Special Operations Persistent Engagement

Is Persistent Engagement Worth It?

CPT Elliot Freeman

For decades Special Operation Forces have trained and deployed to a vast number of countries in order to influence peoples and further the strategic goals of the United States of America. Due to the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, most special operations teams concentrated on the killing/capture of terrorists and high value targets instead of indirect operations involving. This action in turn has compromised many established relationships, and the United States needs to fiercely dedicate personnel and resources to maintain the persistent engagement of foreign leaders.

Before the American invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, there was little to no experience or relationships between the US military and Afghan populace. Fortunately, due to relationships maintained by the Central Intelligence Agency, the special operation was able to quickly begin operating with the Northern Alliance and effectively combat the Taliban. Had this war happened later, the military may have not been able to make

Persistent engagement is a cost effective way to provide our military commanders and nation’s leadership the ability to conduct military-civilian engagements at any time. The capacity to promote enhanced governance and economic policies prevents the growth and spread of hostile ideologies threatening to our nation. Future conflicts will be prevented, saving the US from spending valuable resources in the form of human lives and billions of tax payer dollars. To keep the mind set and a situational awareness of the political situation, special operations can provide recommendations to act rather than react.

Throughout the Cold War, the US had a very combative relationship with most of Central and South America due to ideological issues. However, relations with Colombia remained cooperative. The US sent its first military training team in 1961 and to this day experts consisting of small teams have provided expertise...