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The Creation of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
QUESTION
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) was created in 1980 after the failed efforts to free American hostages held in Iran. Peter Bergen explains that following 9/11, “JSOC mushroomed from a force of eighteen hundred to four thousand, becoming a small army within the military.” JSOC remains very secretive, yet many believe it is among the most effective forces within the U.S. military.
Based on the readings, please post a reflection that: 1) Briefly describes one aspect of how JSOC is creative, innovative and otherwise different from the regular military; and then 2) Briefly reflects on both positive and negative elements of JSOC in terms of U.S. national security.
| Subject | Law and governance | Pages | 2 | Style | APA |
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Answer
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is undoubtedly among the most innovative, creative and unique forces in the U.S. military. JSOC’s ability to harness technology in transforming its operations makes it more innovative, creative, and different from forces within the U.S. military. The aspect of innovativeness is evident in the improvisation of small aircrafts to serve as predator drones by fixing cameras on them. The creativity of JSOC is evident in its creation of the F3EA sequence, which is focused on finding, fixing, finishing, exploiting, and analyzing its insurgent target. In the establishment of this sequence, JSOC techs managed to design an electronic divining rod with the ability to ping only when near a cell phone connected to a specific insurgent. The divining rod enabled JSOC to rig a cell phone base station situated within the Balad headquarters, thereby capturing more leads to insurgents for JSOC. Apart from being innovative and creative, JSOC different from the U.S. military in that its special operators of different services can work jointly in a more seamless manner. These services include secret, the Army’s Delta Force, 75th Ranger Regiment, Navy SEAL units, the air force’s Special Tactics Squadron, and the helicopter pilots of the 160th Special Operations Air Regiment.
There are many positive aspect of JSOC in relation to the national security of U.S. JSOC’s use of technology and joint operations with the National Security Agency (NSA) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) enhances its effectiveness in gathering intelligence needed to establish strategies for safeguarding the U.S. against terrorism. JSOC also serves as an independent military and can defend the nation when needed even in situations where the regular army is overwhelmed. Furthermore, JSOC does not rely on big footprint operations and this enhances national security by limiting the number of casualties on the part of soldiers. Nonetheless, there exist certain negative elements of JSOC in relation to the U.S. national security. JSOC is on record for the violation of human rights, particularly the mistreatment of prisoners. In 2004, the prison facility at Camp Name close to Bangladesh was closed and thirty-four members of task force disciplined for maltreating prisoners. Such actions negatively portray the image of the U.S. military and serve as a threat to national security. Moreover, the highly secretive nature of JSOC’s operations and affairs result in the concealment of key information, as was evident in the death of Pat Tillman, who died in a friendly fire event in Afghanistan, as opposed to being killed by the Taliban as was claimed by JSOC’s Major General, Stanley McChrystal. Such actions are a threat to U.S. national security as they may attract backlash and protest from the public. The work ethic of JSOC abbreviated as “17-5-2” has also been brutal in that it entails working for seventeen hours, sleeping for five hours, and executing other duties for two hours.