View from the Hill
Written by Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.)
SOTECH 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 4 (June)
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We Must Improve and Maintain a Robust
Special Operations Rotary Wing Capability
As the United States of America continues to fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, confront terrorist activities around the globe, conduct foreign internal defense, and aid countries and people in need, our special operations forces have seen a dramatic increase in their need and utility. While SOF has existed for centuries, it was during World War II that they entered the conscious of the American people. Following WWII and through the Vietnam War and Cold War, SOF’s influence grew dramatically as did the size, funding and mission scope.
Due to the nature of the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, the demands on our war fighting community has drastically evolved. Gone (for now) are the days of large landed invasions and with that the storming of beachheads, filled with large forces dug-in ready for a long protracted fight. Instead, today we find ourselves fighting a faceless enemy with no state affiliation. As a result, we often find the U.S. military and our allies engaging the enemy in small unit operations. To that end, SOF has been the method of choice because it allows us to effectively execute small surgical strikes over vast geographical areas. This type of operational focus has thus necessitated a larger, more advanced rotary wing capability for our special operators.
As stated previously, the role that rotary wing assets have played in Iraq and especially in Afghanistan has increased significantly. The precision navigation of helicopters and other vertical lift platforms allow for the rapid movement and resupply of troops over long distances. More importantly, the inventory of the U.S. Special Operation Command, which includes MH-47, MH-60, A/MH-6 and CV-22s, provides fire support, over the horizon communications and force protection. Given the mountainous terrain in Afghanistan, a movement can be completed in a matter of hours and even minutes by air, whereas the same movement may take days by road.
From a force protection perspective, rotary wing assets provide our special operators with the most efficient and safest means of movement. Moving by air, our special operators also avoid the enemy’s weapon of choice, improvised explosive devices (IED). The IED threat is heightened for our special operations forces whose operating bases are often located in remote, less-traveled areas, making the targeting of vehicular movement for IED attack or ambush more likely. At the objective, rotary wing assets quickly deliver our troops on top of their target, reducing the enemy’s reaction time and leveraging surprise, speed of action and initiative for our troops’ benefit. The continuing evolution and success of special operations means greater influence as we continue to fight a smart and lethal enemy.
The force structure growth of SOF remains rapid and much different to that of conventional forces. As a result, our ability to stay on a technological and tactical edge has been difficult, specifically as it relates to required lift for SOF. This capacity gap grew larger with the retirement of the MH-53, the fielding of the CV-22, and the improvements in the MH-60 and MH-47 aircraft. To precipitate problems, all of this occurred as units were engaged in multiple deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Thankfully, the services and USSOCOM, have worked together to ensure that our special operators have the needed lift to conduct their missions, which in turn provide significant operational support to the warfighters on the ground.
Vertical lift capacity is a strategic issue, and the Department of Defense has undertaken multiple studies to determine where the shortfalls exist. In February of this year, the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) highlighted the importance of rotary wing assets in current operations and discussed the importance of supporting and training our allies in this endeavor. Then in March, the Congress received a report from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/ Low Intensity Conflict and Interdependent Studies which studied the demand for the Mi-17 helicopter by our SOF. Last year, the Joint Staff completed a Review of Helicopter Assets, and a U.S. Army sponsored RAND study acknowledged a rotary-wing lift capacity shortfall. This study subsequently drove adjustments in force management of rotary wing platforms that led to increased availability for SOF in Afghanistan.
These identified shortfalls have led DoD to address solutions regarding force structure, training and increase of assets for conventional forces who enable the special operations forces to conduct missions. As a result, the fiscal year 2011 budget review recommended enhanced organic capacity in USSOCOM. Acquiring more platforms, extending the life of those already in the inventory, and expanding our base of qualified pilots are tightly integrated factors in expanding our future special operations rotary wing capacity.
For example, the QDR authorized an increase in the special operations rotary wing force structure which includes the addition of eight MH-47G helicopters to USSOCOM by the end of FY15. Also, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment is modernizing its MH-60 Blackhawk fleet. The Air Force Special Operations Command’s CV-22, which has proven to be a quite valuable vertical lift asset in Iraq and Afghanistan, will see an increase of five in FY11 and ultimately, an increase to 50 CV-22s by FY16.
While the number of platforms must increase in order to enhance capacity, so too must we have an expansion of aviation training. To this end, the U.S. Army will expand pilot training at Fort Rucker to make vertical lift assets more available to SOF in theater. More pilots will result in an increase in operational availability of aircraft that we have in theater.
The increase in the number of rotary wing aircraft and pilots will obviously necessitate an increase in the numbers of those who enable SOF to conduct their missions. Along with a determined effort by the U.S. Army to increase these enablers, beginning in FY11, with full operational capability in FY12, the U.S. Army will realign existing sources to stand up the 12th Combat Aviation Battalion. Clearly, the groundwork is being laid to allow SOF to maintain battlefield superiority over the enemy.
Special operations forces have been a significant asset to the U.S. military during our two current wars confronting terrorist activities, and to humanitarian efforts around the globe. If SOF did not have access to an adequate number of capable and dependable aircraft, these missions could not succeed. The current operational tempo and requirement for these assets indicate a need that is much greater than both current capability and the proposed future capability. Because special operations forces rely on unique equipment, modified for its specialized missions, each helicopter is all the more important to USSOCOM’s operational capability. We must continue to ensure our special operations forces have the equipment and support needed to conduct their missions. ♦
Representative Jeff Miller was sworn in as the Congressman of the First Congressional District of Florida in October of 2001 and is now in his fifth term.