SOF Liaison Impact: Comms, Fires, and CDR Priorities Pt 2 (Ep. 44)

This is part two of an episode focused on rotation 25-06 at the National Training Center where 7th SFG (A) sent 3 SF Soldiers to serve as the Special Operation Forces Liaison Element (SOFLE). This was not a typical rotation but still enabled Special Operation Forces – Conventional Forces Integration Interoperability and Interdependence. SOF builds mass and produces outsized effects from it’s formation size. This is true even from a SOFLE, demonstrating credibility and value to the conventional force. About the Guest: MAJ Matthew Song: Served at a Lieutenant with 10th Mountain Division before becoming Special Forces. Served as a Detachment Commander in 1st BN, 1st SFG (A) in Okinawa, Japan and as a SF Company Commander in 2nd BN, 1st SFG (A) in Joint Base Lewis McChord. Sent the last year as the SOTD AOB-W “Burro Team” exercise control director and J3, his next assignment is the Burro Team OIC. About the Host: CPT Weston Rich is the of SOF Plans Chief at the NTC and former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to his time at NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command This episode covers:

- What are the DIV and BDE CDR focused on? BDE CDR – combining arms in the close fight; DIV CDR – providing intelligence, integrating fires, forecasting logistics; SOF fits neatly into the priorities of the DIV CDR

- SOF holistically can answer the mail for the CJSOTF CDR and DIV CDR simultaneously through multi-layered mutually supporting lines of effort

- SOFLE must understand what Command level cares about what information at what time

- SOF provides the most value to the Joint Force through focusing efforts on DIV level objectives and targeting; SOF actions have limited effects on BDE close fight

- SOF is interdependent on conventional forces for logistics and medical support

- BDE become comfortable to conduct kinetic fires on behalf of SOF when SOF requested fires with non-standard observations

- SOFLE splitting between BDE TOC and TAC, managing communications equipment and personnel between multiple footprints

- SOFLE SITREP enabled AOB and SOTF to understand situation and communicate requirements

- Sharing Common Operating Picture; SOFLE used digital COP to share BDE information to AOB, manpower is critical to maintain these multiple systems and must be balanced with other demands Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at [e-mail].

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of Salty Sounds