chapter 1 - heavy arsoa - maj ken cole - 30 nov 05

7/28/2019 Chapter 1 - Heavy ARSOA - MAJ Ken Cole - 30 Nov 05

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HEAVY ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS AVIATION ASSAULT:STRATEGIC PAST HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. Army

Command and General Staff College in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the

degree

MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE

(Strategy)

by

KENNETH C. COLE, MAJ, USA

B.S., United States Military Academy, West Point, New York, 1994

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas2006

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.


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MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE

THESIS APPROVAL PAGE

Name of Candidate: MAJ Kenneth C. Cole

Thesis Title: HEAVY ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS AVIATION ASSAULT:

STRATEGIC PAST HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

Approved by:

, Thesis Committee Chair

(Major Cory ***X.*** Peterson, ***PhD, Nuclear Fission***)

, Member

(Dr. Christopher R. Gabel, ***PhD History***)

, Member or Consulting Faculty(Mr. Bob ***X.*** Walz, ***PhD Railroad Engineering***)

Accepted this 16th day of June 2006 by:

, Director, Graduate Degree Programs

Robert F. Baumann, Ph.D.

The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student author and do notnecessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or

any other governmental agency. (References to this study should include the foregoing

statement.)

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ABSTRACT

HEAVY ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS AVIATION ASSAULT: STRATEGIC

PAST HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE

***Abstract text is single spaced with blank line between paragraphs with no paragraph

tabs. Abstract text cannot exceed 200 words. Thesis text length is 60-100 pages. Example

of this page is in ST 20-10, page A-8. Copy and paste this text onto the required DTICform SF298, Block 14, from the DTIC homepage:

http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/submitting/how_submit.html

or Army publications site USAPA at:

http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/content/offerings_content.jsp?

contentOID=116369&contentType=1004&P=1&S=1.

An example of a completed SF298 is on page B-21 of ST 20-10 or on Graduate DegreePrograms (GDP) web page on CGSCs private web site.****

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

***Many warriors and scholars contributed to this thesis. My wife rocks. And

my Dad taught me how to write. Thanks and NSDQ.***

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCETHESIS APPROVAL PAGE..............................................................................................ii

ABSTRACT.......................................................................................................................iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS..................................................................................................iv

ACRONYMS.....................................................................................................................vii

***ILLUSTRATIONS***...............................................................................................viii

***TABLES***.................................................................................................................ix

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................1

CHAPTER 2LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................................................13

CHAPTER 3RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................17

CHAPTER 4

ANALYSIS........................................................................................................................18

CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................................21

ILLUSTRATIONS............................................................................................................22

GLOSSARY......................................................................................................................23

APPENDIX A

TITLE OF APPENDIX (SURVEY, FIGURES, ETCETERA).........................................24

APPENDIX B

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY...................................................................................................25

REFERENCE LIST...........................................................................................................26

INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST......................................................................................27

CERTIFICATION FOR MMAS DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT.................................28

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ACRONYMS

ARSOA Army Special Operations Aviation, typically the 160th Special Operations

Aviation Regiment (Airborne)

ARSOF Army Special Operations Forces

HARSOA Heavy Army Special Operations Aviation assault

SF Special Forces

SOAR 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

SOF Special Operations Forces

USASOC United States Army Special Operations Command

USSOCOM United States Special Operations Command (Commonly SOCOM)

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***ILLUSTRATIONS***

Page

viii


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***TABLES***

Page

Table 1.Blank Table with a Title That Is Two Lines in Length Is Too Long for a Title, So

It Needs to Be Shortened...................................................................................................21

IMPORTANT: Please note that on the top row of icons, before zoom box--100%, there is

an icon that is depressed, selected, or toggled on and looks like a paragraph mark.

Selection of this icon shows all the formatting within document including blank spaces--

place cursor on icon and click. Select icon or turn on to show all formatting. Especiallynote the following format of Section Break (right below this paragraph) that is required in

order to change the page numbering of the preliminary pages in centered lowercase

roman numerals to Arabic numerals centered on each page with Heading 1 style. WhenHeading 1 style is selected from the drop-down style box, a new section-page is

automatically created with the correct page numbering, if the bottom Section Break is

intact and the following Heading 1 is retained. Otherwise, the page numbers will need tobe inserted and formatted.

