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Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC) forces conduct Special Operations on land, sea, and in the air. Here troops learn fast rope procedures from a helicopter. |
Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC) is a subordinate unified command reporting to the U.S. Commander in Chief, Pacific (USCINCPAC). Commander, SOCPAC commands the joint Special Operations Forces (SOF) operating in USCINCPAC's Area of Responsibility. SOCPAC headquarters is located at Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii. Its in-theater forces comprise one U.S. Army Special Forces battalion, one U.S. Air Force Special Operations group with three Special Operations squadrons and one Special Tactics squadron, and a Naval Special Warfare Task Unit with a Sea-Air-Land (SEAL) platoon. SOCPAC also exercises command and control of SOF based in the continental United States when these forces operate in this theater. Included in these forces are the 1st Special Forces Group, the 75th Ranger Regiment, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and 16th Special Operations Wing, among others.
SOCPAC plans and employs SOF in support of USCINCPAC or his Joint Task Forces (JTFs) in principal and collateral missions. There are nine principal SOF missions.
• Foreign Internal Defense. Training, advising, and assisting regional military and paramilitary forces.
• Unconventional Warfare. Long-term training and assistance to a guerrilla force.
• Special Reconnaissance. Reconnaissance and surveillance of strategic targets.
• Direct Action. Short term seizure, destruction, damage, capture or recovery of strategic targets, facilities or personnel.
• Combating Terrorism. Offensive measures taken to prevent, deter and respond to terrorism.
• Counterproliferation. Actions taken to locate, identify, seize, destroy, render safe, transport, capture, or recover weapons of mass destruction.
• Psychological Operations. Planned operations to influence the behavior of audiences in support of Allied, friendly or U.S. military operations.
• Civil Affairs. Activities that establish relations between military forces and civil authorities to facilitate military operations.
• Information Operations/Command and Control Warfare. Actions taken to achieve information superiority in support of national military strategy by affecting information or information systems while leveraging and protecting U.S. information and information systems.
Additional SOF collateral missions include:
• Coalition Support. Coalition support improves the interaction of coalition partners and U.S. military forces. It includes training coalition partners in tactics and techniques, providing communications to integrate them into the coalition command and intelligence structure, and establishing liaison to coordinate for combat support and combat service support.
• Combat Search and Rescue. Recovery of distressed personnel during wartime or contingency operations.
• Counterdrug Activities. Those active measures taken to detect, monitor, and counter the production, trafficking, and use of illegal drugs.
• Countermine Activities. Activities that attempt to reduce or eliminate the threat to noncombatants and friendly military forces posed by mines, booby traps, and other explosive devices.
• Humanitarian Assistance. Providing assistance to reduce serious threat to life and property in Asia-Pacific nations.
Special Operations require a centralized, responsive, and a clearly delineated line of command and control. This is achieved through a joint operational headquarters exercising operational control over the following assigned Service SOF.
Army SOF (ARSOF). ARSOF includes both Active and Reserve forces. It is comprised of U.S. Army Special Forces, Rangers, Special Operations Aviation, Psychological Operations, and Civil Affairs units. Within USPACOM, 1st Battalion-1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) (1-1ST SFG(A)) located at Torii Station, Japan is the in-theater ARSOF. It can provide 18 Operational Detachment Alpha Teams (ODAs), three Special Operations Command and Control Elements and one Forward Operating Base (C3I element). The ODA is the basic employment unit of U.S. Army Special Forces. In the USPACOM, 1-1st SFG(A)'s ODAs provide the primary support to the Joint/Combined Exchange Training (JCET) program, crisis response JTF, and the deterrence/warfighting effort. These ODAs are regionally oriented to the Asia-Pacific region and have local language capabilities. Annually, 1-1st SFG(A) supports numerous regional events including demining and counterdrug operations. Continental U.S.-based ARSOF are also involved in the theater and support exercises in the Republic of Korea (FOAL EAGLE) and Thailand (COBRA GOLD).
