thedrifter
09-09-07, 06:27 PM
GAO: Spec ops Marines need standardized training
By Gidget Fuentes - gfuentes@militarytimes.com
Posted : September 17, 2007
While it has “made considerable progress” in establishing a headquarters command and deploying several units, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command hasn’t fully identified the force structure needed to perform assigned missions, defined spec ops skills, established common training standards or managed critical skills, a new Government Accountability Office report states.
Some of that blame, the GAO found, lies with the lack of establishing common training standards by U.S. Special Operations Command, which has not evaluated or assessed MarSOC’s integration with other spec ops forces.
The GAO also expressed concern that the Corps, which has an interim assignment plan that includes longer tours for some special operations Marines, should establish a permanent spec ops career field, which the other military services have. It also suggested rethinking the Corps’ initial plans to model MarSOC’s units on the service’s spec ops capabilities and to structure units to Marine expeditionary units.
The GAO, Congress’ investigative arm, included those recommendations in a 48-page report sent Sept. 5 to the Senate and House armed services committees. The report’s authors noted that MarSOC and SOCom are working on revisions that may address the agency’s concerns.
Officials at MarSOC could not be reached for comment on the report as of press time.
MarSOC was established in February 2006.
The GAO criticized SOCom for not validating MarSOC’s training programs, noting the higher command could not determine whether those forces were fully prepared for their missions. SOCom representatives observed some training exercises, but no training program was formally assessed, the report stated.
The GAO found that SOCom “has not formally evaluated whether these programs will prepare units to be fully interoperable with the other special operations forces.
“Our prior work has shown us that the lack of commonality in training standards for joint operations creates potentially hazardous conditions on the battlefield,” the report’s authors stated.
However, MarSOC adapted its own set of training standards from some of those used by conventional forces, the GAO noted.
A SOCom working group is tackling the issue and trying to find consensus on training standards.
Agency officials also were concerned that the Marine Corps has not developed a strategic human capital program to manage its force and align it to MarSOC’s missions.
Unlike the other services, the Marine Corps hasn’t established a separate, closed-loop career force for special operations. The Corps has assigned Marines as needed, rotating some back to conventional forces.
Ellie
By Gidget Fuentes - gfuentes@militarytimes.com
Posted : September 17, 2007
While it has “made considerable progress” in establishing a headquarters command and deploying several units, Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command hasn’t fully identified the force structure needed to perform assigned missions, defined spec ops skills, established common training standards or managed critical skills, a new Government Accountability Office report states.
Some of that blame, the GAO found, lies with the lack of establishing common training standards by U.S. Special Operations Command, which has not evaluated or assessed MarSOC’s integration with other spec ops forces.
The GAO also expressed concern that the Corps, which has an interim assignment plan that includes longer tours for some special operations Marines, should establish a permanent spec ops career field, which the other military services have. It also suggested rethinking the Corps’ initial plans to model MarSOC’s units on the service’s spec ops capabilities and to structure units to Marine expeditionary units.
The GAO, Congress’ investigative arm, included those recommendations in a 48-page report sent Sept. 5 to the Senate and House armed services committees. The report’s authors noted that MarSOC and SOCom are working on revisions that may address the agency’s concerns.
Officials at MarSOC could not be reached for comment on the report as of press time.
MarSOC was established in February 2006.
The GAO criticized SOCom for not validating MarSOC’s training programs, noting the higher command could not determine whether those forces were fully prepared for their missions. SOCom representatives observed some training exercises, but no training program was formally assessed, the report stated.
The GAO found that SOCom “has not formally evaluated whether these programs will prepare units to be fully interoperable with the other special operations forces.
“Our prior work has shown us that the lack of commonality in training standards for joint operations creates potentially hazardous conditions on the battlefield,” the report’s authors stated.
However, MarSOC adapted its own set of training standards from some of those used by conventional forces, the GAO noted.
A SOCom working group is tackling the issue and trying to find consensus on training standards.
Agency officials also were concerned that the Marine Corps has not developed a strategic human capital program to manage its force and align it to MarSOC’s missions.
Unlike the other services, the Marine Corps hasn’t established a separate, closed-loop career force for special operations. The Corps has assigned Marines as needed, rotating some back to conventional forces.
Ellie