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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

We are disappointed that the mission failed, and saddened at theloss of our eight fellow Americans. But we will not rest until we

have secured release of the hostages. (1998, 149)

Harold Brown, quoted in Crippled Eagle

United States Secretary of Defense Harold Brown made this statement on 25

April 1980. Operation Eagle Claw, the U.S. attempt to rescue its hostages from Iran, had

failed the day prior. Many Americans today remember the failure. Less well-known, the

United States continued planning and preparing to rescue the hostages. In early May,

1980, President Jimmy Carter told General Vaught, Commander of the rescue mission

Joint Task Force, Get ready to go again (Linehan 1998, 158).

Operation Honey Badger, the project that took place after Eagle Claw,

develop[ed] and test[ed] several sets of capabilities and tactics[including] special

training and the fielding of a whole new set of aviation and scout capabilities that were

non-existent in November 1979 (Linehan 1998, 160). Army Special Operations

Aviation (ARSOA), including a heavy assault component (HARSOA), was born.

HARSOA training was performed by Army CH-47C Chinook aircrews, the first modern

use of Army Chinook aircraft in a special operations role. To prepare for the rescue,

Chinook crews performed long range deployments and extensive night time training

exercises. Operation Honey Badger was cancelled upon the release of the hostages in

January 1981. Lessons learned from Eagle Claw, as well as new capabilities developed

and demonstrated during Honey Badger, led the United States Army to develop

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permanent special operations aviation. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

(Airborne) grew from this recognition.

Problems

HARSOA is young: the United States has employed Heavy Army Special

Operations Aviation assault aircraft and specially-trained crews for only 25 years. To

date, no work has accomplished a focused and comprehensive history, coupled with

lessons learned and implications for the future, of HARSOA specifically. No strategic

analysis of Heavy ARSOA exists that includes inception to the present. More broadly, no

work has addressed whether HARSOA is properly pre-positioned (in terms of unit

organizations and locations, aircraft allocation, aircraft quantity, aircraft capabilities,

aircrew training programs, etc.) to respond to national objectives for the foreseeable

future operating environment.

Helicopters are expensive, especially highly-modified, low density special

operations aircraft. Between 1990 and 1995, an incomplete fielding of MH-47E aircraft

(26 fielded vs. 51 originally programmed) led to significant training and resourcing issues

that caused long-term, unpredicted burdens on the 160th Special Operations Aviation

Regiment (Airborne) [SOAR (A)]. The unit is currently fielding a total of 61 MH-47G

airframes, a program that will last until 2011 (James 2005, 1). The fielding process is a

highly complex endeavor, synchronized with the U.S. Armys fielding of another

Chinook variant, the CH-47F (Liles 2004, 11). The United States Army Special

Operations Command (USASOC) intends to create a new MH-47 Chinook battalion

(Feickert 2005, 2). The Congressional Research Service has indicated multiple Issues

for Congress regarding helicopter modernization programs, among them budget and

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Force Structure (Liles 2004, 23-27). Although this report does not single out Chinooks as

an issue, future adjustments in funding priorities could jeopardize the complete fielding.

Research Question

This study will answer the following Primary Research Question: Do the origins

and history of Heavy ARSOA (HARSOA) assault provide insight for future strategic

employment?

Secondary questions include the following: Why didnt the Army have the

medium-range (***define***) rotary wing infiltration mission sooner? Was it not

envisioned, not resourced, or due to interservice rivalries? Why were Chinooks chosen

when the Army began to build a special operations aviation capability? What missions

were they intended to accomplish? Was the inception strategic? Will / how will

HARSOA be relevant to the operational environment in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years? Do

National Strategy documents contemporary with major HARSOA assault employments

provide insight to whether the aircraft use was strategic?

Tertiary questions are: Is the unit is employing the aircraft correctly? Is the unit

training and employing the aircrews correctly? Is the unit employing tactics correctly?

Does the unit teach supported Special Operations Forces (SOF) how to employ heavy

assault correctly? Are they? If no to any of the above, how can the unit affect change

for the better?

Purpose

Heavy assault aircraft, the associated aircrew training programs, and aircraft

employment have undergone dramatic changes since inception; the airframe, which

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began as the CH-47C Chinook in 1980, has progressed through five major modifications

and countless minor modifications into the model currently being fielded, the MH-47G.

This thesis provides reasons for the nation to stay the course and completely field the

MH-47G. This study will be of enduring relevance by contributing to the body of written

work about the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), as well as

providing useful insight and analysis that could benefit unit leaders for the next five to

ten years. Because HARSOA has demonstrated unique and strategic capabilities,

the United States must protect, resource, continually evaluate, and improve its

performance as it fights now and into the future.

