MACDILL, Fla., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- U.S. Special Operations forces will be expanded by more than 13,000 men over the next five years.
The Special Operations Command website reported from MacDill Air Force Base in Florida Thursday that the expansion was being made because of the demands of the global war on terror.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, U.S. Special Operations Command, or USSOCOM, has seen its mission increase steadily.
Gen. Doug Brown said that while the most visible of special operations exercises involve the "direct" approach, the "indirect" approach is key to winning the war on terrorism.
"While many Special Operations units conduct, or provide support to, direct action missions, most are also highly skilled in the indirect approach," brown said.
"Numerous activities constituting Irregular Warfare are the traditional core missions' areas of Special Operations Forces. Unconventional Warfare (working by, with, and through indigenous or surrogate forces), foreign counterpart training, civil-military operations, information distribution, civil infrastructure support, and many other action contributing to the economic and social welfare in at-risk areas are the hallmarks of Special Operations," he said,.
"Today more than 85 percent of our Army Special Forces A-Teams and Navy SEAL platoons in Iraq and Afghanistan, and nearly 100 percent of SOF operating outside these countries, are conducting indirect activities," the general said.
"Our Air Force Special Operations Command's 6th Special Operations Squadron is our indirect force for training foreign aviation to build their capability and capacity," he said.
