Army Futures Command Concept for Special …

AFC Pamphlet 71-20-4

Army Futures Command Concept for Special Operations 2028

18 September 2020

Distribution Statement A. This document is approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

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Foreword

AFC Pam 71-20-4

From the Director U.S. Army Futures Command Futures and Concepts Center

Our near-peer competitors, leveraging emerging trends in science, technology, and the information environment, have invested in strategies and capabilities to challenge the U.S. and remake the global order. They employ innovative approaches to contest U.S. and allies' interests in all domains, the electromagnetic spectrum, and information environment. They often seek to attain their goals through ambiguous actions taken below the threshold of armed conflict. In armed conflict, advances in weapons technology, sensors, communications, and information processing allow these adversaries to generate stand-off intended to separate the joint force in time, space, and function. To address these challenges and fulfill the U.S. Army's landpower roles in protecting the Nation and securing its vital interests, the Army is adapting the way it organizes, trains, educates, mans, and equips to fight these future threats structured around the Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) concept.

Throughout the competition continuum, Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) support MDO by providing unique capabilities to advance partnerships, influence adversarial behavior, execute special operations, and respond to crisis. ARSOF provide unique modes of employment, tactical techniques, equipment, and training often conducted in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and characterized by time sensitivity, the need for clandestineness, operating in low visibility, conducting operations with and/or through indigenous forces, requiring regional expertise, and/or a high degree of risk. Additionally, ARSOF's geographically calibrated force posture provides the capability to quickly understand the operational environment and wield influence through persistent relationships with local partner forces, resident populations, government institutions, and interorganizational partners to leverage military and civilian networks that improve real-time situational understanding, amplify operational effects, and disrupt an adversary's communication capabilities and decision-making process.

This concept describes the key challenges, solutions, and supporting capabilities required to enable ARSOF to support MDO across the competition continuum against near-peer competitors to accomplish campaign objectives and protect U.S. national interests. It serves as a basis for modernization actions for ARSOF organizations and capabilities. This concept also identifies implications for other supporting and enabling functions. It will inform development of other concepts, experimentation, capabilities development activities, and other future force modernization efforts to achieve the MDO AimPoint Force.

EDMOND M. BROWN Brigadier General, U.S. Army Acting Director, Futures and

Concepts Center

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Preface

AFC Pam 71-20-4

From the Commanding General U. S. Army Special Operations Command

We live in a world where our adversaries weaponize information and technology at speed against us. They intend to isolate the U.S. from our partners and offset the joint force's ability to integrate capabilities and project power globally. Strategic competitors like Russia and China blur the distinction between peace and war. They do so below the threshold of armed conflict, contesting our advantage and national interests while provoking dissent and challenging the international order. The Army's Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) concept describes how U.S. Army forces, as part of the Joint Force, will militarily contend with our adversaries in the future across all domains.

The Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) operating concept integrates ARSOF into MDO. Our ARSOF Women and Men will mitigate risk and deter armed conflict by capitalizing on our strengths and skills: building partner capacity, advancing relationships, and countering malign influences. If deterrence fails, we are the initial crisis response force who will take the fight to our enemies. Our unique capabilities combined with our forward physical and virtual presence provide a natural transition to Large Scale Combat Operations. We will prevail and we will consolidate gains to deny the enemy's ability to prolong conflict and spoil peace.

Our great Nation demands much from us. It will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future as we work with the Army and the Joint Force to solve our country's most challenging military problems. ARSOF must posture for competition while building the capability and capacity to infiltrate, sustain, and maneuver across all domains. If our adversaries' cross the threshold of armed conflict, we will be the first to answer the Nation's call in the most demanding, complex, and uncertain environments imaginable. Now is the time for ARSOF to sharpen our competitive edge as we prepare for the scale, tempo, lethality, and complexity of the multi-domain battlefield beyond 2028.

ARSOF will be a vital component of multi-domain operations. The stakes are high and the sacrifices can be steep. Regardless of the conditions, it is our sacred oath to provide the Nation with the world's most capable special operations forces. The Army Futures Command Concept for Special Operations, 2028 is the initial Army concept focused on special operations. This concept will guide the preparation our elite forces in support of MDO.

Francis M. Beaudette Lieutenant General, United States Army Commanding

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