30 April 2002

USASOC assets come out in the daylight to give demo at CAPEX 2002

By Patrick Allen, Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Following continued successes during Operation ‘Enduring Freedom’, the US Army’s Special Operations Command (USASOC) undertook a capabilities (CAPEX) demonstration on 24 April at its headquarters in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in front of a selected VIP audience.

The demonstration included an equipment display, close-quarter battle and modular demonstration by instructors from the US Army John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. This included a live-fire exercise comprising building entry and room clearance techniques. A static aviation display by the 160^th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160^th SOAR) included a Sikorsky MH-60L Direct Action Penetrator (DAP) helicopter equipped for night close air support of special forces, an AH-6 Little Bird light observation helicopter and Boeing MH-47E Chinook medium-left helicopter.

The main capabilities event moved to the Fort Bragg Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) site and was based around a Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) using army special operations forces to rescue American civilians. With an opposing force provided by other Fort Bragg units, the NEO scenario saw special operations forces use psychological operations to distribute warning notices (leaflet drop by helicopter) before a full-scale air assault onto the urban area site followed by building clearance, hostage rescue and finally the safe recovery of the non-combatants and their safe extraction by helicopter. The mission was conducted by army special forces (Green Berets) elements, the 2^nd Battalion, 75^th Ranger Regiment, the 160^th SOAR and the Army Psychological Operations Group.

The entire scenario lasted just 20 minutes and included initial infiltration by special forces and force reconnaissance units from the 2^nd Battalion, 75^th Ranger Regiment, before the arrival of the main rescue force (2/75th Ranger Regiment) by MH-6 Little Birds, MH-47E Chinooks and fast-roping from MH-60K Black Hawks before final extraction by Chinook.

The CAPEX provided a unique opportunity to see USASOC assets undertaking a rare daylight training scenario; this and other operations are almost always undertaken at night.

Click here to access the USASOC CAPEX demonstration - Photo Gallery