Just seems to be another attempt to keep MARSOC relevent.

"they will not be against a competent opponent so no need to criticize the equipment or the vessels as non survivable..."

 

And in the Pacific theater, who would these incompetents be?

 

On a side rant..

 

It's like SOCOM is becoming an army within an army..  We have more troops assigned to SOCOM than the entire German army..  we are building specialized (niche) ships, aircraft.. and who knows what else..   I'm thinking there is just a bit too much scope and mission creep going on.. and it's rather expensive.  (Willing to be convinced otherwise.. but I am dubious..) 

The targets won’t be governments, but non-governmental forces like Abu Sayyaf, Jemaah Islamiyah, and ISIS/ISIL affiliates.

A military inside a military would be a better description, as they also have Air Force and Navy components, and their own training, schools, and support infrastructures included in that total.

 

Part of the size comes from SOCOM being expanded to include the majority of the non-core functions of the military. You have non-combat units like the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, the chemical recon units, 4th Psyops Group, 23rd Air Force (Space Operations), and all the specialized intelligence units.  Together these amount to nearly half the manpower.

 

Actual combat units include all the Predator, Reaper, and other large drone operations, and all the brown water and much of the green water operating assets.

 

Basically SOCOM is a catchall for the things the Generals and Admirals know they absolutely need to have, but can’t, of don’t want to, understand.

Another reason I think we will see an expanded role for SOCOM in the world is because somehow Special Ops troops don't seem to count whenever pundits talk about "boots on the ground."  "Boots on the ground" specifically refers to regular military combat and support troops.  People are willing to look the other way if a few hundred Special Forces or MARSOC troops are sent into a hot zone, but if you send in a battalion from the 82nd Airborne or 25th Infantry Division you are suddenly putting "boots on the ground."  In addition, special ops casualties can be explained away a lot easier than regular troop casualties.  Delta and SEAL families grieve their losses as much as anyone else, but it is almost unheard of for the spouse of a special ops operator to go on television and demand to know exactly how and where her husband died.  SOCOM is expensive, but it's a hell of a lot cheaper than Congressional hearings where Reprentative So-and-So is demanding to know who is responsible for Private What's-his-name's needless death while on patrol in somewhere in the Sandbox. 

Transferring SoF's to an LCS?  For what exactly?  To help with maintenance?

 

If the PC class was considered too big for SoF's, then LCS (5 times larger) isn't likely to fit the bill.

 

FAIL. 

Meanwhile in the Greater Nanny & Cottonwool & Bubblewrap State formerly Known as.........

Australia (Watch out, Mate! That drop bear will git ur from a gumtree & next we'll b fishin' ya goolies out from a croc's asshole...) - this is EXACTLY the playbook of the ADF (Afraid, Defencless Folk).

 

Every-fu*king time a member of the ADF is killed - it's "Oh, the person in question was with 1st Commado's, or SAS (unit cannot be disclosed)... And Why.....

 

Because it puts a level of 'immunity' between Upper Mangement (thats all senior officer's are) and decisions on the trade-floor (operators - which are just tradesman-in-craft).

 

Upper Management say "no hard engaged today.... Lads"! 

 

Meanwhile some towelhead with a few ak rounds goes Yeehaw..

 

Tradesman's exchange a fews - someone gets killed - BAD BAD press all the way round and coffin goes home...

 

Management goes "Tut tut", and cycle continues goes no one WANTS to stop the cycle.....

the Good or the Bad - blame needs to apportioned equally...

 

Just sayin'....