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Unconventional Warfare Pocket Guide - v1 0 - Final - 6 April 2016
Unconventional Warfare Pocket Guide - v1 0 - Final - 6 April 2016
Pocket Guide
Point of contact for this guide is the United States Army Special Operations
Command, Deputy Chief of Staff G3, Sensitive Activities Division G3X,
AOOP-SA, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28310.
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Contents
Unconventional Warfare Overview ..................................................................... 4
Terms Used in UW ................................................................................................. 5
Components of a Resistance ................................................................................. 7
Phase 0: Steady State ............................................................................................ 11
UW Phase I: Preparation ..................................................................................... 11
UW Phase II: Initial Contact ............................................................................... 12
UW Phase III: Infiltration ................................................................................... 13
UW Phase IV: Organization ............................................................................... 13
UW Phase V: Buildup .......................................................................................... 14
UW Phase VI: Employment ............................................................................... 15
UW Phase VII: Transition ................................................................................... 15
Coordinating Foreign Disclosure and Release of U.S. TTPs......................... 16
RESOURCES........................................................................................................ 17
Law and Policy .................................................................................................. 17
Doctrine: Joint, Army, and ARSOF Pubs .................................................... 19
Research and Science ....................................................................................... 25
White Papers, Academic Studies, and Other Articles ................................ 28
Books.................................................................................................................. 33
Videos................................................................................................................. 35
Terms ...................................................................................................................... 36
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Introduction
The term UW often elicits strong responses both negative and positive,
though many have a fundamental misunderstanding of the term itself, and
its application supporting U.S. policy. Simply, UW is the support to a
resistance movement. Historically and most often, the U.S. supported a
semi-organized militarized irregular force -- known in doctrine as a
Guerrilla Force, as part of an insurgency -- such as the U.S. support to the
Afghanistan Northern Alliance in 2001. This is most often due to a foreign
policy decision on when to get involved.
Thus to prepare and train a force to conduct UW writ large, the theoretical
construct must encompass all developmental states of the resistance;
numerous environments, ideologies and circumstances; and account for all
possible paths to a desired end state. The straw man and scenarios
discussed in doctrine are not prescriptive but descriptive of a comprehensive
campaign necessary to explore all possibilities, and their applicability.
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desired end-state. This guide will help commanders and their staffs to find
the relevant information necessary to understand and conduct UW.
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Overthrow: The USG may sponsor UW to overthrow a state or occupying
power when it is intended that the supported successful resistance will
support appropriate leaders for political control and governance. (JP 3-05.1)
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Components of a Resistance
The underground is a cellular organization within the resistance that has the
ability to conduct operations in areas that are inaccessible to guerrillas, such
as urban areas under the control of the local security forces. Examples of
underground functions include: intelligence, counterintelligence (CI)
networks, special material fabrication (example: false identification),
munitions, subversive radio, media networks (newspaper or leaflet print
shops), social media, webpages, logistic networks, sabotage, clandestine
medical facilities, and generation of funding.
The auxiliary refers to that portion of the population that provides active
clandestine support to the guerrilla force or the underground. Members of
the auxiliary are part-time volunteers who have value because of their
normal position in the community. Some functions include: logistics
procurement and distribution, labor for special materials, early warning for
underground facilities and guerrilla bases, intelligence collection
recruitment, communications couriers or messengers, distribution media
and safe house management.
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A guerrilla is an irregular, predominantly indigenous member of a guerrilla
force, organized similarly to military concepts and structure to conduct
military and paramilitary operations in enemy held, hostile, or denied
territory. Guerrillas are neither militias nor mercenary soldiers whose
allegiance is secured solely by payment, nor are they criminal gangs
conducting illegal activities for profit.
