RESTRICTED//REL ISAF, NATOISAF SOFISAF SOFBRIEF t SO/LIC SYMPOSIUMBRIEF to SO/LIC SYMPOSIUM

By Brig Mark Smethurst (AUS)COM ISAF SOF: Oct 11- Oct 12

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ISAF SOF MissionISAF SOF MissionUNCLASSIFIED

ISAF SOF will build enduring tactical, g ,operational and 

institutional capabilities with Afghan Special Police with Afghan Special Police and designated specialist security elements within Afghan ROL  in order to Afghan ROL, in order to neutralize insurgent networks, protect the population and set the conditions for the 

transfer of Responsibility 

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p yto our Afghan partners

UNCLASSIFIED

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Task Force/SPTC‐ Nations (17) HQ ISAF SOF ‐ Nations (22)USA

ISAF SOF Strength ISAF SOF Strength ––incl SOFFCincl SOFFCUNCLASSIFIED

GBR AUS

USA

GBR

AUS ITA

USA

LTUNOR NOR

POL

ITA

LTU

ROU DEU

LTU

ROU

SWE CAN

FRA ESP

AUT SVK

DEU

TUR HUN

FIN

CZE

POL SVK

FIN

DNK SVN

NZL

DNK LVA

BEL NZL

PRT

EST

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TOTAL: PAXTOTAL: PAX-2260, , NATIONSNATIONS--2626

PRT

UNCLASSIFIED

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ISAF SOF LAYDOWNISAF SOF LAYDOWNKAPISA

BALKH

LAGHMAN

PRC ISU

SUROBI

PRCKABUL

ISU

KAPISA

KUNDUZBAGHLAN

UNCLASSIFIED

BALKH

PRCBALKH

ISU

2 LEP

KUNAR

PRCKUNAR

ISU

2 LEP

PRCLAGHMAN

ISU

1 LEP2 LEP

PRCKAPISA

ISU

2 LEP

PRCKUNDUZ

ISU

2 LEP

PRCBAGHLAN

ISU

2 LEP

RC-N

MeS

HERAT

PRCHERAT

ISU

2 LEP

FARAH

NANGARHAR

RC-SRC-W

RC E

RC-CKBC

KABUL

BAF

HER

PRCFARAH

ISU

2 LEP

HELMAND ISAF SOFHQ

KABUL

HQ GDPSU

ISU

1 LEP

PRCNANGARHAR

ISU

2 LEP

RC-SW

RC-E

HELMAND

KABULHELMANDATF-444

KABUL

CRU

PRCHELMAND

ISU

2 LEP

HELMAND

WARDAKSPTC

HELMANDNDS

LOGAR

KABUL

ISU

KAFBAS

GHAZNI

PRCGHAZNI

ISU

NDSGHAZNI2 LEP

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KANDAHAR

KANDAHAR

KANDAHAR

CF-333

NDSOQAAB

ZABULKANDAHAR

TF-WARHORSE

PRCK1

ISU

2 LEP

URUZGAN

PRCURUZGAN

ISU

NDSWAKUNISH2 LEP

PRCZABUL

ISU

2 LEP

GHAZNI

WARDAK

PRCWARDAK

ISU

2 LEP

PAKTIYA

PRCPAKTIYA

ISU

2 LEP

LOGAR

PRCLOGAR

ISU

1 LEP

PAKTIKA

PRCPAKTIKA

ISU

2 LEP

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ANSF & ISAF SOF Ops by TypeANSF & ISAF SOF Ops by Type

September 2011 September 2012 01 Oct 11 – 19 Oct 12

7%

20%9%

5%

13%

13%

35%

7%

73%

60%

46%

9%3%

9%

ANSF Unilateral OpsANSF Led ISAF SOF Enabled OpsISAF SOF Led Partnered Ops

Key AFGHAN LED OPS TOTAL % FOR SEPTEMBER 2012:

86%

AVERAGE PARTNER RATIOS % FOR SEPTEMBER

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ISAF SOF Led Partnered OpsISAF SOF Unilateral OpsISAF Advised

2012

61%

UNCLASSIFIED

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SOF Indirect Approach in AfghanistanSOF Indirect Approach in AfghanistanUNCLASSIFIED

• Rapid development of Afghan Special Police and other elms: by, with and through.Selection / Education / Training / • Selection / Education / Training / Operational mentorship.

• Professionalism of the force / trust of the people / limited Green on Blue issues.

• Commonality and rapid development of Coalition SOF in theatre.

• Fusion of Coalition Intelligence with Afghan Intelligence to allow proactive rather than reactive operations: Kabul 2012 V’s 2011reactive operations: Kabul 2012 V s 2011.

• Synchronization of Coalition SOF effects in conjunction with the Afghan SOF like forces. 

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An Indirect Approach in the FutureAn Indirect Approach in the Future

h f t f C liti SO h

UNCLASSIFIED

• The future of Coalition SOF has some common themes:– Global economic environment.– Reduction in conventional forces.– Preference to utilize SOF over larger scale 

commitments / political decisions at the last safe t   b dmoment or beyond.

• Coalition / Partnership of the willing:– Cooperative environment.– Commonality of threat/s.– Economies of scale.– Regional expertise.

• Challenges:– Ability and willingness to share on an even playing 

field.

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– Historical alliances: 5 eyes, NATO.– Capability inequities (budgets).

UNCLASSIFIED

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Discussion/ Questions?Discussion/ Questions?/ Q/ Q

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