Fortune Maker
SOCPAC Forces Exercise Rapid Deployment
and Distributed Command and Control Operations.
Special Operations Command-Pacific (SOCPAC) members and its component units recently participated in a two-week exercise in Guam to hone their readiness capability as the Pacific Region’s special operations Joint Task Force-510 (JTF-510). The exercise focused on SOF’s inherent ability to respond quickly to contingencies with robust communications, decentralized leadership pushed down to the troop level, and the conduct of indirect operations through host nation forces.
“The exercise was designed to bring JTF-510 together on short notice to test our capability to rapidly deploy and respond to crisis situations,” said Major General Salvatore F. Cambria, SOCPAC commander. “Our forces performed extremely well, and are now better trained and more capable to serve U.S. Pacific Command [PACOM].”
The exercise, titled Fortune Maker 2007, consisted of command post and field training events with notional host nation forces. U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force special operations performed operational missions in support of the exercise. The majority of SOCPAC forces operated on Guam, with some forces in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and others in surrounding waters. SOCPAC forces were involved in coordinating efforts with notional host nation forces and embassy personnel to exercise the process and requirements of ensuring their missions are closely coordinated.
This exercise was truly a joint special operations effort. The Air Force and Navy SOF conducted a successful maritime craft aerial delivery system (MCADS) drop operation. Navy SEALs were airdropped from an MC-130 aircraft into the ocean. They boarded their vessels and were underway in less than 10 minutes of their watercraft entering the water. Additionally, Army SOF interacted closely with Guam National Guard and local police portraying notional host nation forces through cultural exchange and various combined training events. They conducted combined missions to locate notional terrorists on nearby islands.
SOCPAC demonstrated the ability to integrate seamlessly with conventional forces and distribute command and control. The SOCPAC deputy commander led a small cell afloat on the USS Harpers Ferry. The USS Harpers Ferry is part of the Navy’s forward deployed amphibious force serving under commander, Task Force 76, which is headquartered in Okinawa, Japan.
SOCPAC forces operate as PACOM’s rapidly deployable special operations joint task force. SOCPAC deploys throughout the Pacific Region supporting joint combined exchange training, operational deployments, fostering interoperability with host nation partners and facilitating strategic and operational objectives. ♦