Facts and Assumptions

The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) is the only United

States Army Special Operations Aviation unit that employs Chinook airframes. It

maintains four companies of Chinook aircraft. Two companies are part of the 2nd

Battalion, at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, one company is part of 3d Battalion, at Hunter

Army Airfield, Georgia, and a fourth company, E/160 th SOAR, is forward stationed at K2

Airbase, Daegu, Republic of Korea. The company at Hunter flies the MH-47D airframe,

while the remaining three companies fly MH-47E airframes. There are distinct and

important differences between the airframes. Several airframes of both types have been

lost through the years, during peacetime and combat actions, without replacement.

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is currently fielding the

MH-47G airframe to the 160th SOAR. Additionally, SOCOM plans to stand up another

battalion, 4-160th, on the west coast at Fort Lewis, Washington. Meanwhile, the unit is

engaged in both Operations Enduring and Iraq Freedom (and has sustained combat

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operations continuously since October 2001, an unprecedented length of time for

ARSOA).

This study assumes that there are strategic roles, missions, and capabilities that

can be found in the inception and historical employment of Heavy ARSOA assault, and

that lessons learned from these can be applied to the future. The general thrust of the

argument is that the nation should reinforce the demonstrated success of HARSOA.

Background: Inception and Early Events

Officially, the 160th began with the formation of the 160th Aviation Battalion on

16 October 1981. Initially, Chinook crews conducted forward area refueling of other

aircraft. However, this original mission expanded rapidly and dramatically when the

hostages were released and the unit continued training and growing. A great deal of

mystery surrounds the standup of the unit encompassing 1980 1983. This paper will

attempt to shed light on the mystery.

The unit also suffered from numerous accidents during this time. Pushing the

envelope with new techniques and equipment, many 160th aviators and crew members

(later known as Night Stalkers) were lost in training accidents. A Blue Ribbon Panel

convened (***ca. 1983***) to recommend immediate solutions. A discussion of primary

lessons learned will be in order. Unit implementation of the panels recommendations

solidified the future of the unit (Gray, Weigant 2001).

Since the inception of HARSOA, the airframes and aircrews have often been

employed in strategic roles. The creation of the Army special operations heavy assault

capability filled a strategic void. Given newly-fielded asymmetric equipment, such as

PVS-5 night vision goggles, as well as demanding training profiles, heavy assault SOA

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aircrews began developing strategic capabilities not envisioned when the unit stood up.

Major operations and relevant events are introduced in the following paragraphs. Heavy

assault employment from Operation Honey Badger to the present will focus on roles,

missions, and capabilities at the strategic level.

Strategic Roles

Rapid Combat Power Projection

HARSOA is unique. HARSOAs strategic ability to rapidly project combat

power is the most important reason the United States employs Rapid combat power

projection is defined as the ability to rapidly task organize, deploy, and conduct special

operations aviation support of the nations special operations forces. Aircraft may self-

deploy or deploy via strategic airlift (C17 or C5).

During Operation Just Cause, from December 1989 January 1990, HARSOA

aircrews self-deployed and rapidly transitioned to combat operations. HARSOA heavy

assault successfully demonstrated the utility of aerial refueling to accomplish a long-

range self-deployment. CW5 Steve Knight was the 160ths Standardization Instructor

Pilot when he wrote the below (1995):

The actions during the hostilities in Panama required long range helicopters and

by December 1989, E/160 was ready. Three probed MH-47Ds and their crews

deployed directly from Fort Campbell, KY, arriving at Howard AFB, Panamaafter flying for 15 hoursThis was the first self deployment by Army helicopters

from their home base directly into a combat zone. They arrived in Panama

flyable and ready to fight. The crews slept, briefed, and were back in the aircraft

16 hours after arrival, preparing to execute their H-hour mission. Air refuelingplayed a vital role during Operation Just Cause, with many of E/160s missions

requiring the procedure.

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Strategic Missions

Long Range, Covert Infiltration/Exfiltration/Resupply of SOF

The primary mission of HARSOA is to conduct long-range, covert infiltration,

exfiltration, and resupply of Special Operations Forces. HARSOA has been employed in

this role in each of the nations last three major conflicts. During Operations Desert

Shield and Desert Storm, from August 1990 April 1991, heavy assault aircrews

participated in the hunt for the Iraqi regimes SCUD missiles, and conducted a wide

variety of special operations missions.

During Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan (OEF-A), from October 2001

to the present, HARSOA has participated in an enormous spectrum of operations.

OEF-A provides an excellent example of how the aircrews rapidly shift between the

strategic operational tactical levels of war.

