Unconventional Warfare Pocket Guide/Resources/Law and Policy

by the United States Army Special Operations Command

Law and Policy

Title 10, U.S. Code, Armed Forces
The baseline US legal authority for UW is in Title 10, USC, Section 167(j). This provision states that UW is one of the activities of USSOCOM.
http://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title10&edition=prelim

Title 22, U.S. Code, Foreign Relations and Intercourse
Essential to understand Chief of Mission authorities to design, plan, and execute UW campaigns and PE activities.
http://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title22&edition=prelim

Title 50, U.S. Code, War and National Defense
Provides presidential authority and limitations in regard to authorizing covert action. Requires the congressional intelligence committees to be kept fully and currently informed of all covert actions which are the responsibility of, are engaged in by, or are carried out for or on behalf of, any department, agency, or entity of the USG.
http://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title50&edition=prelim

Public Law 114-92, Section 1097
Provides a more expansive definition of Unconventional Warfare (UW) that allows activities conducted with an underground, auxiliary, or guerrilla force to meet the threshold for UW.

Executive Order 12333, United States Intelligence Activities, Signed 4 December 1984 [As amended by Executive Orders 13284 (2003), 13355 (2004) and 13470 (2008)]
Lays out roles for various intelligence agencies and provides guidelines for actions of intelligence agencies.
www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/12333.html

Executive Order 13470, 30 July 2008
Amended EO 12333 to strengthen the role of the Director of National Intelligence.
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2008-08-04/pdf/E8-17940.pdf

DoDD 5100.01, Functions of the Department of Defense and Its Major Components, 21 December 2010
Describes organizational relationships within DoD, delineates major functions, supports DoD strategic processes and aligns with the overall goals and priorities of DoD.
www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/510001p.pdf

DoDD 3000.07, Irregular Warfare, 28 August 2014
Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for DoD conduct of IW and development of capabilities to address irregular challenges or threats to national security. IW includes relevant 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

DODI 3002.04, DOD Personnel Recovery—Non-Conventional Assisted Recovery (NAR), 17 November 2014
Establishes policy and assigns responsibilities for NAR as an integral part of personnel recovery in the DoD; Prescribes procedures for the development, planning, and integration of NAR in cooperation with intelligence, special operations, and interagency partners.
www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/300007p.pdf

USSOCOM Directive 525-5 (S//NF) Advanced Special Operations Techniques (U), 14 November 2013
Provides guidance and assigns responsibilities for the conduct of activities using Advance Special Operations Techniques (ASOT) by SOF.
(SIPRNET) https://intelshare.intelink.sgov.gov/sites/usasocg3x/UWpedia/UWLibrary

USSOCOM Directive 525-16 (S//NF) Preparation of the Environment (U), 14 November 2013
Establishes common concepts and provides general guidance for the planning, conduct, and resourcing of PE by SOF. PE includes those actions taken to prepare the operational environment for potential operations.
(SIPRNET) https://intelshare.intelink.sgov.gov/sites/usasocg3x/UWpedia/UWLibrary

USSOCOM Directive 525-89 (S//NF) Unconventional Warfare (U), 31 May 2012
Establishes USASOC as Lead Component for Unconventional Warfare (UW).
(SIPRNET) https://intelshare.intelink.sgov.gov/sites/usasocg3x/UWpedia/UWLibrary

Executive Order, Hostage Recovery Activities, 24 June 2015
Establishes a single USG operational body to coordinate all efforts for the recovery of U.S. nationals taken hostage abroad, with policy guidance coordinated through the National Security Council.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/24/executive-order-and-presidentialpolicy-directive-hostage-recovery

Presidential Policy Directive/PPD-29 U.S. National Taken Hostage Abroad and Personnel Recovery Efforts, 24 June 2015
PPD-29, including its classified annex, supersedes and revokes NSPD-12. This policy directs a renewed, more agile USG response to hostage taking of U.S. nationals and other specified individuals abroad.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2015/06/24/presidential-policy-directivehostage-recovery-activities