7 TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (AIRBORNE) COMMAND OPERATIONS BRIEF Congressman Miller and members of Florida s 1 st District 14 May 2009 The overall classification of this presentation is
AGENDA Heritage Organization Southern Command Engagement Central Command Engagement Base Realignment and Closure Questions
SPECIAL FORCES HERITAGE, WORLD WAR II & VIETNAM The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was formed on 9 July 1942. The Intelligence branch of the OSS became the CIA in 1947. The operational arm of the OSS became Special Forces in June of 1952. Special Forces sent the first advisors to South East Asia during the Vietnam conflict. Small role but large impact during Vietnam (Son Tay Raid, 20 Medal of Honor Recipients). UNCLASSIFIED
1952 10,915 14,617
1/10th GERMANY st 1 1st Fort Fort Lewis, Lewis, WA WA th 19 19th Salt Salt Lake Lake City, City, UT UT th 5 5th Ft Ft Campbell, Campbell, KY KY th 10 10th Ft Ft Carson, Carson, CO CO th 20 20th 39th SF Detachment KOREA Birmingham, Birmingham, AL AL 3d 3d th 7 7th Ft Ft Bragg, Bragg, NC NC 1-1st OKINAWA
10th 10th 3rd 3rd 11stst 7th 7th 19th 19th 5th 5th 20 20thth
7 th th GROUP s s RECENT HISTORY 7 th has conducted missions in every Latin American country. 1980 s Supported democratic governments of Central America in the fight against insurgencies. 1981-1992 Involved in Counter Insurgency Operations during the Civil War in El Salvador. Since 1987 Trained host nation forces from the Andean Ridge Countries in Counter-Narcotics Operations to limit drug flow and reduce violence in South America. 1989 Operation Just Cause, assisted in reestablishing law and order in Panama. 1995-1998 Operation Safe Border, Ecuador / Peru 1996 Counter-Narcotics training with Mexico to stem the flow of illegal drugs to the United States. 1999-2001 Trained the 2400-man Colombian Counter-Narcotics Brigade of the Colombian Army Since 9/11 July 2008 Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq Operation Willing Spirit, Hostage Rescue, Colombia
7 th SFG (A) ORGANIZATION Group / SFOB HHC SPT BN SF BN SF BN Battalion / FOB HHC SPT CO SF CO Company / AOB A CO (ODB) B CO (ODB) C CO (ODB) SF ODA SF ODA SF ODA
CPT CPT CDR CDR (18A) (18A) MSG MSG OPS OPS (18Z) (18Z) SFC SFC INTEL/ INTEL/ OPS OPS (18F) (18F) SFC SFC SR SR WPNS WPNS (18B) (18B) SSG SSG WPNS WPNS (18B) (18B) WO WO XO XO (180A) (180A) SFC SFC SR SR ENG ENG (18C) (18C) SSG ENG (18C) SFC SFC SR SR MED MED (18D) (18D) SSG MED (18D) SFC SFC SR SR COMM COMM (18E) (18E) SSG COMM (18E)
Special Forces Maturity and Experience RECRUIT ASSESS TRAIN SELECT PROFESSIONALLY DEVELOP PROMOTE - RETAIN 2 CAPABILITY = TRAINING + EXPERIENCE CONVENTIONAL COMPANY OF 131 SOLDIERS SPECIAL FORCES EQUIVALENT MAJOR 0 1 CAPTAIN 1 11 LIEUTENANT 4 0 WARRANT OFFICER 9 0 11 SERGEANT MAJOR 0 1 MASTER SERGEANT 1 11 SERGEANT FIRST CLASS 3 51 STAFF SERGEANT 14 43 86 WO 39 AVG AGE 33 18 YRS SVC 12 93% MARRIED 69% 65% 1-3 YR COL 69% 34% COL DEG 12% SERGEANT 21 2 PRIVATE/SPC 108 87 0 2
WAR PEACE PEACE UNVENTIONAL UNVENTIONAL WARFARE WARFARE DIRECT DIRECT ACTION ACTION SPECIAL SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE RECONNAISSANCE FOREIGN FOREIGN INTERNAL INTERNAL DEFENSE DEFENSE COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM PRE-CONFLICT POST-CONFLICT THE OPERATIONAL CONTINUUM
SOUTHCOM ENGAGEMENT As directed, 7TH conducts Foreign Internal Defense (FID) with selected Host Nation Counter-Terrorism forces in the USSOUTHCOM area of operational responsibility in order to build capacity of Host Nation units to conduct unilateral and regionally coordinated operations. On order, 7 TH conducts other Special Operations across the area of operational responsibility.
