Sequestration Cuts Could Seriously Harm Special Operations Forces

A report from the Congressional Research Service highlights how "sequestration-associated force structure cuts have the potential to negatively affect USSOCOM [U.S. Special Operations Command] training and, possibly, operational effectiveness."

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In the report, Andrew Feickert -- a specialist in military ground forces, cites testimony given to the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities by the current USSOCOM Commander -- U.S. Army General Joseph Votel -- regarding "the impact of sequestration on the forces provided by the Services to USSOCOM, which is often referred to as enabling forces.": "Beyond that, as I mentioned, I am very concerned about the impact that it [sequestration] has on the services. The lack of availability of air, ground, especially maritime platforms will affect our readiness and our training exercises and--that we count on to be ready to deal with situations that will affect our operational effectiveness when we are conducting operations. We depend heavily on service-provided capabilities to support us. A good example, of course, is the Navy's helicopter capability that is provided in the past for us, which as it now goes away is a lost -- a service provider capability that we no longer are able to rely on." Specific reference was made in the report to the Navy's FY2016 budget request "to shut down Helicopter Sea Combat Squadrons 84 and 85, the Navy's only dedicated aviation support units for USSOCOM." As Feickert notes:

"Congress might wish to review with the Department of Defense, the Services, and USSOCOM all proposed force structure cuts and their potential impact on USSOCOM training and operations. End strength cuts imposed on the Services could adversely affect the pool of volunteers from which special operators as drawn and these cuts, in addition to impacting special operations units, might also affect the TSOCs [Theater Special Operations Command] and enabling units provided by the Services that support USSOCOM. While on a by-Service basis individual unit cuts might seem innocuous, collectively, they could have a highly detrimental impact on USSOCOM and its ability to support the GCCs [Geographic Combatant Commanders]."

With the Pentagon's budget already down 21 percent since 2008, and projected to decline to nearly 30 percent below the pre-Obama administration peak by the end of this decade, significant challenges lie ahead for meeting USSOCOM's mandates if the cuts are held in place.