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Doctrinal Template for UW
Figure 4. Phase of UW
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Phase 0: Steady State
During the Steady State, the USG conducts Joint or
multinational operations or interagency activities to
dissuade or deter potential adversaries and to
assure or solidify relationships with friends and
allies. These activities (below) normally precede,
sometimes by years, the operations they are
intended to support. .They are critical to establish,
maintain, and reestablish the conditions whereby UW
could be considered as a feasible U.S. strategic option. SOF can conduct
Phase 0 activities continuously and in all operational modes (overt, low
visibility, clandestine, and covert), and can include the full menu of theater
cooperation engagement activities, and all preparation of the environment
(PE) activities.
Activities
• Conduct continual Area Assessments
• Conduct Preparation of the Environment (PE): Civil, Military, Physical,
Virtual Domains
• Identify Threats, and Design and Plan UW Options
• Activities to Legitimize Narratives Supporting U.S. Interests and Potential
Resistance Movements
• Build Internal and External Support for Potential Resistance Movements
• Conduct Activities to Set Conditions for the Introduction of U.S. Forces
into the Area of Operations When Necessary
• Conduct Continual Military Information Support Operations (MISO)
Assessments
• Maintain PR Intelligence Analysis to Support Assisted Recovery
Mechanisms
UW Phase I: Preparation
Preparation must begin with intelligence preparation of
the environment (IPOE) to understand the dynamics
within the populace. UW IPOE includes, but is
not limited to, a thorough analysis of the
resistance force’s strengths, weaknesses,
logistics concerns, level of training and
experience, political or military agendas, factional
relationships, and external political ties. Along with this
data, IOPE requires a thorough target area study. At a minimum, the target
area study includes governmental services, living conditions, and political,
religious, economic, environmental, medical, and educational issues.
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Analysis and planning for transition to civil governance begins, to include
contingency planning for collapse of the adversary government or power
and sudden victory by the resistance.
Activities
• Conduct Continual Area Assessment
• Design, Plan, and Update the UW Campaign
• Gain Access to and Identify Resistance Assets
• Continue Preparation of the Environment (PE): Civil, Military, Physical,
Virtual Domains
• Conduct MISO and Civil Affairs (CA) Support to UW
• Conduct Joint Intelligence Preparation of the Operational Environment
(JIPOE)
• Synchronize Activities with Interagency Partners
• Develop Non-Standard Logistics (NSL) Infrastructure and Plan Support
to Irregular Forces
• Maintain Support Mechanisms
• Maintain/Develop PR Intelligence Analysis to Support Nonconventional
Assisted Recovery (NAR)/Unconventional Assisted Recovery (UAR)
mechanisms
UW Phase V: Buildup
During buildup, the resistance cadre improves the
organization’s clandestine supporting infrastructure to
prepare for expanded offensive operations.
When the organization begins to conduct
operations of wider scope and across a wider
area, many of these operations will draw attention
from counter-guerrilla forces. The organization must
have the supporting clandestine infrastructure to prepare for and sustain
these operations.
Activities
• Grow Resistance Organization:
- Integrate Disparate Resistance Groups
- Increase Recruitment
- Intensify/Advance Training
• Enhance Targeting Capabilities, and Expand Operational Reach and
Effectiveness
• Expand Persistent and Intrusive Reconnaissance and Surveillance (R&S)
Operations
• Intensify MISO Messaging
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• Synchronize Operational Effects with Joint Task Forces, other U.S.
Government Agencies, and Coalition Partners
• Continue to Build PR (NAR/UAR) Architecture
• Expand Logistics Stocks, Support, and Sustainment Capacity
Request for release, transfer and export of SO TTP's will comply with
USSOCOM Directive 350-27. The International Programs Branch (SCSO
J32-IP) is the USSOCOM OPR for SO TTP Transfers. Proposed transfers
are considered on a case-by-case- basis, in consultation with the UW OPR,
and supported by USSOCOM when the transfer results in tangible and
direct benefit to U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives.
Request for release, extraction or dissemination of UW or associated TTP's
are processed through the UW OPR.
