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veteransofspecialforces.org
Editor's note: What is not explained in the article below is -
1. Although "US Army Special Operations Command continues to be the biggest percentage of SOCOM forces", and although US Army Special Operations Command (including Special Forces) continues to provide the highest percentage of deployed SOCOM soldiers, they continue to receive the lowest percentage per man of the SOCOM budget.
2. "We will grow an additional five battalions of Special Forces because they are so important in the global war on terror." However this year's budget for the Special Warfare Center School (where these men will be trained), was chopped by $13 million dollars. And Special Forces is the only branch that has to help fund the Army Command and General Staff College to the tune of another $1.5 million dollars deleted annually from the Special Forces training budget.
Published on Thursday, April 05, 2007
U.S. SOCOM turns 20
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor
Twenty years ago this month, Congress prevailed upon the military to set up a command to oversee special operations forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force.
Historically, those forces had sometimes been stepchildren within their own branches of the armed services.
But bipartisan legislation gave U.S. Special Operations Command a four-star general to champion their cause in the fight for resources where rank is all-important.
The command included specialized forces that combat terrorists, work with foreign fighters in unconventional warfare, infiltrate behind enemy lines, and engage in the murky world of psychological warfare.
“This command has the capabilities for the type of battlefield that we are finding ourselves on today,” said Gen. Doug Brown, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base at Tampa, Fla.
The first commander was Gen. James J. Lindsay, a former commander of Fort Bragg and the 18th Airborne Corps.
“Gen. Lindsay started us off on the right foot, fought some pretty hard battles to get us the authorities for resourcing and manning and training to build this great capability and establish the basis of the great capabilities that we have in the field today,” Brown said.
Although the command is in Florida, the influence of Fort Bragg is paramount.
Six of the seven commanders were three-star generals at Fort Bragg. The seventh was a one-star general at Fort Bragg.
“Army Special Operations Command continues to be the biggest percentage of our forces,” Brown said. “About 65 percent of our forces are headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. We will grow an additional five battalions of Special Forces because they are so important in the global war on terror.”
SOF Week ‘07 Schedule
“It is a great opportunity for us to stop, remember our heritage. We have invited all our former commanders back and all of our senior enlisted advisers.”
— Gen. Doug Brown, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command
April 23: Week begins at MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Fla.
April 24:4 p.m. Special operations forces Medal of Honor recipients recognized at ceremony at SOF Memorial at MacDill.
April 25: 8 a.m. Dedication of Special Operations Medal of Honor Building at MacDill.
6-10 p.m. U.S. SOCOM 20th Anniversary Mess Night at Tampa Convention Center. Retired Air Force Col. John Carney will receive the 2007 Bull Simons Award.
April 27: Week ends
Former commanders
Gen. James J. Lindsay, 1987-1990, former commander, Fort Bragg and 18th Airborne Corps
Gen. Carl W. Stiner, 1990-93, former commander, Fort Bragg and 18th Airborne Corps
Gen. Wayne Downing, 1993-96, former commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg
Gen. Hugh Shelton, 1996-97, former commander, Fort Bragg and 18th Airborne Corps
Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, 1997-2000, former commander, Joint Special Operations Command and USASOC
Gen. Charles Holland, 2000-03, former deputy commander, JSOC
Gen. Doug Brown, 2003-07, former commander, JSOC, USASOC |
