“Finally, MARSOC is tasked to explore the interdependence, interoperability, and integration of special operations forces and conventional forces, both during planning and on the battlefield and specifically as it relates to crisis response,” Osterman added.
The SOF Liaison Elements will only deploy “as needed” for exercises or crisis response, giving the Marine Expeditionary Unit commander a direct tie into the SOF network without actually returning to the original concept of placing full MARSOC teams on ships as part of the pivot to Asia.
While details of unit deployments are not made public, the Raiders will be spread across the three GCC regions, with a focus on training and coordination with friendly governments dealing with insurgents and terrorists. In this new alignment, one MARSOC battalion is assigned to support each related geographic SOCOM element – SOCPAC (SOCOM-Pacific), SOCAF (SOCOM-Africa), and SOCCENT (SOCOM-Central).
Osterman described the deployments as more proactive, to help develop host-nation forces’ capability to prevent conflict, rather than reactive crisis management. Whether that will include working with Iraqi forces combating Islamic State militants who have seized a large part of Iraq in recent months remains unknown.
A U.S. Marine Critical Skills Operator with 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, MARSOC, releases his ruck sack from his body, preparing to land during a double-bag static line (DBSL) parachute training course, Aug. 26,
2014, in rural Arizona. The DBSL course was an introduction to the High Altitude, High Opening (HAHO) insertion method utilized by special operations forces. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Steven M. Fox
The new areas of operation (AOs) into which Raiders are being deployed also are creating new and expanded training and capabilities to deal with environments, cultures, and threats far removed from the landlocked deserts and mountains of Afghanistan.
One of those was creation of a SOF Liaison Element (SOFLE) – a six-man team headed by a lieutenant colonel – as an at-sea component working with the East and West Coast Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs) afloat.
The SOFLEs will only deploy “as needed” for exercises or crisis response, giving the MEU commander a direct tie into the SOF network without actually returning to the original concept of placing full MARSOC teams on ships as part of the pivot to Asia.
“MARSOC participates in the SOCOM ARG [Amphibious Ready Group]/MEU SOFLE program in conjunction with the other SOCOM components. This SOCOM program has been very successful to date and we expect that success to continue,” Osterman said. “There are no plans to assign operational MARSOC capabilities/units to MEUs.”