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RESOURCES
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DoD activities and operations such as CT, UW, FID, COIN, and stability operations that
involve establishing or re-establishing order in a fragile state or territory.
www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/300007p.pdf
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Doctrine: Joint, Army, and ARSOF Pubs
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Army Doctrine and Training Publications (ADRP)
ADRP 1-03, The Army Universal Task List (AUTL), 02 October 2015
ADRP 1-03 provides the structure and content of the Army Universal Task List (AUTL).
The AUTL is intended to inform all members of the Profession of Arms of what the Army
contributes to the joint force in terms of tasks performed. Additionally, it is intended that
proponent training developers use the AUTL to develop more comprehensive training and
evaluation outline evaluation criteria for collective tasks and proponent combat developers to better
understand the tasks a given unit must perform. The Army Universal Task List (AUTL)
describes what well-trained, well-led, and well-equipped Soldiers do for the Nation. While focused
on the land dimension, abilities of Army forces complement abilities of other Services. The ability
of Army forces to perform tasks builds the credible land power necessary for joint force commanders
to preclude and deter enemy action, win decisively if deterrence fails, and establish a rapid return to
sustained stability.
http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/adrp1_03.pdf
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across the range of military operations. This manual is a continuation of the doctrine established in
the JP 3-05 series, ADP 3-05, ADRP 3-05, and FM 3-05.
The principal audience for FM 3-18 is all members of the profession of arms. Commanders and
staffs of Army headquarters serving as joint task force (JTF) or multinational headquarters
should also refer to applicable joint or multinational doctrine concerning the range of military
operations and joint or multinational forces. Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also
use this publication.
https://armypubs.us.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_c/pdf/fm3_18.pdf
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NAVSPECWARCOM and MARSOC Active, National Guard, and Reserve units, and is
useful to the larger joint and interorganizational environment.
(SIPR ACCESS ONLY)
ATP 3-18.72 (S//NF) Special Forces Personnel Recovery (U), 13 January 2016
ATP 3-18.72 provides the doctrinal framework for U.S. Army special operations forces
(ARSOF) personnel recovery operations from both the perspective of the recovery force, as well as
that of the individual evader. It also provides an explanation of the various personnel recovery
mission tasks, capabilities, limitations, general guidance, and employment techniques at both the
strategic and tactical levels. Prepared under the direction of the Special Forces Doctrine Division,
United States Army Special Operations Center of Excellence, USAJFKSWCS. This
publication outlines the contributions of SF to the theater personnel recovery effort. SF personnel
recovery missions seek to achieve specific, well defined and often sensitive results of strategic or
operational significance. SF personnel recovery missions are conducted in support of their own
operations , when directed by the joint task force commander to support combat search and rescue
(CSAR) operation, when the threat to the recovery force is high enough to warrant the conduct of a
special operation, and when SF are the only forces available or capable.
(SIPR ACCESS ONLY)
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Research and Science
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Human Factors Considerations of Undergrounds in Insurgencies, 25 January 2013
(2nd Ed.)
During the 1950s through the mid-1960s social scientists and military personnel researched
relevant political, cultural, social, and behavioral issues occurring within the emerging nations of
Asia, Africa and Latin America. The Army had a particular interest in understanding the
process of violent social change in order to be able to cope directly or indirectly or indirectly through
assistance and advice with revolutionary actions. This book, Human Factors Considerations of
Undergrounds in Insurgencies, is the second edition to the 1966 book of the same name and delves
deeper into theory and further into background materials and focuses less on operational details.
http://www.soc.mil/ARIS/HumanFactorsS.pdf
Case Study in Guerilla War: Greece During World War II, 1961 (Rev Ed.)