Air Force SOF (AFSOF). AFSOF is structured in composite groups mixing squadrons of specially configured aircraft. The 353rd Special Operations Group (SOG) is the Pacific theater's AFSOF, with elements based at both Kadena Air Base (AB), Japan, and Osan AB, Republic of Korea (ROK). It has three Special Operations squadrons and one Special Tactics squadron. One squadron is equipped with five MC-130H Combat Talon IIs. This aircraft is equipped with terrain-following radar, precision ground mapping radar, and a combination of highly accurate navigation systems. Its primary role is the infiltration, resupply, and exfiltration of SOF in denied areas via airland and parachute operations. Additionally, the aircraft is capable of accurate equipment and resupply airdrops in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. A second squadron is equipped with five MH-53J Pave Low III helicopters. This is the U.S. Air Force's largest, most powerful helicopter and has long-range, all-weather capability. It is also employed as an infiltration, resupply, and exfiltration aircraft. The MH-53J also is highly effective in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and noncombatant evacuation operations. The third squadron has five MC-130P Combat Shadows. This is the SOF aerial refueling aircraft for Special Operations helicopters and normally accompanies MH-53J deployments. It is capable of inserting small SOF elements and resupplying ground forces via parachute. The Special Tactics squadron provides forward air control for SOF aviation, to include terminal guidance to gunships; air traffic control in austere, remote air heads; and pararescue services. The 353rd SOG is extremely active throughout the theater, as are elements from the continental U.S.-based 16th Special Operations Wing (16th SOW), exercising frequently in the theater, including the deploying AC 130H/U gunships.
Naval Special Warfare Task Unit (NSWTU). SOCPAC's naval component is a Naval Special Warfare Task Unit made up of SEAL members based in Guam. This platoon, capable of insertion via sea, air, and land, conducts strategic reconnaissance and direct action missions. It deploys throughout the Asia-Pacific area of responsibility.
SOCPAC's Role in the Pacific
USCINCPAC's strategy stresses the need for U.S. forces to remain engaged with the region's nations. The strategy has peacetime, crisis, and wartime dimensions. SOCPAC has an active role in all aspects of the USCINCPAC’s engagement strategy. SOCPAC is charged to conduct U.S. joint Special Operations missions within the USCINCPAC area of responsibility, except in Korea. These operations span the continuum of the conflict spectrum and include peacetime activities occurring daily throughout the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, Commander, SOCPAC may exercise command and control of continental U.S.-based SOF operating within the Asia-Pacific theater. Commander, SOCPAC is also the wartime designated commander for Special Operations Command, Korea (SOC-KOR) and the deputy commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Unconventional Warfare Task Force in the ROK. SOCPAC supports this strategy in three primary roles: support to peacetime engagement, crisis response, and support to deterrence and warfighting.
Peacetime Engagement. The specific SOF capabilities and skills which SOCPAC possesses are in high demand by nations throughout the Asia-Pacific. SOCPAC's operations are conducted by professional personnel capable of working within a specific culture, and in a specific language, in support of peacetime engagement. Examples of SOCPAC peacetime engagement support are: management of the demining programs, counterdrug operations, bilateral/multilateral training exercises, Joint/Combined Exchange Training (JCET) and the Pacific Area Special Operations Conference (PASOC).
Demining. SOCPAC is USCINCPAC's executive agent for demining. In Cambodia, mines inflicted about 300 casualties per month and disrupted the country's economic growth by degrading transportation infrastructure and removing arable land from production. These mines have been sown over a 20-year period by various factions. SOCPAC and its Army component, in cooperation with other agencies, developed a training program for the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) to improve mine awareness; mine detection, marking, and destruction; and medical treatment of mine casualties. The focus of this program is to "train the trainer" with the intent of providing the CMAC and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces with the capability to perform these functions for the Cambodian people. Overall, SOCPAC support to the Cambodian demining program has been extremely well received and has already cut Cambodia's mine casualties to about 100 per month. Currently, the demining effort has been expanded into Laos and other nations are expected to request this help.
Counterdrug Operations. Southeast and Southern Asia remain two of the principal drug producing regions in the world. The illegal drug trade is costly to the region and the rest of the world. It causes addiction, corruption and societal problems, which can be measured in the degradation of government control and economic progress. SOCPAC assists host nation governments by improving their capabilities to combat this threat. SOCPAC conducts training to improve planning, fieldcraft and small unit tactics of regional military and law enforcement agencies to enable them to conduct operations designed to interdict the growing, processing and transportation of illegal drugs within their countries. This program has a direct payoff for the host nation and benefits all other nations in the region.
Training Exercises. SOCPAC's components engage in many bilateral and multilateral training exercises with our Asia-Pacific partners. These operations normally focus on operational interaction between U.S. SOF and the host nation's counterpart force. They improve American and allied appreciation for the capabilities and limitations of combined SOF and encourage improvements in interoperability. Interoperability is the key to the seamless assembly and employment of possible future combined task forces of American and allied forces.