During Operation Enduring Freedom Philippines (OEF-P), in 2002, the 160th

demonstrated worldwide flexibility. Simultaneously with OEF- A, 160th HARSOA

aircrews supported combined and joint special operations forces in the Philippines

against Abu Sayyaf rebels.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), from 2003 to the present, ARSOA heavy

assault has been employed. Analysis of OIF will be covered in the classified addendum.

Strategic Capabilities

Worldwide Strategic Mobility

In Operation Assured Response, which took place in April 1996, HARSOA

successfully demonstrated . This operation was a Special Operations Command Europe

(SOCEUR) non combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in Liberia. To support the

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operation, aircrews again conducted teardowns and buildups on short notice, successfully

evacuating hundreds of non-combatants.

Long Range / Adverse Weather Capabilities

Operation Mount Hope III, which took place from May - June 1988, was a short

notice mission in Africa. Two MH-47D aircraft were disassembled and loaded onto C-5

heavy lift aircraft, and then flown to an airfield in NDjamena, Chad. In Chad,

maintenance crews rebuilt the aircraft. Led by CW4 Juergen Stark, the crews

successfully conducted a nighttime, long-range flight (including through an unpredicted

sandstorm) to recover a Russian Mi-24 Hind helicopter (Dolan 2001). This successful

mission demonstrated one thing: the flexibility and capability of special operations

aviators, aircrews, and maintainers. Together, the unit accomplished a strategic mission

with enormous intelligence value to the United States (Dolan 2001).

Crew Proficiency in A Wide Variety Of Environments And Mission Tasks

During Operation Uphold Democracy, in September 1994, HARSOA staged from

aircraft carrierUSS America. The mission was not executed, however, HARSOA

demonstrated the ability to successfully plan and operate from an oceangoing vessel.

Ability to Task Organize

During Operations Desert Thunder and Desert Fox, which occurred in February

1998 and January 1999, respectively, HARSOA demonstrated its ability to rapidly task

organize and conduct personnel recovery and other special operations aviation missions.

According to Ronald Dolan,

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In January 1998, Saddam Husseins Iraqi regime began harassing United Nations

inspectors in their hunt for weapons of mass destruction and other weapons

prohibited by the UN accords. At the same time, United States forcesparticipating in the coalition force in Operation Southern Watch also encountered

Iraqi hostility. This led to Operation DESERT THUNDER, which involved

increased air strikes and a greater likelihood that aircraft could be shot down. TheSecond Battalion, 160th SOAR (A) was assigned the mission of providing

personnel recovery aircraft for any downed air crews in high threat areas. Later,

the Second Battalion, 160th SOAR (A) also was assigned the mission of planningfor special reconnaissance (2001).

Quality of Training Programs

Green Platoon was and still is the primary training program for all of the 160ths

newly assessed and selected personnel. Green Platoon grew out of the Blue Ribbon

Panels recommendations. Green Platoon has changed dramatically through the years in

conjunction with changes in equipment and requirements.

The 160th pursues an aggressive training schedule all over the world. The study

will evaluate strategic-level exercises and lessons learned. Outside the continental United

States (OCONUS) Training Exercises, such as Foal Eagle, Bright Star, Talisman Saber,

Cobra Gold, etc. are cogent. Other significant training events also occur within the

continental United States (CONUS), such as at the Joint Readiness Training Center

(JRTC), National Training Center (NTC), and Joint Force Exercises (JTFEX).

Aircraft modifications

The 160th has a unique organization, the Systems Integration Management Office

(SIMO), that rapidly fields new equipment to the units aircraft fleet. LTC Greg Stewart

and Mr. Tory Eides article, 20 years of Army special-operations aviation

modernization, provides an excellent discussion of how the unit progressed from CH-

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47C airframes to the MH-47E currently in use. The 160ths ability to rapidly test and

field new equipment

Definition of Terms

This paper regularly uses several terms that may be unfamiliar to the reader.

Terms are defined below in alphabetical order.

ARSOA Army Special Operations Aviation Regiment; the 160th Special Operations

Aviation Regiment (Airborne)

ARSOF Army Special Operations Forces

HARSOA New term for this paper. Shorthand for Heavy ARSOA assault. The termcollectively includes Army Special Operations Aviation Chinook aircraft, as well as the

crews who fly and maintain them.

