http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2005/20050303_82.html
Special Ops Plays Key Role in Terror War While Transforming By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 3, 2005 - The global war on terror has increased the operational tempo among special operations forces "greatly," and said Thomas W. O'Connell, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, "we don't see any decrease on the horizon." O'Connell, in a March 2 interview with the Pentagon Channel and the American Forces Press Service, said special operators are supporting "the whole range of combat activities," from pre-conflict to post-conflict activities "and all those things in between." Coordinating closely with other government agencies and conducting operations jointly with other services "nine times out of 10," special operations forces are bringing a full range of specialized skills to the fight, O'Connell said. "We have forces in many countries around the world, both in combat theaters (and) outside of combat theaters that are dedicated to the global war on terror," he said. As they carry out their mission, special operators are working more closely than ever before with other U.S. forces, O'Connell said. "I don't think there's ever been a time in history that special operations have worked as closely with conventional forces," he said. In Iraq, for example, O'Connell said Special Forces A teams often work side by side with conventional forces. While those troops concentrate on conventional missions such as blocking, screening and patrolling, special operators concentrate on developing the intelligence needed to lead them to the insurgents. And one successful encounter leads to what O'Connell calls "the bounce" - follow-on leads generated by quickly acting on intelligence gathered through interrogations, documents uncovered and other methods. "And that is what our special forces are so good at doing," O'Connell said. As they make their contribution in the war on terror today, O'Connell said special operators are helping set the stage for tomorrow's forces. They're instrumental in fielding new systems that are transformational in nature, he said, including the CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and the Advanced SEAL Delivery System. O'Connell called the Osprey, designed to dramatically reduce strategic lift requirements, "an exceptional piece of equipment." The Advanced SEAL Delivery System, designed to reduce the risk to SEALS when they transit from submarine to shore while permitting them to conduct long-range special operations, "offers great promise for the delivery of SEALS for clandestine missions" and "has great intelligence applications," he said. U.S. Special Operations Command is increasing the number of active-duty operators with civil affairs and psychological operations skills, specialties now confined largely to the reserve components, he said. In addition, it's adding "a few SEAL platoons and some aviators" to its active component force. Another new initiative being considered involves inserting Marine Corps capabilities into some special operations units, O'Connell said, although no decision has yet been made. As special operations carries out its mission and evolves for the future, O'Connell, who served as a special operator himself while on active duty in the Army, said its members stand as testaments to the force known as "the quiet professionals." "I understand what it takes to become a special operator. I understand the dedication they display every day," O'Connell said. "They do a magnificent job every day and I think the nation owes them a debt of gratitude, and I am extremely proud to be associated with them." Thomas W. O'Connell Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-intensity Conflict Thomas W. O'Connell The Honorable Thomas W. O'Connell was appointed Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict on July 23, 2003. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary of Defense, Mr. O'Connell served as a Senior Manager for Raytheon Company's Intelligence and Information Systems, and has served as a frequent Task Force member of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. A 1968 Distinguished Military Graduate of the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics, Mr. O'Connell began his career as an Infantry Officer in Germany He served in Southeast Asia as a field advisor to Vietnamese forces, including duties with the PHOENIX Program. Mr. O'Connell was assigned as a Combat Intelligence instructor in at the Army's Intelligence Center and School at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona prior to spending three years in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina as an intelligence officer at battalion, brigade, and division levels. During attendance at the Army's Command and General Staff College, he earned a Master's Degree in Management from Central Michigan University. Mr. O'Connell then spent two years on exchange duty with the British Army at the Joint Intelligence Centre in England, where he commanded the Foreign Armed Services Branch. From 1980 to 1983, he was the Senior Intelligence Officer for a U.S. Army Special Mission Unit. He then commanded the 313th Military Intelligence Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division for two years, followed by attendance at the Naval War College, having graduated with highest distinction and earned a Master's Degree in International Relations. He returned to Ft. Bragg as the Director of Intelligence (J2), Joint Special Operations Command, and continued in the Special Operations Intelligence field with a two and a half year brigade command. After a brief assignment in the U.S. Special Operations Command's Washington Office, he served for three years at the Central Intelligence Agency as Deputy for Command Support, retiring in October 1995. Mr. O'Connell's career included participation in four arenas of conflict: Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, and Southwest Asia; as well as various assignments in 33 countries. He holds a Master Parachutist rating and has received numerous awards including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart and the Air Medal. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> DonorsChoose. A simple way to provide underprivileged children resources often lacking in public schools. 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