Joint/Combined Exchange Training (JCET). One of the centerpieces of USCINCPAC's peacetime engagement is the JCET program. (Joint involves two or more services, while combined involves two or more countries). This program provides for the further exchange of skills and training between U.S. SOF and their regional counterparts. Exchange training is mutually beneficial. It improves the capability of both the host nation and American forces and demonstrates USCINCPAC's commitment. Additionally, many JCETs include a civic action program, such as building schools, which provides direct and tangible benefits to the local population. JCET training events include: parachute infiltration, small unit tactics, riverine operations, and commando training.
Pacific Area Special Operations Conference (PASOC). Annually, SOCPAC hosts the PASOC. More than 200 flag officers, dignataries, special operations forces experts, and guests from 25 countries attended the 1997 PASOC. The conference serves as a means to develop closer relationships and to discuss the role of SOF within various countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The agenda includes a series of presentations by senior civilian and military leaders from participating nations, specific country briefings by each delegation on its employment of SOF, and workshops encompassing specific issues.
Crisis Response. SOCPAC provides USCINCPAC with his initial crisis response Joint Task Force (JTF) 510. This crisis response capability is USCINCPAC's top priority for SOCPAC. JTF 510 is a rapidly deployable JTF for responding to special contingencies, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, non-combatant evacuation or any other crisis in which USCINCPAC wants to quickly influence the action by placing a force on the ground. The JTF can be tailored for each specific crisis. It provides for the rapid deployment of Commander, SOCPAC and his joint staff, complete with real time communications (voice/data), and up to five liaison elements. The JTF staff is structured in force modules composed of experts in specific subject matters drawn from the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) staff and from USPACOM component staffs, which can be task organized for response to specific crises. Initially, JTF 510 makes a situation assessment en route and, upon arrival at the crisis site, Commander, SOCPAC can assemble additional forces from his in-theater SOF components. Commander, SOCPAC's on site assessment of the crisis is transmitted to USCINCPAC with possible courses of action and his recommendations. At this point, USCINCPAC can assign management of the crisis to JTF 510, or he can direct the deployment of a more robust JTF. In this latter scenario, JTF 510 will act as JTF (forward) until the larger JTF is ready to assume operational control. JTF 510 then transitions to a Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) and becomes a component of this larger JTF. JTF 510's rapid response is frequently exercised and has responded to recent "real world" crises.
Deterrence and Warfighting. SOCPAC is a deployable headquarters and is capable of deploying and employing a JSOTF to conduct command and control of component SOF anywhere in the Asia-Pacific region. A significant portion of SOCPAC's annual schedule is dedicated to deployment/employment of a SOCPAC JSOTF in support of exercises. Annually, SOCPAC establishes a JSOTF and conducts command and control in support of numerous exercises. Each event is an opportunity to demonstrate the capability for rapid deployment and employment of a trained, ready, and integrated SOF.
Besides supporting USCINCPAC, Commander, SOCPAC is also the wartime designated commander for SOF in support of the ROK. In this role, SOCPAC invests substantial time and effort in assisting SOC-KOR and other U.S. headquarters to hone planning to respond to any new crisis on the Korean peninsula. SOCPAC supports all major exercises in the ROK, such as ULCHI FOCUS LENS; RECEPTION, STAGING, ONWARD MOVEMENT and INTEGRATION; and FOAL EAGLE. Additionally, SOCPAC provides SOC-KOR and U.S. Forces Korea with subject matter experts to enhance planning and coordination.
SOCPAC's Emerging Roles
SOCPAC sees three emerging missions in the future: countering proliferation, expanding the demining program, and conducting aviation foreign internal defense. A major security concern is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their supporting technologies. SOCPAC's expansion into this arena will have planning, training, C4I, and programming ramifications.
The success of the demining effort in Cambodia led Laos to seek a similar program (see article in the Fall 97 issue). Other countries within the region also express interest in this program. Any expansion will place new demands on SOCPAC's forces.
Booming economies have allowed substantial improvement in the military capabilities of many Asia-Pacific countries. Among the improving capabilities are the aviation platforms supporting regional SOF, counterinsurgent, and commando units. This is an area of possible expansion of cooperative engagement. SOCPAC is developing a program with the continental U.S.-based Air Force Special Operations Command to engage in aviation foreign internal defense to be provided by the 6th Special Operations Squadron, which is specifically structured to conduct training for foreign air forces.
Conclusion
Within the Asia-Pacific, there are potential threats and situations for which conventional forces may not be suited. Some situations demand the most in agility, versatility and flexibility. SOCPAC is uniquely configured to undertake these roles with its capability to transition from joint/combined peacetime engagement to a warfighting force. SOCPAC is a versatile force for these uncertain times in the Asia-Pacific.
