9/11 And Canadian Special Operations Forces: How ‘40 Selected Men’ Indelibly Influenced The Future Of The Force
9/11 And Canadian Special Operations Forces: How ‘40 Selected Men’ Indelibly Influenced The Future Of The Force

Author: Lt.-Col Stephen J. Day

Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing

Published: 2014-08-15

Total Pages: 125

ISBN-13: 1782895116

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In less than two decades, Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOF) grew from a 100-man hostage-rescue unit to a 2,500-person Command capable of prosecuting missions across the special operations spectrum. The seminal event causing this transformation is examined within this monograph. The common narrative explaining the rise of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) states that 9/11 is the seminal event. Herein, a new narrative is proposed. One that posits the 2001-02 deployment of a 40-man CANSOF Task Force to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is the seminal event. This Task Force’s disproportionately positive impact on the Canadian national scene caused key national actors to take note of the strategic utility of special operations forces. Twenty-four interviews with defence and security subject matter experts from the political, federal public service, military and academic domains, as well as two leading Canadian national journalists provide unique insights into CANSOF’s ascendancy. Analyzing published defence policy since World War II and Canada’s 20-year experience with her national counter-terrorism task force prove two key points. First, defence policy is extant, consistently expressing the requirement for an irregular capability for the conduct of operations in asymmetrical environments. Therefore, 9/11 did not change Government of Canada (GoC) expectations per se. Second, the one-year CANSOF OEF commitment produces a highly positive national strategic effect for the GoC. As a result, in less than a decade CANSOF transitions from a single, domestically focused, national counter-terrorism task force to where today CANSOFCOM is employed as a distinct element of national military power. This transformation from a single strategic resource to a strategically relevant, ‘hard power’ option currently provides the GoC with greater strategic choice when she looks to deploy military forces alongside her allies.

Casting Light on the Shadows
Casting Light on the Shadows

Author: Bernd Horn

Publisher: Dundurn

Published: 2007-02-28

Total Pages: 326

ISBN-13: 1459706250

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Special Operations Forces (SOF) have never been an integral element of Canada's military capability. Although units have existed periodically throughout the country's history, they have always been in the shadows. However, the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001, changed that. In the aftermath of 9/11, SOF became the force of choice. Casting Light on the Shadows consists of a series of essays on SOF-related issues written by individuals with specialized knowledge and expertise in the field. As well as providing a solid foundation for SOF theory, historical background, and evolution, the book also highlights ongoing developments in SOF.

Casting Light on the Shadows Canadian Perspectives on Special Operations Forces
Casting Light on the Shadows Canadian Perspectives on Special Operations Forces

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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Special Operations Forces (SOF) have never been an integral element of Canada's military capability. Although units have existed periodically throughout the country's history, they have always been in the shadows. However, the terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2001, changed that. In the aftermath of 9/11, SOF became the force of choice. Casting Light on the Shadows consists of a series of essays on SOF-related issues written by individuals with specialized knowledge and expertise in the field. As well as providing a solid foundation for SOF theory, historical background, and evolution, the book also highlights ongoing developments in SOF.

Choice of Force
Choice of Force

Author: Queen's University (Kingston, Ont.). School of Policy Studies

Publisher: Published for the School of Policy Studies, Queen's University by McGill-Queen's University Press

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 336

ISBN-13:

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Twenty years from now, security issues may dictate that counter-terrorism is more important than operations to secure stability and rule of law. Security at the border, ethnic demography, and the perspective of the next generation will determine what strategic choices Canada will make about special military operations and the elite forces developed to carry out special missions. In Choice of Force military and academic researchers survey what political and bureaucratic leaders expect of special operations and analyse contemporary operations, new challenges, and the factors that will shape special operations in the coming decades.

U.S. Special Operations Command
U.S. Special Operations Command

Author: Tom Greve

Publisher: Carson-Dellosa Publishing

Published: 2018-11-30

Total Pages: 35

ISBN-13: 1643698230

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How Does The U.S. Monitor And Capture Their Enemies? Learn About The Responsibilities Of The Cia And The FBI. Integrates Text Features Such As Maps And Timelines.

We Will Find a Way
We Will Find a Way

Author: Bernd Horn

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 9780660275420

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'This publication is intended to provide individuals with background knowledge on Canada’s Special Operations and Special Operations Forces (SOF) legacy. Prior to 9/11, the global narrative of Special Operations Forces (SOF) had largely been relegated to the margins of the historical record. Yet, with the more visible employment of SOF in the War on Terror waged in Afghanistan, Iraq and other parts of the world, SOF have been increasingly removed from the shadows'--Foreword, p. i.

Special Operations Forces
Special Operations Forces

Author: Emily Spencer

Publisher: Canadian Museum of Civilization/Musee Canadien Des Civilisations

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13:

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In order to expand the dialogue of Canadian Special Operations Forces and their unique range of capabilities with their partners within the defence community, the media and the Canadian public, a symposium was held at the Royal Military College of Canada in 2010. This volume represents an amalgam of the presentations and ideas that were put forward by scholars and military practitioners in order to both educate, as well as create, discourse on the subject of SOF. Beginning with the Canadian SOF legacy and how it has evolved to meet the nation's needs, it moves on to look at crucial components of force develpment and ways in which SOF help to shape the area of operations. It explores important issues such as the role of SOF as an economy of effort/economy of force option in the contemporary operating environment as well as the budding media-SOF relationship.

The Evolving Requirements of the Canadian Special Operations Forces: A Future Concept Paper
The Evolving Requirements of the Canadian Special Operations Forces: A Future Concept Paper

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 29

ISBN-13:

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Colonel Paul Taillon's paper suggests new directions for Canadian Special Operations Forces (CANSOF), propelled mainly by the demands of the international environment since the September 11, 2001 attack in New York City. This is of special interest as Canadian forces must both face up to new threats from extremists who use terrorism to advance their interests, and deal with limitations on the size of their security forces. Indeed, the Canadian Armed Forces have sustained a significant negative growth in the last 20 years, placing this significant ally somewhere between Singapore and Uzbekistan in military personnel strength. Though small in size, the Canadian military has been lion-hearted in taking on the democratic world's most demanding security challenges: Canadians have deployed to Afghanistan, Rwanda, Haiti, and even Yugoslavia. Dr. Taillon discusses a way forward for Canada to expand its force and significantly improve its capabilities through a focused military education system that mutually supports the missions of CANSOF and conventional forces. This is a tall order and Dr. Taillon prudently highlights the current fiscal and force size constraints on the Canadian Armed Forces. He suggests that the Canadian Armed Forces revisit the issue of recruiting citizens for SOF service, placing strong emphasis on talent-spotting in colleges, among ethnic groups, and within specialized civilian career fields. He also advances the concept of a robust CANSOF reserve to augment the forces now decisively engaged in support of Canada's interests. From a U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) perspective, understanding potential coalition SOF partners' capabilities is a critical element in developing joint strategic and operational plans. Taillon's paper provides insight into current issues that are certain to impact Canadian SOF while suggesting some issues for USSOCOM to think about as it launches new programs for education and force transition.