Greece was selected as a logical subject for a pilot study on a guerrilla campaign by this Office for a
number of reasons. Many similarities and cogent analogies exist between the guerrilla war in
Greece in the early 1940’s and those conflicts which have since broken out in other areas. On the
other hand, certain aspects of the Greek situation are unique and of specific value. A study of the
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guerrilla warfare in Greece provides extremely useful insights into various perplexing problems
concerning the exploitation and countering of guerrilla groups.
http://www.soc.mil/ARIS/ARIS_Greece-BOOK-small.pdf
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White Papers, Academic Studies, and Other Articles
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SOF Support to Political Warfare, 29 April 2015, USASOC
This white paper presents the concept of SOF Support to Political Warfare to leaders and
policymakers as a dynamic means of achieving national security goals and objectives. Embracing
the whole-of-government framework with significant targeted military contributions, Political
Warfare enables America’s leaders to undertake proactive strategic initiatives to shape
environments, preempt conflicts, and significantly degrade adversaries’ hybrid and asymmetric
advantages.
https://usasoc.soc.mil/usasoc/g9/co/Shared%20Documents/Forms/Universal%20Columns.aspx?RootF
older=%2Fusasoc%2Fg9%2Fco%2FShared%20Documents%2F01%20White%20Papers%2FCurrent
Unconventional Options for the Defense of the Baltic States: The Swiss Approach
by Jan Osburg, RAND, 2016
This RAND perspective examines how key concepts and elements of the decentralized resistance
approach that was part of Swiss military strategy during the Cold War could also benefit the
defense of the Baltic states.
http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/perspectives/PE100/PE179/RAND_PE17
9.pdf
“Continuity in the Chinese Mind for War,” Jeffrey Hasler, Special Warfare, US
Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, July 2012.
This article asserts the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as an expanding power and
examines Chinese history to consider the continuity of special-warfare stratagem and will
alive in the eternal Chinese military mind. It characterizes Chinese military tradition and
discusses Confucianism, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, and Sun Tzu’s The Art of War,
recommending further study of the PRC, Chinese traditions, and their challenges to
American interests.
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http://www.soc.mil/SWCS/SWmag/archive/SW2503/SW2503ContinuityInTheChineseMi
ndForWar.html
“Crossing the Red Line: Social Media and Social Network Analysis for
Unconventional Campaign Planning,” Seth Lucente and Greg Wilson, Special
Warfare Magazine, Special Operations Command, July 2013
Analysis of considerations in Syria to develop unconventional intervention strategies that
achieve U.S. policy objectives and limit expenditures. Discusses creation of a common operational
picture from which policymakers and SOF military commanders can make informed decisions
using open source, social media, temporal records, geospatial data and relational analysis.
https://static.dvidshub.net/media/pubs/pdf_12346.pdf
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Christophe Fournier, Doctors Without Borders, NATO Speech, December 8, 2009
Fournier explains why Doctors without Borders can never be part of a “military-humanitarian
coalition”, the importance to make a clear distinction between impartial humanitarian actors and
other more partisan aid actors, and finally the harmful consequences on the local population when
this distinction is blurred. This conference was an opportunity to clarify that Doctors without
Borders doesn’t believe in a unity of purpose, but in a mutual understanding with all warring
parties that allows for the deployment of impartial aid operations in order to contain the
devastations of war.
http://www.msf.org/article/nato-speech-christophe-fournier
Books
iGuerilla: Reshaping the Face of War in the 21st Century, 20 May 2015, John
Sutherland
ISBN-10: 1940773105
ISBN-13: 978-1940773100
Author John Sutherland alerts those in the United States and Western Europe to the threat posed
by the modern Salafist-Jihadi insurgency which has infiltrated the West via virtual and physical
means. Sutherland argues that the Wiki-warrior phenomena of armed insurgents empowered by
globalization, information-based technologies, and sophisticated network methodologies are not an
aberration, and represent a grave threat to international security.
Invisible Armies: An Epic History of Guerrilla Warfare from Ancient Times to the
Present, 2013, Max Boot
ISBN-13: 978-0871406880
ISBN-10: 0871406888
Invisible Armies presents an entirely original narrative of warfare, which demonstrates that, far
from the exception, loosely organized partisan or guerrilla are the historical norm.
