and realistic training to SOF CA and ARSOF holistically   Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO. To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [email protected].   Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds