In this episode, MAJ Sam Pavolko discusses the changes to Special Operations Civil Affairs Doctrine with a focus towards SOF CA conducting Large-Scale Combat emphasizing multi-domain operations (land, air, space, cyberspace, information, and human). MAJ Pavolko observed a rotation at the National Training Center (NTC) to see firsthand how SOF CA is approaching LSCO and MDO at the tactical and operational levels in the dirt.

About the Guest:

MAJ Sam Pavolko is the current United States Army John F.
Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWC) Civil Affairs Branch Proponent Doctrine Chief. This role focuses on reviewing and revising doctrine to ensure current tactics, techniques and procedures are captured in doctrine as well as the lessons from recent trainings and operations are reflected in doctrine. Prior to this role, MAJ Pavolko has served in various leadership positions in CA to include Company Command, Detachment Command, and roles in the conventional Army.

About the Host:

CPT Weston Rich is a member of SOF Plans at the NTC and
former member of Burro Team, the Special Operations Training Detachment OC/T Team at NTC. Prior to NTC, Weston served as a Detachment Commander with 1st SFG (A) and as an Infantry Officer with 3-509th IN (ABN)/4/25 ID (now part of 2/11 ABN DIV). Following his time at NTC, Weston will attend Carnegie Mellon University with a follow-on assignment to Army Futures Command.

This episode covers:

- SOF CA working with conventional forces; Civil Affairs in competition during the annexation of Crimea in 2014

- The importance of doctrine; improving one’s branch through enhancing and revising doctrine

- Flash to bang inception of a concept to written in doctrine:
21-24 months but requires three successful tests or experiments overseen by USASOC force modernization

- Specific Branch Doctrine must be nested within Joint
publications, Army publications, and USASOC publications

- NTC scenario is deep and wide enough for CA to really dive
into and get significant training from

- The interaction of SOF CA and conventional CA; how important that is to SOF-CF I3; how that interaction and integration looks on the ground

- CA in LSCO: creates multiple dilemmas for the enemy through our civil networks

- The handoff of CA responsibilities and governance between SOF and CF CA; as the battlefield geometry changes and the areas of focus shift responsibilities shift as well

- value of civil information; the criticalness of analyzing and synthesizing information into intelligence that can feed commander’s decision-making process; displaying civil information graphically

- The CTCs, specially NTC, provide
valuable and realistic training to SOF CA and ARSOF holistically

Please like, subscribe, and share these episodes with ARSOF any conventional Soldiers and Leaders to spread the knowledge of ARSOF in LSCO.

To provide feedback please email the host, CPT Rich, at weston.rich@socom.mil.  

Produced, edited, and sound engineering by Micah Popp of
Salty Sounds