AMMAN — With special forces playing an increasing role in conventional intervention operations, commanders must work to weave their needs into the fabric of headquarters-level command staffs, Brig. Gen. Adolfo Coloma, commander of the Spanish Army’s Special Operations Command, said March 31 at the Middle East Special Operations Commanders Conference here.

Coloma, who currently serves as Joint Combined Special Operations Component commander for NATO response forces, said SOF must be coordinated and synchronized with overall conventional war planning. As such, he said, SOF liaisons should be built into the organization structure of headquarters command on down through the war-fighting echelons, with direct input into the planning and logistical considerations of air and land components.

“SOF will be increasingly required in intervention operations and a combination of all elements is a must,” he said. “In most cases, we must consider SOF as a growing, interactive component of [multinational operations]. SOF has to be prepared to operate in joint theaters, and its mission requirements must be properly integrated into the chain of command.”

Not only will tighter integration and coordination of SOF forces improve effectiveness in the conventional arena, it will reduce casualties and lower the risk for friendly fire, he said. According to Coloma, coordination is especially essential in the realm of air operations.

“Special operations liaison elements should be embedded for proper planning and target coordination,” Coloma said.

Coordination and integration must start at the planning levels and carry through to execution.

“This is increasingly required for deconfliction of air assets in the theater,” he said.

As for command and control, Coloma acknowledged that special operations requires its own unique form of managing and coordinating forces. Nevertheless, SOF command-and-control elements also must be linked into higher headquarters command the overall conventional battle, he said.

Finally, the Spanish special operations commander said leaders must strive for a proper balance between the need to share critical mission-relevant information and traditionally close-held security demands.

“The challenge is to find the proper balance between operational security and need to know,” he said.

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