special operations forces:
Special Operations Forces (SOF) also called as Special Forces are defined as versatile and agile military assets capable of providing discreet reconnaissance, surveillance and capacity building to other states' security forces. They are suited to operating against informally structured, irregular and asymmetric forces and capable of operating independently, or in direct support of either conventional military forces or other government departmental requirements. They are high value assets, commanded at the strategic level that delivers effects disproportionately to their size.
Content Related to special operations forces
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Content Related to special operations forces
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U.S. Soldiers Shot Dead in Afghan Attack as DoD Chiefs Deny Taliban Collusion Claims
Two U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan have been shot dead in a so-called insider attack at a remote military base in Wardak province. A number of Afghan troops also died in the shooting, which was started by a member of the Afghan security forces. He was shot dead at the scene. The gunman opened fire as U.S. Special Forces and Afghan commandos held an early Monday morning meeting. American military of....Read more
Contributor: Mike O'Brien
Tags: Special Operations | Special Forces | Chuck Hagel
03/11/2013 12:00:00 AM EDT -
Spatial Network’s CEO, Anthony Quartararo on Geospatial Intelligence within Special Operations
How is Geospatial Intelligence or ‘GEOINT’ actively applied within the military to give forces an upper hand? In an exclusive interview with IDGA at the Special Operations Summit 2011 in Tampa, Florida, Spatial Network’s President and CEO Anthony Quartararo explores the ways in which
Tags: Spatial Operations | Special Operations
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Irregular Warfare Necessitates Flexibility in Joint Operations
"The black-and-white distinction between irregular war and conventional war is an outdated model," said US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in a speech at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama back in April. He referred to a concept that has been regularly debated within the United States—how the nature of warfare is changing and how the military adapts its strategy to deal with that, whet....Read more
Contributor: IDGA Editorial Staff
Tags: Irregular Warfare | Joint Operations | Special Operations
02/11/2010 12:00:00 AM EST -
Transforming Acquisition Strategies for Special Operations
Colonel Kurt Bergo, Director of Procurement, USSOCOM presents 'Transforming Acquisition Strategies for Special Operations': SOCOM procurement policy discussion, response to special operations and unconventional warfare, and guidance for obtaining greater efficiency and productivity in defense
Tags: USSOCOM | Special Operations | Spec Ops
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The Equipping & Training of the SOF Warfighter (MajGen Trask)
Major General Thomas J Trask presents 'The Equipping and Training of the SOF Warfighter' : Learning outcomes - Developing SOF capabilities and conducting studies, analysis and assessments in support of force structure, increasing the number of SOF warriors without sacrificing training,
Tags: USSOCOM | Special Operations | Major General Thomas Trask
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End to End Solutions Supporting Spec Ops Forces on the Move
Kevin Merrigan, VP GM of Battle Management Systems, General Dynamics C4 Systems presents 'End to End Solutions Supporting Special Operations Forces on the Move' - learning outcomes for this presentation: Sharing and collaboration through existing networks, leveraging existing technologies for
Tags: special operations | Generaly Dynamics | Kevin Merrigan
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Special Operations Command, Control, Communications and Computers
Deborah Woods, Deputy PEO-C4, U.S. Special Operations Command presents 'Special Operations Command, Control, Communications and Computers'. Learning outcomes include: Acquisition and fielding of C4 and military information support operations systems that form the SOF information environment, PEO-C4
Tags: Special Operations | USSOCOM
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The Economic Line of Operations in COIN and Stability Operations
Dr. Andrew Erdmann , Partner, McKinsey & Company Inc. presents 'The Economic Line of Operations in COIN and Stability Operations' watch now to learn: Best practices and practical tools to target economic initiatives, review "lessons learned" from recent experience in Iraq, Afghanistan,
Tags: COIN | Special Operations
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Industry Testifies: What's the value in our Special Operations Summit?
Watch our highlight reel from the Special Operations Summit. Talking with industry sponsors who give their feedback on the value of the event.