Heavy Assault For the purpose of this study, heavy assault refers to Chinook aircraft.***A definition in accordance with Army aviation doctrine is in order here.***

***Long range The V-22 is supposed to do this.

Medium range MH-47s do this.***

Night Stalker A member of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

Pre-positioned In the context of this paper, the term pre-positioned refers to whether

a capability (specifically, ARSOA heavy assault) is organized, located, allocated,resourced, and training correctly internally and externally

SF Special Forces

SOAR 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

SOF Special Operations Forces

***Strategic employment Comprehensive, quality definition required***

USASOC United States Army Special Operations Command

USSOCOM United States Special Operations Command, commonly SOCOM

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Limitations

The subject matterHeavy Army Special Operations Aviation assaultcould fill

a full-scale book. However, time will only permit construction of a thesis. Much cogent

information, mostly classified documents, exists in safes at the following locations:

MacDill Air Force Base, Fort Campbell, Hunter Army Airfield, Fort Bragg, and Daegu,

Korea. It is likely that the author will not have the time or funds necessary to dig

through the safes to acquire this information.

Scope and Delimitations

This study is limited to Heavy Army Special Operations Aviation, primarily

Chinook aircraft and aircrews. The studys focus is on thematic, strategic lessons

learned. Additionally, the author is not acquisition corps trained or qualified: an in-depth

analysis of aircraft numbers by airframe type and phased fielding plans will be limited to

historical highlights. Air Force Special Operations Aviation is beyond the scope of this

paper. Other components of ARSOA, such as light and medium assault, are beyond the

scope of this study, but will be covered when appropriate. Finally, while it is likely that

Chinook crews performed specific special operations during the war in Vietnam, the

timeframe prior to 1980 is beyond the scope of this study.

Significance, Summary, and Conclusions

No other nation possesses the strategic capability of United States heavy ARSOA

assault aircrews and aircraft. The ability of the aircrews to shift rapidly between tactical

and strategic employment contributes to the national importance of ARSOA heavy

assault aircraft and must continue to receive high national priority. The 160th did not

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receive the full complement of originally requested MH-47E aircraft, resulting in

strategic-level issues that could have been prevented. The unit is currently fielding the

MH-47G aircraft. The program must continue to receive full funding priorities until

complete. HARSOA is a low-density, high demand, strategic asset with proven success.

It must remain that way, as well as stay above the political fiscal cut line over the long

term. Because HARSOA has demonstrated unique and strategic capabilities, the United

States must protect, resource, continually evaluate, and improve its performance as it

fights now and into the future. Chapter 2 will review the unclassified literature.

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CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

***50% Draft***

Introduction, Purpose, and Organization

The study will analyze current national strategy documents to determine whether

SOARs current and projected heavy assault capabilities will meet those demands. Most

information is now available in open sources, such as Briscoe, et. al.s book,ARSOF in

Afghanistan Weapon of Choice. Classified source information will be included in the

classified addendum.

Current State of Publications

Most of the quality unclassified scholarship on ARSOA in general, as well as

ARSOA heavy assault specifically, is presented in professional magazines such as Army

Aviation and Special Warfare. A few books written over the past two decades include

relevant and factual (but normally broad) information about the formation and history of

the 160th SOAR. A great deal of articles and books contain erroneous, misleading, and

factually incorrect information. A secondary intent of this paper is to dispel some of the

misinformation that abounds.

Key Works in Field

The following sources are a small sample of available, quality, unclassified

documents on the 160th SOAR. Annotations are included.

Briscoe, Charles H., Richard L. Kiper, James A. Schroeder, and Kalev I. Sepp. Weapon

of Choice U.S. Army Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan. Fort

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Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press, October 2003.

This book is an extraordinary piece of scholarship, based on extensive interviewsof the special operations forces who won the war against the Taliban.

Dolan, Ronald E. A History of the 160th

Special Operations Aviation Regiment(Airborne). Washington: Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, under

an Interagency Agreement with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

(Airborne), October 2001. Available from http://www.nightstalkers.com/history.Internet. Accessed 17 Sep 05.

This 25-page article, written basically in celebration of the units 20-year history,

is the best and most comprehensive unclassified history of the 160th SOAR (A).

Hearings Before the Committee on Armed Services, United States Senate. One Hundred Second

Congress. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1991.

This document contains the testimony of special operations leaders regarding the

performance of special operations aviation in Desert Storm.

Knight, Steve, CW5. Aerial Refueling. Army Aviation. Westport, CT: Army

Aviation Association of America, 31 July 1995.

This professional magazine article is written by one of the men who blazed the

trail of ARSOA heavy assault tactics, techniques, and procedures. It contains a superb,

short analysis of the history of Army aviations aerial refueling.

Lenahan, Rod. Crippled Eagle A Historical Perspective of U.S. Special Operations,

1976 1996. Charleston: Narwhal Press, 1998.

This book was an excellent find. The author served as the J-2 (Intelligence

Officer) for Joint Task Force 1-79, the JTF in charge of the Iran hostage rescue mission.He details lessons learned from Eagle Claw, Operation Honey Badger, and subsequent

events.

