This monograph examines the doctrinal mission focus of U.S. Army Special Forces to determine if it is appropriate to prepare the force to meet the requirements of the post-Cold War environment. The study suggests that current doctrine, largely written to meet Cold War requirements, is too broad and all-encompassing. With operations tempo for Special Forces units at an all time high, a narrower mission focus would allow Special Forces detachments to use their limited training time to concentrate on its indirect mission skills, which will be in great demand in the post-Cold War environment. The monograph begins by defining two categories of Special Forces' missions. Indirect missions rely on linguistic, interpersonal, and cross cultural communications skills, regional orientation, and training skills to influence indigenous forces. Examples include unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, and special reconnaissance and direct action when conducted with or through indigenous personnel. Direct missions rely on the application of firepower, technology, and technical skills in a precise and rapid manner to achieve results. Unilateral direct action and special reconnaissance when performed as unilateral battlefield surveillance and reconnaissance are examples of direct missions. The study traces Special Forces' doctrine from inception to the present to establish that SF was originally focused on purely indirect missions, and examine the reasons for the inclusion of direct missions. The study then examines two post-Cold War operations, the Gulf War and the intervention in Haiti, to determine which missions, direct or indirect, best met two criteria, suitability and significance, that were derived from Joint Special Operations doctrine. It then proceeds to examine the probable nature of future conflict and Special Forces' role in it. The study concludes that future conflict will be ill suited to firepower and technology based solutions and will require Special Forces to conduct primarily indirect missions.

ADA 309816 Approved for public release; Distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)