FY09 DEPLOYMENTS - USSOUTHCOM / USNORTHCOM Mexico Mexico Jamaica JCET Dominican Rep. JCS Exercise FUSED RESPONSE Belize OEF-CCA Guatemala CNT Mexico El Salvador OEF-CCA Nicaragua OEF-CCA Costa Rica OEF-CCA Ecuador CNT Honduras AOB OEF-CCA Trinidad & Tobago OEF-CCA Guyana OEF-CCA Suriname OEF-CCA Brazil JCS Exercise FUERZAS COMANDOS Jungle School Mexico Andean Ridge Caribbean Central America Southern Cone Colombia AOB CNT SSE Peru CNT Argentina JCET Chile JCET Paraguay CNT Countries-18 Missions-21 Soldiers-165
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM CJSOTF-A conducts Foreign Internal Defense with ANA Commandos and select partner units in order to build ANSF capacity to defeat Insurgents in Afghanistan and enhance the security and continued development of the Government of Afghanistan. On order CJSOTF-A conducts other Special Operationsacross the Combined Joint Operational Area.
FY09 DEPLOYMENTS - USCENTCOM Operation Iraqi Freedom ES SFLE Concluded Mar 2009 Operation Iraqi Freedom CRE Aug 2009 Jan 2010 Operation Enduring Freedom XII Jun 2008 Feb 2009 (1000 Deployed) Operation Enduring Freedom XIV Aug 2009 Feb 2010 (1100 Deployed) United Arab Emirates JCET Jun Jul 2009 Countries-3 Missions-4 Soldiers-88
-Numerous ODAs and MSOTs operating out of firebases conducting Full Spectrum Operations across the CJOA. -Mission Sets include: FID, CMO, HA, SR, and DA -Subordinate units inherently work hand and hand with every ISAF partner in the country. CJSOTF-A A DISPOSITION OF FORCES 5 Bases in RC West and North 12 Bases in RC East 14 Bases in RC South
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS COMMANDO TRAINING ELEMENT KEY LEADER ENGAGEMENT HA / HCA INFORMATION ENGAGEMENT AFGHANS COMMANDOS GOVERNANCE DEVELOPMENT SECURITY INFORMATION AAF COMBAT ADVISE SUPPORT TO REGIONAL COMMAND OPNS MEDICAL OPS
FID CJSOTF-A A COMMANDO TRAINING ELEMENT Mission: Train a rapidly deployable, highly mobile, light infantry unit that is organized and trained to conduct complex raid / strike operations unilaterally or in coordination with other Afghan National Security Forces. Task Organization: USSF and Coalition SOF Partners (UAE, CAN, FRE) Highlights: - CJSOTF-A designed / created the CDO program in SEP 2006 - CJSOTF-A supervises the CTE to produce complete CDO Kandaks while partnering with the CDO BDE - CJSOTF-A has trained 6 Commando Kandaks (two more projected) - CJSOTF-A will increase support to the CDO BDE as it approaches FOC CAMP MOREHEAD, RISH KVOR, KABUL PROVINCE
BRAC MOVE TO EGLIN AFB Tactical Communications Facility 7 th Group HQ Combat Readiness Training Facility Indoor Baffle Range Battalion HQ / Company Operations Facilities Dining Facility Barracks Deployment Readiness Facility Battalion Motorpool CIF Group Support Battalion HQ Battalion HQ / Company Operations Facilities UAV Facility Battalion Motorpool Maritime Operations Facility Group Support Battalion Motorpool Fire Station Logistics Facility BRAC move from Apr-Sep 2011 must be complete NLT 16 Sep 2011 HQ / HHC 1 st Battalion 2 nd Battalion 3 rd Battalion Group Support Battalion JAN 11 FEB 11 MAR 11 APR 11 MAY 11 JUN 11 JUL 11 AUG 11 SEP 11 OCT 11 NOV 11 DEC 11 SOUTHCOM / NORTHCOM BRAC MOVE REFIT / PMT
Questions? Humans are more important than hardware. Quality is more valuable than Quantity. Special Operations Forces cannot be mass produced. Competent Special Operations Forces cannot be created after emergencies occur. Integrity Accountability Service People-oriented oriented DCSCMP