Gray, Sidney J., III, and Weigandt, Charles W. The 160th SOAR: 20 years of Armyspecial-operations aviation. Special Warfare. Fort Bragg: Summer 2001. Vol.

14, Iss. 3, p. 6-11.

This article is another outstanding history of the 160 th SOAR, albeit a bit shorter

that Dolans. Published in Special Warfare in conjunction with the Regiments 20-year

history.

Partin, John W. and Captain Rob Rhoden. Operation Assured Response: SOCEURS

NEO in Liberia. September 1997.

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This book represents one of the few official works by a Special Operation

Command available in an unclassified forum. It contains an excellent, hour-by-hour,day-by-day account of the NEO operations.

Smith, Douglas I., LTC. Army Aviation in Operation JUST CAUSE. Carlisle Barracks,PA: Army War College, 15 April 1992.

This individual study project is a comprehensive description of United StatesArmy aviations accomplishments, lessons learned, and statistics from Operation Just

Cause.

Stewart, Greg, and Thorwald Eide. 20 years of Army special-operations aviationmodernization. Special Warfare. Fort Bragg: Summer 2001. Vol. 14, Iss. 3, p.

28-31.

Along with the Gray and Weigandt article from the same issue ofSpecialWarfare, this article presents a comprehensive review of each of the 160 ths airframe

history of modernization.

United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. Rescue Mission Report. August 1980.

This is the unclassified version of the Holloway Commission report, created

immediately following the failed Iranian hostage rescue attempt. It sets the context for

the entire study.

USSOCOM History, 15th Anniversary. Fort Bragg, NC: USSOCOM, April 2002.

Published by the United States Special Operations Command, this is one of thefew unclassified historical documents available from that headquarters. It presents a

good review of the history of SOCOM and highlights many major missions in which

ARSOA heavy assault aircraft were involved.

Trends / Patterns in Scholarship

There is very little academic-quality scholarship related to heavy ARSOA heavy

assault. There is, however, a broad collection of unclassified literature, mainly in

periodicals such as Special Warfare andArmy Aviation. All relevant extant works

provide valuable contextto the project, and will assist with determining whether any

trends exist, especially when it comes to predicting future requirements for heavy

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ARSOA assault. When the literature refers to heavy ARSOA assault, it is normally

within the context of a broader history. The study will fill a void by providing the first

comprehensive review of heavy ARSOA assault. One-on-one interviews will provide

clarification and further depth to the study. Classified documents also exist in safes at the

160th and USASOC. If possible, some of this material may be included in a classified

addendum to the study.

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CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

***I am beginning a comprehensive review of National Security Strategic

documents beginning in 1977. Review is ongoing.***

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CHAPTER 4

ANALYSIS

Important Notes

1. Military dates are used throughout the whole thesis.

2. Do not use contractions (ST 20-10 2004, 32).

3. Black font is used--no color coding.

4. Thesis is written in third person, avoid use of first and second person (I, me,

my, we, our, and us) (ST 20-10, 32).

5. No bold is used.

6. Active hyperlinks are not used--right click with mouse on active hyperlink

and delete the active link. Spaces are inserted in web addresses where needed to fill lines,

so that a line of text is not just partially filled--https:www/cgsc/dgdp/mmas/faculty/

tempconsultingfaculty/army/mil.

7. Operations are not typed in all capital letters--Operation Desert Storm.

8. Titles of published sources and periodical are in italics, instead of underlining.

And use italics for quotations only if the original quotation is in italics.

9. Do not use superscribe function for 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th.

10. Turn on the Show/Hide icon, the paragraph mark on the top tool bar above; it

will show where the breaks and special characters are.

11. Increasing the zoom size to 125 percent makes working on endnotes easier to

be sure spacing and punctuation are correct--Ibid., 10.

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12. Use the paintbrush icon on second row to copy a format and paste that format.

One click on paintbrush and paintbrush good for one format. Double click on paintbrush

and multiple copying of format may be done. Almost all icons are toggle on and off.

13. Slash / (slash) is not used in text--only used in math formula, write out either

or both.

14. Icons for single line and double line spacing and Insert Endnote Now have

been added on third row of icons.

Acronyms

General rule is make only long terms and terms used six-plus times acronyms.

Spell the term out the first time it is used, from then on just the acronym is used.

Numerous acronyms in text require an acronym list be included in front pages of thesis

(example on page vii).

