Portal:United States Army Special Operations Command

“ The methods and techniques used and the planning for the operations are dependent on the state of the resistance movement, environment, and the desired end state. Support to a resistance organization in its incipient state requires significantly different planning and support than one in the war of movement state (using Mao's phases) . ”

“ The underground and guerrillas are politico-military entities that may conduct both political and military acts, and which represent the ends of a spectrum between clandestine and overt resistance. The auxiliary represents a clandestine support structure for both the underground and guerrillas. ”

“ Joint doctrine defines UW as activities conducted to enable a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce, disrupt, or overthrow a government or occupying power by operating through or with an underground, auxiliary, and guerrilla force in a denied area. ”

“ During employment, the resistance force initiates an expanded scope of offensive operations to achieve the desired effects. The desired effects can range from causing the enemy to commit limited resources away from a pending invasion area, support to a pending invasion area (as in general war) , or in the case of a separate insurgency (limited war) , the achievement of specific strategic politico-military objectives. ”

“ During buildup, the resistance cadre improves the organization’s clandestine supporting infrastructure to prepare for expanded offensive operations. When the organization begins to conduct operations of wider scope and across a wider area, many of these operations will draw attention from counter-guerrilla forces. The organization must have the supporting clandestine infrastructure to prepare for and sustain these operations. ”

“ Overthrow: The USG may sponsor UW to overthrow a state or occupying power when it is intended that the supported successful resistance will support appropriate leaders for political control and governance. ”

“ At a minimum, the target area study includes governmental services, living conditions, and political, religious, economic, environmental, medical, and educational issues. Analysis and planning for transition to civil governance begins, to include contingency planning for collapse of the adversary government or power and sudden victory by the resistance. ”

“ A shadow government consists of governmental elements and activities performed by an irregular organization that replaces the governance functions of the existing regime (examples include security, health services, and taxation) . ”

“ When possible, planners exfiltrate a resistance representative, referred to as an asset, from the operational area to brief the pilot team during its planning phase. The asset may accompany the team during their infiltration into the operational area and facilitate their linkup with resistance forces. ”

“ PHASE I
Preparation
Resistance and external sponsors conduct psychological preparation to unify population against established government or occupying power and prepare population to accept U.S. support. ”

“ SOF may conduct UW until they assist the resistance in removing the hostile power and the indigenous population becomes the government. At this point, it is critical to shift mindsets from defeating the adversary regime to protecting the newly installed government and its security personnel from insurgency, lawlessness, and subversion by former regime elements that attempt to organize their own resistance. ”

“ Disruption prevents or impedes someone or some entity from doing something it would prefer to do. Although disruption can be a relatively small-scale, it can also be large-scale such as coordinated regional resistance. ”

“ During infiltration, a pilot team clandestinely infiltrates the operational area to link up with the resistance force and to conduct or confirm a feasibility assessment. If the assessment is favorable, the pilot team coordinates to infiltrate and receive follow-on SF teams and supplies. ”

“ Insurgency: The organized use of subversion and violence to seize, nullify, or challenge political control of a region. Insurgency can also refer to the group itself. (JP 3-24)
Counter Insurgency: Comprehensive civilian and military efforts taken to defeat an insurgency and to address any core grievances. ”

“ The sharing and release of information to a resistance or other partners is part of the planning process for UW campaigns. Training, advising, and accompanying elements of a resistance will expose US TTPs, including sensitive and protected methods, to foreign nationals, and the effects of providing or withholding this information should be a deliberate decision. ”

“ SF team infiltrates operational area, establishes communications with its base, and contacts resistance organization.
PHASE IV
Organization
SF team organizes, trains, and equips resistance cadre. Emphasis is on developing infrastructure. ”

“ During the Steady State, the USG conducts Joint or multinational operations or interagency activities to dissuade or deter potential adversaries and to assure or solidify relationships with friends and allies. ”

“ Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for DoD conduct of IW and development of capabilities to address irregular challenges or threats to national security. IW includes relevant DoD activities and operations such as CT, UW, FID, COIN, and stability operations that involve establishing or re-establishing order in a fragile state or territory. ”

“ Unconventional Warfare (UW) Foreign Internal Defense (FID) Direct Action (DA) Civil Affairs Operations (CAO) Special Reconnaissance (SR) Security Force Assistance (SFA) Counterterrorism (CT) Hostage Rescue and Recovery (HRR) Counterinsurgency (COIN) Foreign Humanitarian Assistance (FHA) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Military Information Support Operations (MISO) ”