Topic SOF Support to US Navy Irregular Warfare

Topic: SOF Support to US Navy Irregular Warfare Operations in Coastal Environments BLUF: Irregular Warfare (IW) is not unique or limited to SOF activities; however, SOF has a robust and deep history, experience, and lessons-learned from operations, actions and activities in the IW arena. Background: The US Navy recently released the 2018 Navy Strategy and its Design For Maintaining Maritime Superiority- conversely, less the one mention for the need for “efficient and effective Irregular Warfare” neither Naval Special Warfare (NSW), SOF nor IW are mentioned in either document. SOF, and in particular, NSW, can significantly enable US Navy assets, operations, and activities in their search for a more efficient and effective strategy for IW in the Coastal Environments. NSW reigns supreme in its operations, activities, and actions in the Maritime Environment, and is poised, positioned and prepared to synchronize with, enable, and provide guidance and advice to CNO and Fleet activities in confronting hybrid-malign actors in maritime locals. Specifically, NSW can act as a conduit and clearing house between US Navy and USSOCOM alignment of activities in support of IW in the coastal environment. The NSW-led Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS), specializing in Partner Nation training and education in the maritime environment, can be a vital throughput and liaison for coordination and alignment with NETSAFA and other Joint Do. D or USG institutions and activities in this crucial effort.

Topic: Compare and Contrast Simulation Methodologies for Manpower and Personnel Policy Management. BLUF: NSW needs a way to effectively evaluate prospective manpower and personnel policy decisions. Background: Decisions that focus too much on one perspective may appear to be optimal, but cause unforeseen issues in the other; for example, is the force capable of producing enough milestonequalified personnel at a given paygrade given end-strength levels that appear to be adequate? Is a prospective policy change likely to mitigate or exacerbate unintended dynamics such as the one referred to as “flush and fill”? Navy MPT&E uses a Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation model (NEMMo) to determine manning levels from the Echelon I perspective down. NSW has a Discrete Event Simulation model to determine end-strength levels and personnel effects from the Echelon IV perspective up. Which simulation methods should NSW invest in and for what purpose?

Topic: Machine Learning (ML) Applications for Operational Tactics.