Special Forces Capabilities of the European Union Military Forces

Since 1999, the European Union has significantly increased its effort to create a viable military force. A natural part of a military force in the contemporary environment is Special Operations Forces. The purpose of this monograph is to determine what Special Forces capabilities are required by the European Union 's military forces. The European Union 's commitment, in 1999, to the established Helsinki Headline Goals outlined that a European military force shall be used in the framework of the Petersberg Tasks. These tasks are the missions and environment upon which the framework this monograph is based. Deduced and described from Special Operation Forces theory, special operations are distinguished from unconventional operations and strategic military intelligence operations. Thus, Special Forces are distinguished from Unconventional Forces. A case study analyzes different missions Special Operations Forces have conducted since the Cold War ended in order to determine what capabilities Special Forces need. This study determines that a viable EU Special Forces concept must, first of all, have a strategic utility to conduct Special Operations but not Unconventional Operations. This concept also needs to have a capability to conduct initial entry operations in order to spearhead and prepare the battlefield for a larger conventional force. This monograph recommends that the EU create a standing Combined Joint Special Operations Headquarters in order to facilitate a viable operational level Special Forces capability. This standing CJSOTF HQ would facilitate: the readiness to act as the force of choice or as an initial entry force; the technical, doctrinal and cultural interoperability Special Forces requires to be operational; the integration and coordination within EU and coalition conventional and Special Forces; and the essential joint interoperability Special Forces requires to be trained to standard with other supporting assets, such as aircraft, helicopters, and