UW - Auxillary

[recce_o]

Without jeopardizing OPSEC, can anyone explain to me the division of responsibilites between SF and national intelligence agencies (i.e. the CIA) when it comes to developing the civilian auxillary in a UW environment? I presume that SF is not inserted until such an auxillary has been established, otherwise there would be an inadequate base of support for guerrilla operations to provide such things as intelligence, supplies, safe houses et cetera.

[jeff]

i'm not sure your going to get alot of responses on this subject. Its a sensitive subject.

[Mike]

I think you got it the other way. SF is responsible for setting up a guerilla army. Suppose the U.S. embassy was closed in Moscow if WWIII was declared, an A-Team will parachuted say 100 miles West from Moscow and try to set up an "auxillary". In countires like Kuwait, Haiti and Kosovo, CIA were there so were SOF of all kinds. Several books on the U.S. Army Special Forces will have a few case scenarios.

[recce_o]

Mike, with all due respect, I disagree. I'm not in SF, so I am speculating, but while an A-team is a relatively self-sufficient entity compared to conventional military units, it is not totally self-sufficient. During UW support for SF comes from the local populace. While it would be possible to supply the team via airdrop or pre-positioned caches, there are many additional requirements that can only come from the local population. Examples include intelligence about the disposition of local citizens and who in particular should be approached to lead or help establish the auxillary. As good as they are, my impression is that most SF training emphasizes hiding out in the woods i.e. stealth, rather than infiltrating civilized areas. Such infiltration requires the kind of skills at influencing people that would be possessed by the CIA.

[E19]

Mike,

Where did you get the idea that SF would be used to set up an auxillary embassy in your scenario about WWIII. An embassy is established & maintained within in a country only at the invitation of that nation. It is afterall a diplomatic entity. If what you are saying is correct then SF mission has certainly changed from what is was when I served. (66-71).

[Mike]

To recce_o, since you mentioned you're not in SF, maybe if you read more about SF on this web site, you will understand. The CIA lost the capability to do large-scale intelligence gathering thanks to the pro-Russia and pro-Chinese crowd at the NSC.

to
E19, I mean IF the embassy was closed in a war like we left Vietnam in 1975 and we left Iraq in 1991.

[recce_o]

To Mike: Thanks for the advice (and I mean that sincerely. I'm not trying to be sarcastic), but I have read everything there is to read on SF and UW. The problem is that none of the literature discusses the auxillary because it is a sensitive topic. Accordingly, I disturb the members of SOCNET as a last resort.

I stick by my opinion as expressed earlier. Anyone else care to put in their 2 cents?

BTW, Mike, are you in SF? I'm not, but I do have some direct experience with them (limited as it may be).

[willis]

Speaking of intel, What do you know about 97B. Counter-intel

[Tracy]

To back up a bit:

Unconventional Warfare has three functional areas and several requirements:

First, before any UW is developed the area must have the potential for resistance and sustaining the effort.

Second, there has to be a sponsor that provides the external support to the movement.

The potential and support goes into three functional areas:

The Underground;
The Auxilliary;
The Guerillas.

The Guerillas are full-time fighters in recognizable military formations. They quit their day jobs to focus exclusively fighting for the cause. Guerillas need secure areas to train in; as well as maneuvering areas for their operations.

The Auxilliary are personnel who have regular full-time jobs; but provide covert logistic and information support to the resistance movement. They maintain their cover as workers and not draw attention to themselves.

Special Forces focuses on developing the Guerilla and Auxilliary Arm of a Resistance movement. SF represents the sponsors; and they usually control the groups' actions by controlling the supplies provided.

The Underground is a combined Guerilla and Auxillliary Force that operates in areas denied to 'regular' resistance members or the sponsors. Typically, they operate in cities and restricted movement zones. For example, if an SF Team operated in Liberia they may need an Underground presence in Monrovia.

Underground and Auxilliary are almost exclusively composed people native to the area. Big, Corn-Fed Beef, Americans tend to "stick out" a bit. Often an Underground serves as the "Shadow Government" of a resistance movement. They provide the moral compass for the rest of the resistance members and form the basis for a new government.

SF is capable of creating an Underground; but it's not the best idea (remember sticking out?). There are National Assets that can create the Underground better; with better security.

The best way is to send in a "Principal Agent" that evaluates potential and recruits members. The principal agent creates a cellular organization and establishes a secure means of communication between cells and higher HQ. Then the principal leaves the country and the organization continues to function. An Underground has its sponsor as well; with their own controlled supply channels.

Ideally, the Underground is created before it's needed. The last units created are the Guerillas. Guerillas are no longer producing goods or services for the local economy; which means the Auxilliary has to work harder to support the G's and themselves. That's why external support is so vital: they can relieve the pressure and drain the guerillas have on an economy.

In terms of ratios, the largest organization is the Auxilliary. They comprise 75-80% of the resistance movment. The Guerillas consist of another 15% ( if that much!). The Underground is the smallest, most secure group at 5%.

Logistics decides the fate of a resistance movement. The better the support, the more effective the movement.

[recce_o]

The Master has spoken. Thanks a million Tracy!