U.S. Army Special Warfare: Its Origins: Revised Edition, 24 May 2002, Alfred H.
Paddock Jr.
ISBN-10: 0700611770
ISBN-13: 978-0700611775
Special warfare was a key component of American military operations long before Afghanistan
and even before the heroic deeds of the Green Berets. Alfred Paddock's revised edition of his classic
study for two decades the definitive word on the subject honors the fiftieth anniversary of the
organizations responsible for Army special warfare, and serves as a timely reminder of the likely
role such forces can play in combating threats to American national security.
Behind Japanese Lines: With the OSS in Burma, 4 February 2014, Richard Dunlop
ISBN-10: 1626365385
ISBN-13: 978-1626365384
In early 1942, with World War II going badly, President Roosevelt turned to General William
“Wild Bill” Donovan, now known historically as the “Father of Central Intelligence,” with orders
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to form a special unit whose primary mission was to prepare for the eventual reopening of the
Burma Road linking Burma and China by performing guerilla operations behind the Japanese
lines.
The Jedburghs: The Secret History of the Allied Special Forces, France 1944
Paperback – October 10, 2006, Will Erwin
ISBN-10: 1586484621
ISBN-13: 978-1586484620
The story of the Special Forces in World War II has never fully been told before. Information
about them began to be declassified only in the 1980s. Known as the Jedburghs, these Special
Forces were selected from members of the British, American, and Free French armies to be
dropped in teams of three deep behind German lines
Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction, United States Institute for
Peace, November 1, 2009.
ISBN 978-1-60127-033-7
Discusses American Peace-building in developing countries.
http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/guiding_principles_full.pdf
Videos
Defiance (2008)
A historic war drama based on the real-life Bielski Partisans. During World War II (1939-
1945), two Polish Jewish brothers join anti-Nazi freedom fighters in the Białowieża Forest,
straddling the border of Belarus and Poland, where they eventually manage to create a make-shift
town harboring over 1000 Eastern European Jews. Details the tactics used by the Bielski
Partisans to evade and counter-attack anti-partisan police forces and the German military.
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Michael Collins (1996)
Biopic of Michael Collins, Irish revolutionary, veteran of the Easter Rising (1916) against the
British Army, and leader of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) during the Irish War of
Independence (1919-1921). Details Collins' role in the development of the IRA's anti-British
guerrilla tactics; his emergence as one of the era's preeminent Irish political leaders and a key
architect of the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty; and his death during the Irish Civil War (1922-
1923).
Terms
Auxiliary - For the purpose of unconventional warfare, the support element of the
irregular organization whose organization and operations are clandestine in nature
and whose members do not openly indicate their sympathy or involvement with
the irregular movement. (ADRP 3-05)
Denied Area - An area under enemy or unfriendly control in which friendly forces
cannot expect to operate successfully within existing operational constraints and
force capabilities. (JP 3-05)
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Guerrilla Base - A temporary site where guerrilla installations, headquarters, and
some guerrilla units are located. A guerrilla base is considered to be transitory and
must be capable of rapid displacement by personnel within the base. (ATP 3-05.1)
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Nonconventional Assisted Recovery (NAR) - Personnel recovery conducted by
indigenous/surrogate personnel that are trained, supported, and led by special
operations forces, unconventional warfare ground and maritime forces, or other
government agencies’ personnel that have been specifically trained and directed to
establish and operate indigenous or surrogate infrastructures. Also called NAR. (JP
3-50) (Also refer to DODI 3002.04, Nov 17, 2014.)
Personnel Recovery (PR) - The aggregation of military, civil, and political efforts
to recover captured, detained, evading, isolated or missing personnel from
uncertain or hostile environments and denied areas. Personnel recovery may occur
through military action, action by nongovernmental organizations, other U.S.
Government-approved action, and diplomatic initiatives, or through any
combination of these options. Although personnel recovery may occur during
noncombatant evacuation operations (NEOs), NEO is not a subset of personnel
recovery. (DODD 2310.2)
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