Special Operations Forces: better data necessary to improve oversight and address command and control challenges : report to congressional committees / United States Government Accountability Office.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

United States. Government Accountability Office, author, issuing body.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

U.S. Special Operations Command--Management.

U.S. Special Operations Command.

Command and control systems--Management.

Command and control systems.

Special forces (Military science)--United States--Management.

Special forces (Military science).

Management--Evaluation.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (iii, 45 pages) : color illustrations, color map

Other Title:

GAO-23-105163 Special operations

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, 2022.

Summary:

The Department of Defense has increased its reliance on SOF over the past 2 decades to advance and protect U.S. national security interests. The centerpiece of how SOF employs its forces is through the use of SOF mission command, and involves a variety of command and control structures. These are scalable organizations that allow USSOCOM to provide SOF to geographic combatant commanders based on an operational need. This report (1) describes the type and number of SOF C2 structures DOD used from calendar years 2018 through 2021 and evaluates the data used to oversee them, and (2) describes any challenges USSOCOM has identified with its oversight of SOF C2 structures and any actions taken to address them. GAO is making two recommendations, including that DOD require the use of standard terminology and establish a centralized data collection mechanism to retain data on, for example, personnel assigned to SOF command and control structures.

Contents:

Background

USSOCOM has used a variety of SOF C2 structures, but data limitations hinder transparency

USSOCOM has efforts underway to address challenges overseeing SOF C2 structures

Conclusions

Recommendations for executive action

Agency comments and our evaluation

Appendices.

Notes:

"October 2022."

"GAO-23-105163."

In scope of the U.S. Government Publishing Office Catalog and Indexing Program (C&I) and Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (GAO, viewed October 6, 2022).

OCLC:

1346857228