Future warriors will be as proficient in irregular operations, including counterinsurgency and stabilization operations, as they are today in high-intensity combat.
To achieve the future force characteristics for SOF and build on progress to date, the Department will:
* Further increase SOF capability and capacity to conduct low-visibility, persistent presence missions and a global unconventional warfare campaign.
* Increase (starting in Fiscal Year 2007) active-duty Special Forces Battalions by one-third.
* Expand Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs units by 3,500 personnel (33% increase) to provide increased support for SOF and the Army's modular forces.
* Establish a Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) composed of 2,600 Marines and Navy personnel to train foreign military units, and conduct direct action and special reconnaissance.
* Increase SEAL Team force levels to conduct direct action missions.
* Establish a SOF unmanned aerial vehicle squadron to provide organic capabilities to locate and target enemy capabilities in denied or contested areas.
* Enhance capabilities to support SOF insertion and extraction into denied areas from strategic distances.
The report calls for a new approach to the Transformational Satellite program: to "spiral develop" its capabilities instead of trying to field all of the expected technology at one time — and replan the satellite launches accordingly.