Ellipsis Points and Dash

Ellipsis Points. Example of ellipsis points in middle of sentence . . . and at the

end of a quoted sentence. . . . This is the next sentence (Turabian 1996, 80-81). Do not

use automated ellipsis points because the spacing is not correct. Be sure to see When

Not to Use Ellipsis Points (Turabian 1996, 82, para. 5.27)

Copyrights

Please be aware of copyright laws and see Alice King, CARL, room 118, 758-

3018, to obtain copyrights. CGSC pays for copyright requests.

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Acronyms

General rule is make only long terms and terms used six-plus times acronyms.

Spell the term out the first time it is used, from then on just the acronym is used.

Numerous acronyms in text require an acronym list be included in front pages of thesis.

Ellipsis Points and Dash

Ellipsis Points. Example of ellipses in middle of sentence . . . and at the end of a

quoted sentence. . . . This is the next sentence (Turabian 1996, 80-81). Do not use

automated ellipsis points because the spacing will not be correct. Be sure to see When

Not to Use Ellipsis Points (Turabian 1996, 82).

Dash: This is an example of a dash--two hyphens and no spaces. Do not use the

em dash for a dash.

Surveys

Surveys must be approved by QAO and included, with approval number stamped

on it by OAQ, in final thesis.

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CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusions

Is it conclusion or conclusions? The TOC will have your correct chapter title but

be sure Heading 1 and Subheading 1s are both singular or plural.

Recommendations

1. Check usage of words: effect (noun--result or outcome or verb--cause or bring

about); affect (verb--change or alter); principle (noun--doctrine, law); principal

(adjective--chief or most important).

2. Look up words with hyphens in a new dictionary. Most words with prefixes are

now one word--there are lists for most common prefixes in dictionary. Cease-fire, mind-

set, airpower, and pre-position and preposition--different meanings--are there too.

3. Use the Edit function above in top bar for checking your spaces after periods,

etc., and for a lot of other checks too. Use Edit function to check acronyms against

spelled out words, to see if all beginning quotation marks have an ending one, etc. Check

for use of words I, me, we, us, our, etc.--since you are avoiding use of first and second

person (ST 20-10 2002, 31).

Table 1. Blank Table with a Title That Is Two Lines in Length Is Too Long for a Title,

So It Needs to Be Shortened

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ILLUSTRATIONS

All figures may be grouped into a collection of illustrations and placed at the end

of thesis if there are no appendixes to the thesis. If there are appendixes then the figures

are numbered and placed in a lettered appendix with title of ILLUSTRATIONS.

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GLOSSARY

Glossary. This is the format or style for a glossary. There is an example of a glossary in

Turabian on page 271. Glossary items are in alphabetical order. Notice in style

box the use of the style Glossary Terms.

Next term. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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APPENDIX A

TITLE OF APPENDIX (SURVEY, FIGURES, ETCETERA)

All surveys must be approved by QAO, and final thesis must have survey

included with approved survey number stamped on it by QAO.

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APPENDIX B

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

The author served in the 160th

Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)

since January 1997. He served in two of the units three battalions, as well as each of the

units four Chinook companies, twice as a platoon leader, once as a company

commander, and in assorted primary and assistant staff positions. The unit has already

indicated that he will return for a second company command in the summer of 2006.

He participated in multiple peacetime deployments, as well as numerous combat

deployments to Operation Enduring Freedom. He witnessed enormous change in the unit

and knows the unit will continue to change. His intent and motivation for this MMAS

thesis is to remain relevant and informed as an ARSOA heavy assault leader, and to

contribute to the body of written work about the unit. Ultimately, the intent of this thesis

is to provide useful insight and analysis that could benefit unit leaders for the next five to

ten years. In particular, this thesis intends to pre-empt any attacks on the total fielding of

the MH-47G.

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REFERENCE LIST

Authors last name, first and middle initial, first name middle initial last name, and first

name middle initial last name (3 authors--reverse order of only first name). Year.

Book title italicized and capitalized sentence style. City, State of publisher: Nameof publisher, day month (see Turabian Chapters 10, 11, and 12 for examples of

RL).

.Book title. Year. City, State: publisher, date. (This is an entry with the exact

same author(s) as above.)

Turabian, Kate L. 1996.A manual for writers. 6th ed.Chicago: University of Chicago

Press.

ST 20-10. 2003. See U.S. Army. Command and General Staff College. 2003. (This is anexample of a cross reference for the following entry--document number used

instead of author in parenthetical references in text.)

U.S. Army. Command and General Staff College. 2003. ST 20-10,Master of military art

and science (MMAS) research and thesis. Ft. Leavenworth, KS: USA CGSC,

July.

