farmgirl
04-07-2004, 08:40 PM
http://www.fayettevillenc.com/story.php?Template=military&Story=6271957
Expanded role for forces seen
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor
Military special operations forces are growing and working closer with other government agencies because of the war on terrorism, the top general said Tuesday at Fort Bragg.
Gen. Doug Brown said the role of his U.S. Special Operations Command at Tampa, Fla., has expanded since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"We've got new resources and a new mission to plan, direct and execute special operations in the conduct of the global war on terror," Brown said. "This is different. While that mission has really always been there, the emphasis hasn't."
Historically, his command trained, equipped and organized special operations forces to supply to the generals and admirals who oversee military operations around the world. Now U.S. SOCOM can play a more direct role against terrorist organizations.
Brown spoke to about 250 people at the Fort Bragg Officers' Club at the eighth annual symposium and exposition of the Braxton Bragg Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army. The theme is "Supporting the Warfighter."
The four-star Army general oversees the special operations forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The command has 48,000 people and requested almost $6.6 billion from Congress for 2005, about double the budget of a few years ago.
The U.S. Army Special Operations Command and the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg are part of U.S. SOCOM. Brown is former commander of JSOC and USASOC.
Bragg force
Plans call for Army special operations to grow by about 750 soldiers at Fort Bragg, Barbara Ashley, a spokeswoman, said after the speech.
The headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa added about 100 people in its headquarters as a result of the new mission, he said. About 1,300 people are assigned to the headquarters, a spokesman said.
Brown's Tampa headquarters created a Center for Special Operations to serve as its "war-fighting hub" and coordinate the efforts of branches of the armed services and other government agencies.
More than 100 representatives of other agencies are at his Tampa headquarters, he said. Those agencies include the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, Defense Information Systems Agency, U.S. Transportation Command and U.S. Space Command, Ken McGraw, a spokesman, said after the meeting.
Ground will be broken in about a month for a $25 million complex to house the Center for Special Operations at Tampa, he said.
Brown's command will add a battalion of MH-47G special operations helicopters, probably on the West Coast. Ten MC-130 Combat Talon II airplanes are being built. Other additions will include four AC-130 gunships as well as psychological operations and civil affairs units.
"Right now we are stretched in our civil affairs," Brown said. "We are deployed to the hilt in our civil affairs capability."
About 5,000 people will be gained through the command, he said.
"We are, and have always been, worldwide-oriented," Brown said. "Now the threat is worldwide, with little regard for borders, boundaries or self-imposed barriers."
More than 50 business have exhibits in the Lafayette Room promoting products from cargo jets to night-vision equipment.
Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, will speak at noon today at the President's Luncheon in the Hodge Room.
Expanded role for forces seen
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor
Military special operations forces are growing and working closer with other government agencies because of the war on terrorism, the top general said Tuesday at Fort Bragg.
Gen. Doug Brown said the role of his U.S. Special Operations Command at Tampa, Fla., has expanded since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"We've got new resources and a new mission to plan, direct and execute special operations in the conduct of the global war on terror," Brown said. "This is different. While that mission has really always been there, the emphasis hasn't."
Historically, his command trained, equipped and organized special operations forces to supply to the generals and admirals who oversee military operations around the world. Now U.S. SOCOM can play a more direct role against terrorist organizations.
Brown spoke to about 250 people at the Fort Bragg Officers' Club at the eighth annual symposium and exposition of the Braxton Bragg Chapter of the Association of the U.S. Army. The theme is "Supporting the Warfighter."
The four-star Army general oversees the special operations forces of the Army, Navy and Air Force. The command has 48,000 people and requested almost $6.6 billion from Congress for 2005, about double the budget of a few years ago.
The U.S. Army Special Operations Command and the Joint Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg are part of U.S. SOCOM. Brown is former commander of JSOC and USASOC.
Bragg force
Plans call for Army special operations to grow by about 750 soldiers at Fort Bragg, Barbara Ashley, a spokeswoman, said after the speech.
The headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa added about 100 people in its headquarters as a result of the new mission, he said. About 1,300 people are assigned to the headquarters, a spokesman said.
Brown's Tampa headquarters created a Center for Special Operations to serve as its "war-fighting hub" and coordinate the efforts of branches of the armed services and other government agencies.
More than 100 representatives of other agencies are at his Tampa headquarters, he said. Those agencies include the CIA, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, Defense Information Systems Agency, U.S. Transportation Command and U.S. Space Command, Ken McGraw, a spokesman, said after the meeting.
Ground will be broken in about a month for a $25 million complex to house the Center for Special Operations at Tampa, he said.
Brown's command will add a battalion of MH-47G special operations helicopters, probably on the West Coast. Ten MC-130 Combat Talon II airplanes are being built. Other additions will include four AC-130 gunships as well as psychological operations and civil affairs units.
"Right now we are stretched in our civil affairs," Brown said. "We are deployed to the hilt in our civil affairs capability."
About 5,000 people will be gained through the command, he said.
"We are, and have always been, worldwide-oriented," Brown said. "Now the threat is worldwide, with little regard for borders, boundaries or self-imposed barriers."
More than 50 business have exhibits in the Lafayette Room promoting products from cargo jets to night-vision equipment.
Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, will speak at noon today at the President's Luncheon in the Hodge Room.