What Is the Future for SOF in the Arctic?

• Main Authors: Vesterby, Jesper, Daugherty, Nick, Rooij, Patrick C van
• Other Authors: NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEFENSE ANALYSIS DEPT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Military Forces and Organizations; Military Operations; Strategy and Tactics; *ARCTIC REGIONS; *SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES; ARMS CONTROL; CANADA; COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS; COUNTERTERRORISM; DENMARK; EUROPEAN UNION; GOVERNMENT(FOREIGN); JOINT MILITARY ACTIVITIES; MILITARY CAPABILITIES; MILITARY EXERCISES; MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN); MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES); MILITARY PLANNING; MILITARY TRAINING; MISSIONS; NATO; NORWAY; POLICIES; RUSSIA; SCENARIOS; SEARCH AND RESCUE; SECURITY; STRATEGY; TASK FORCES; THESES; THREATS; UNITED NATIONS; UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT; 10TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP; AKO(ARKTISK KOMMANDO); ARCTIC COUNCIL; CP(COUNTERPROLIFERATION); DANISH ARCTIC COMMAND; DANISH SPECIAL FORCES; DUTCH SPECIAL FORCES; EU(EUROPEAN UNION); EUCOM(US EUROPEAN COMMAND); FKP(FRMANDSKORPSET); HIGH NORTH; HRO(HOSTAGE RESCUE OPERATIONS); IMO(INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION); JGK(JAEGERKORPSET); JTFN(JTF NORTH); JTF(JOINT TASK FORCES); KCT(KORPS COMMANDOTROEPEN); MCT(MARITIME COUNTERTERRORISM); NLMARSOF(NETHERLANDS MARITIME SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES); NORTHCOM(US NORTHERN COMMAND); NORWEGIAN JOINT HEADQUARTERS; NSHQ(NATO SPECIAL OPERATIONS HEADQUARTERS); PACCOM(US PACIFIC COMMAND); RUSSIAN NORTHERN FLEET-UNIFIED STRATEGIC COMMAND; SAR(SEARCH AND RESCUE); SOCEUR(US SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND EUROPE); SOCNORTH(US SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND NORTH); SOCOM(US SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND); SOCPAC(US SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND PACIFIC); SOF(SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES); SPECIAL OPERATIONS; US SPECIAL FORCES; UNCLCS(UNITED NATION COMMISSION FOR LIMITS OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF); UNCLOS(UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA); Arctic; Canada; Norway; Pacific; Arctic Council; Arktis*; Law of the Sea; NORTHCOM
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA620772; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA620772

This thesis will serve to answer the central question: What is the future for Special Operations Forces in the Arctic? The Arctic environment demands specially trained military personnel and units. Over time, the requirement for states to be able to operate in the Arctic is increasing while, for many, the capability to do so is decreasing. Future operations in the Arctic will depend on Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational (JIIM) relationships. The operational environment of the Arctic currently lacks infrastructure, satellite and communication coverage, and strategic-through-tactical mobility. The key recommendations from this thesis are: Current and/or future exercises should reflect Arctic-specific challenges. Networks, such as the Global Special Operations Forces (SOF) Network, should be empowered to address Arctic challenges. National SOF should participate regularly in Joint and International Arctic training exercises. Unit commands and mission planners should see analogies between current problems in other littoral regions of the world and the Arctic, and prepare accordingly. The original document contains color images.