Authors last name, first and middle initial, and second authors first name middle initiallast name. Year. Magazine article title with no quotation marks and capitalized

sentence style.Periodical title in italics and capitalized, day month, page

number(s)--all periodicals must have page number(s).

Authors name. Year. Journal title with no quotation marks and capitalized sentencestyle. Title of journal in italics # (vol), no. # (series no) (day month): page nos.

Name of institution or organization as author. Year. Unpublished source title. Type ofsource (thesis, interview, etc.), organization, location, day month.

See chapters 10, 11, and 12 of Turabian for format of parenthetical references andreference list. Chapter 12 contains examples for government documents. Please notice

that the above entries have a built-in style--Reference List Text. This style uses the

handing indent and spaces entries correctly. This is one long alphabetized list by author.

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INITIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST

Combined Arms Research Library

U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

250 Gibbon Ave.Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-2314

Defense Technical Information Center/OCA825 John J. Kingman Rd., Suite 944

Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-6218

Chair

Department

USACGSC1 Reynolds Ave.

Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-1352

First ReaderDepartment

USACGSC

1 Reynolds Ave.Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-1352

Second ReaderDepartment

USACGSC

1 Reynolds Ave.Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027-1352

List all others you are going to provide copies of your thesis (provided your thesis is

distribution A)

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CERTIFICATION FOR MMAS DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT

1. Certification Date: 16 June 2006

2. Thesis Author:

3. Thesis Title:

4. Thesis Committee Members:

Signatures:

5. Distribution Statement: See distribution statements A-X on reverse, then circle appropriate

distribution statement letter code below:

A B C D E F X SEE EXPLANATION OF CODES ON REVERSE

If your thesis does not fit into any of the above categories or is classified, you must coordinate

with the classified section at CARL.

6. Justification: Justification is required for any distribution other than described in Distribution

Statement A. All or part of a thesis may justify distribution limitation. See limitation justification

statements 1-10 on reverse, then list, below, the statement(s) that applies (apply) to your thesis

and corresponding chapters/sections and pages. Follow sample format shown below:

EXAMPLE

Limitation Justification Statement / Chapter/Section / Page(s)

Direct Military Support (10) / Chapter 3 / 12

Critical Technology (3) / Section 4 / 31

Administrative Operational Use (7) / Chapter 2 / 13-32

Fill in limitation justification for your thesis below:

Limitation Justification Statement / Chapter/Section / Page(s)

/ /

/ /

/ /

/ // /

7. MMAS Thesis Author's Signature:

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STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. (Documents with this statement

may be made available or sold to the general public and foreign nationals).

STATEMENT B: Distribution authorized to U.S. Government agencies only (insert reason and date ON

REVERSE OF THIS FORM). Currently used reasons for imposing this statement include the following:

1. Foreign Government Information. Protection of foreign information.

2. Proprietary Information. Protection of proprietary information not owned by the U.S.

Government.

3. Critical Technology. Protection and control of critical technology including technical data with

potential military application.

4. Test and Evaluation. Protection of test and evaluation of commercial production or military

hardware.

5. Contractor Performance Evaluation. Protection of information involving contractor performance

evaluation.

6. Premature Dissemination. Protection of information involving systems or hardware frompremature dissemination.

7. Administrative/Operational Use. Protection of information restricted to official use or for

administrative or operational purposes.

8. Software Documentation. Protection of software documentation - release only in accordance

with the provisions of DoD Instruction 7930.2.

9. Specific Authority. Protection of information required by a specific authority.

10. Direct Military Support. To protect export-controlled technical data of such military

significance that release for purposes other than direct support of DoD-approved activities may jeopardize a

U.S. military advantage.

STATEMENT C: Distribution authorized to U.S. Government agencies and their contractors: (REASON

AND DATE). Currently most used reasons are 1, 3, 7, 8, and 9 above.

STATEMENT D: Distribution authorized to DoD and U.S. DoD contractors only; (REASON ANDDATE). Currently most reasons are 1, 3, 7, 8, and 9 above.

STATEMENT E: Distribution authorized to DoD only; (REASON AND DATE). Currently most used

reasons are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.

STATEMENT F: Further dissemination only as directed by (controlling DoD office and date), or higher

DoD authority. Used when the DoD originator determines that information is subject to special

dissemination limitation specified by paragraph 4-505, DoD 5200.1-R.

STATEMENT X: Distribution authorized to U.S. Government agencies and private individuals ofenterprises eligible to obtain export-controlled technical data in accordance with DoD Directive 5230.25;

(date). Controlling DoD office is (insert).