Unconventional Warfare Pocket Guide/Doctrinal Template for UW

by the United States Army Special Operations Command

Doctrinal Template for UW

Army doctrine describes ARSOF’s role in UW as phases. ARSOF activities before a presidential finding include shaping or conducting preparation of the environment. The extent of these activities is dependent on Global Combatant Command requirements and ARSOF access and placement. Other DOD terms used to describe this period include steady state, left of bang, and persistent engagement. This document describes this period of time as Phase 0. Since each UW campaign is unique, all phases of UW may not occur, depending upon U.S. objectives, the scale and tempo of the campaign, and the successes and failures of the resistance. Additionally, not all geographic areas where the resistance is active may be in the same phase during a UW campaign.

Steady State
The status quo between nation states as established and maintained by the instruments of national power, regional, and international relations. This state establishes the conditional norm, or default setting which, left unchanged, will predictably continue in the future.

PHASE I
Preparation
Resistance and external sponsors conduct psychological preparation to unify population against established government or occupying power and prepare population to accept U.S. support.

PHASE II
Initial Contact
USG agencies coordinate with allied government-in-exile or resistance leadership for desired U.S. support.

PHASE III
Infiltration
SF team infiltrates operational area, establishes communications with its base, and contacts resistance organization.

PHASE IV
Organization
SF team organizes, trains, and equips resistance cadre. Emphasis is on developing infrastructure.

PHASE V
Buildup
SF team assists cadre with expansion into an effective resistance organization. Limited combat operations may be conducted, but emphasis remains on development.

PHASE VI
Employment
UW forces conduct combat operations until linkup with conventional forces or end of hostilities.

PHASE VII
Transition
UW forces revert to national control, shifting to regular forces or demobilizing.

Figure 4. Phase of UW