Tags: Special Operations | Unconventional Warfare
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IDGA’s Special Operations Summit 2011: IDGA exclusive with Director Nick Petti & Mike Glover
IDGA's Director of the Special Operations Summit, Nick Petti, explores the research process, the current landscape and the main drivers of change within the special operations industry - ultimately demonstrating how the event comes together. With a special focus on the value of the summit to the
Tags: Special Operations | IDGA
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IDGA's Special Operations Summit 2011: Sponsorship Highlight Reel
Take a walk around the exhibit room at IDGA's Special Operations Summit 2011 in Tampa Florida to meet and greet some of the industry leaders in special operations technology, equipment and services to the military. This video montage features some of the sponsors of the summit including; Stevens
Tags: IDGA | Special Operations
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COL Sharon Hamilton on Human Terrain Systems (HTS)
Colonel Sharon Hamilton, Director, Human Terrain System TRADOC examines the value of Human Terrain Systems (HTS) to the U.S military. In an exclusive interview with IDGA, Colonel Hamilton highlights the impact of HTS within the various combatant commands and explores the latest priorities and new
Tags: Colonel Sharon Hamilton | HTS | Human Terrain Systems
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SOCAFRICA and the future of Special Forces: IDGA exclusive with Colonel Richard Samuels
Without good security, good governance and economic prosperity are difficult to achieve. In this IDGA exclusive interview, Colonel Richard Samuels, USAF Deputy Commander SOCAFRICA, US AFRICOM, examines the role and current priorities within SOCAFRICA. As troops are withdrawn from Afghanistan (Operation
Tags: Colonel Richard Samuels | AFRICOM | SOCAFRICA
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COL Clay Hutmacher, Commander, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment on SPEC OPS Aviation
COL Clay Hutmacher discusses Army Aviation's role in Special Operations and working jointly with the other service branches. He also gives insight into experiences from his recent combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tags: Special Operations Aviation | Army Aviation | Iraq
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Garry Reid, SES on DoD Policy & Strategic Planning for Irregular Warfare
Garry Reid, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations & Combating Terrorism, discusses the DoD policy & strategic planning efforts in regards to Irregular Warfare (IW) at IDGA's Irregular Warfare event in Washington DC that took place in May 2010. He details the
Tags: Irregular Warfare | DoD | Special Operations
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SOCAFRICA: Meeting African Problems with African Solutions
Within 54 countries of Africa, the Department of Defense (DoD) has devoted a Combatant Command, AFRICOM, to work with other elements of the U.S. government and others to achieve a more stable environment where political and economic growth can take place. Issues like narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, humanitarian disasters, and threats to infrastructure, have a profoundly negative impact on the....Read more
Contributor: IDGA Editorial Staff
Tags: SOCAFRICA | AFRICOM | Colonel Richard Samuels
10/30/2011 12:00:00 AM EDT -
Increased Helicopter Sophistication Saving Lives in Theater
Significant technological advances in the sophistication of the US helicopter fleet have greatly elevated the success of search and rescue missions over the past decade, which boosting the abilities of special operations forces, according to a leading Air Force Commander. IDGA recently spoke to Brig Gen Michael J. Kingsley , the Commander, 23rd Air Force, and the Director of Operations for Air F....Read more
Contributor: Christopher Dauer
Tags: helicopters | special operations | search and rescue
12/01/2011 12:00:00 AM EST -
SOF Bias for Action and SOCSOUTH’s Pragmatism
Recently U.S. Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser, SOUTHCOM Commander spoke about focusing on improving collaboration and coordination among regional security forces. He said "I think the most important thing we can do is focus on what capabilities we have today. And with those capabilities, what can we do to improve how we are addressing our collective security concerns, By focusing there, it break....Read more
Contributor: IDGA Editorial Staff
Tags: Rear Admiral Thomas Brown | Special Operations | SOCSOUTH
03/22/2012 12:00:00 AM EDT -
‘We don’t want to own a problem; we want to catalyze the solution’
Ambassador Rick Barton, Ass. Sec for Conflict Stabilization Operations (CSO) defines his work as the ‘toughest and most rewarding work on earth’, admitting that the greatest satisfaction comes from the impact seen in the lives of those encountered in various countries. In the following interview, Ambassador Barton speaks exclusively with IDGA on the role CSO plays in conflict prevention and s....Read more
Contributor: Rick Barton
Tags: special operations | unconventional warfare | ambassador frederick barton
09/18/2012 12:00:00 AM EDT -
Through the Lens of an Outsider: Evaluating the Human Terrain
According to Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Lohman and Colonel Wiley Thompson, the key to properly assessing the human and geographical landscape in foreign regions is understanding people in the context of their environment and trying to understand how people live from their perspective, not through the lens of an outsider from a different place and culture. The following interview explores the steps being t....Read more
Contributor: Andrew Lohman
Tags: Human Geography | Human Domain | Special Operations
09/20/2012 12:00:00 AM EDT
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