C-12. Complete, detailed information on the operational environment, as well as background information on the host unit, is critical. Experience has shown that SFLEs deployed without benefit of adequate information and planning have difficulty establishing initial rapport and maintaining credibility. With adequate intelligence, the SFLE normally establishes
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rapport quickly and successfully with the host unit. The types of information the SFLE should have include—
• Personalities of key host unit leaders.
• Equipment and weapons available.
• Organizational diagrams.
• Communications equipment and procedures.
• Doctrinal and operational procedures.
• Familiarity of host unit with U.S. procedures and doctrine.
• Culture-specific traits.
• Political and military orientation.
• Unit disposition.
• Unit mission.
• Adjacent units’ mission.
• Logistics and sustainment.
• Transportation.
• MEDEVAC and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) procedures.
• Personnel service.
• Theater plan (if available).
C-13. During preparation and planning, the deploying SFLE should attempt to include personnel who have trained with the host unit and with units from the same country.
C-14. The SFLE should conduct a site survey. Like every SF mission, the best personnel to send on a site survey are those from the tasked unit. If personnel from the tasked unit cannot go, then the SFLE should send specific IRs to the team conducting the site survey.
C-15. SFLEs are employed throughout the operational continuum; therefore, before SFLEs deploy, the SF battalion should brief them on the operational environment and ROE. Detailed intelligence briefs help prepare the team for potential threats.
C-16. ROE are unique to each mission. SFLE commanders must make sure every soldier knows and understands the ROE. Members of the Staff Judge Advocate, specializing in operational law, can assist the commander and clear up confusing or misunderstood points. In addition, the SFLE must understand the limits of involvement with both the population and the host unit in the operational area. For example, SFLE medics may or may not be allowed to provide medical assistance to the local populace or host force soldiers. All members of the team must understand these points.
LINKUP
C-17. A linkup plan is established to make sure the SFLE successfully links up with the host unit on schedule. SFLE operations characteristically occur in three distinct phases: linkup, employment, and redeployment. During
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isolation, SFLEs must carefully consider the linkup plan. Making good initial contact and establishing rapport are instrumental in establishing solid relationships for the long-term success of the mission. Depending on the situation, the SFOB, FOB, AOB, or SOCCE may coordinate and organize the SFLE’s initial contact with the host unit. In some cases, the JTF may dictate the initial linkup plan. Before linkup, the JTF briefs the host unit on all information regarding the SFLE and the linkup plan. This information includes the SFLE’s—
• Time of arrival.
• Employment.
• Support requirements.
• Command relationships.
C-18. In addition, the SFOB, FOB, AOB, or SOCCE should brief the SFLE on all information available regarding the host unit. If possible, the JTF prebriefs the SFLE on the broad operational plan and what the host unit is expected to accomplish within that plan. The SFLE must be completely familiar with the OPLAN. Also, higher HQ provides any new information regarding the host unit. This briefing focuses on information that was unavailable to the SFLE during the planning phase. If one SFLE is replacing another, the outgoing and incoming SFLEs meet face-to-face.
C-19. Soon after the initial contact, the SFLE commander schedules an inbrief with the commander and staff of the host unit. Every SFLE member should attend. The overall purpose of this briefing is to establish a cooperative relationship, assess the host unit’s situation, and define the SFLE’s capabilities and mission. During the inbrief, the SFLE introduces its members and discusses critical items of information. This information includes the SFLE’s—
• Organization and mission.
• ROE.
• Capabilities, limitations, and requirements.
• Role as liaison, not as a tactical unit, between the host unit and the multinational unit.
C-20. Above all, members of the SFLE must be aware of their status as guests of the host unit and must behave accordingly to achieve the best results. (See Figures C-2 and C-3, page C-6.) The SFLE begins its overall assessment of the host unit during its initial meeting.
DEPLOYMENT
C-21. Upon deployment, the SFLE processes through an intermediate staging base (ISB) to receive additional planning guidance, equipment, or supplies, such as communications equipment and vehicles. At the ISB or FOB, the SFLE asks pertinent questions to fill in information gaps on the host force and its AO. It then prepares to link up with representatives of the host force.
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Figure C-2. Battle Tasks for Conducting Liaison
Figure C-3. Battle Tasks for Deployment
EMPLOYMENT
C-22. Employment begins upon linkup with the host unit. Determining the attitude of the host unit at the initial meeting is the starting point for establishing a working relationship for the conduct of the SFLE’s mission.
The tasks inherent to SFLE employment are to conduct an assessment, monitor and review operations, provide communications connectivity, report findings and the situation to higher HQ, conduct FP, and sustain the force.
C-23. SFLEs constantly assess their host unit’s capabilities, operations, and assigned sector. JTF PIR and IRs are reported as obtained. Information—
such as mine threat or minefield data, trafficability, and civilian living conditions—is important to higher and adjacent HQ. Timely, accurate, and complete reporting is the key to mission success. In addition, the SFLE assesses the host unit’s structure, capabilities, routines, and receptiveness.
This assessment information is important to the U.S. conventional force commander. (See Figure C-4, page C-7.)
C-24. The SFLE maintains 24-hour communication with its designated higher HQ. Depending on the maturity of the theater AO, this communication could be by HF or TACSAT equipment or even MSE from the U.S. conventional forces to the SFLE.
C-25. Certain observations require immediate reporting, while more routine information may be included in daily SITREPs. Clearly, force-protection information is reported immediately. All information cleared for dissemination is reported up the host unit chain of command and up the SOF
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or SOCCE chain of command. The host unit relies upon the SFLE for an accurate report. The SFLE manages the priority and importance of spot reports to the commander based upon his CCIR, essential elements of information (EEI), and EEFI.
Figure C-4. Battle Tasks for Conducting Assessment
C-26. To stay accurately informed of the host unit’s activities, SFLE representatives attend all host unit staff meetings, commander’s updates, and intelligence updates. Depending on the time the host unit has been operating in the AO, much intelligence information may be available for the U.S. conventional forces.
C-27. Communication is a two-way street. For the SFLE to keep the host unit accurately informed, the SFLE higher HQ must keep the SFLE accurately informed. The kind of information that helps the SFLE’s credibility with the host unit includes—
• Other SFLE and host unit activity within the AO.
• Daily SITREPs of conventional forces. (See Figure C-5.)
Figure C-5. Battle Tasks for Providing Communications Connectivity
C-28. The SFLE must be prepared to defend itself, if required. Although the overall threat may be fairly low, threats may exist from rogue units, disenchanted individuals or small groups, and terrorism. SFLE personnel assess the threat level before every mission and take appropriate actions to moderate the risks. They may, for example, use alternate routes and increase the alert posture of vehicle guards.
C-29. SFLEs do not patrol independently. Rather, they may accompany units or monitor the patrols within their host command that are on patrol. The U.S.
conventional force commander most likely dictates the force-protection posture of the SFLE in such matters—for example, uniform (probably Kevlar
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helmet and body armor) and travel numbers and formations (four-vehicle movement policy). To establish and maintain rapport and credibility, the SFLE follows the force-protection policies of the host unit. If these policies differ from the U.S. conventional force commander’s policies, the JSOTF, SFOB, or FOB secures a waiver from the U.S. conventional force commander for the SFLE to adhere to the policies of the host unit. (See Figures C-6 and C-7.)
Figure C-6. Battle Tasks for Conducting Force Protection
Figure C-7. Battle Tasks for Sustaining the Force
C-30. The host unit must provide for SFLE sustainment. It should be able to provide most sustainment items to the SFLE. Items not available in the host command’s supply system are requested through the SFLE’s higher HQ.
Depending on when conventional U.S. units arrive in theater, establishing a functioning U.S. supply system could take 45 days or longer. The use of suitable unit command supplies is the most responsive means of sustainment.
REDEPLOYMENT
C-31. The SFLE either withdraws on order, or one SFLE replaces another SFLE in country for ongoing operations or until the operations end. In any
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case, the SFLE plans its departure and keeps the host unit completely informed. (See Figure C-8.) The departing SFLE—
• Prepares equipment and hand receipts, as necessary, for handover to the incoming SFLE.
• Outbriefs the host unit, SFOB, FOB, AOB, or SOCCE and the incoming SFLE.
• Constructs in-depth AARs with well-thought-out lessons learned.
• Schedules an inbrief for the incoming SFLE with the host unit.
Figure C-8. Battle Tasks for Redeployment