An Analysis of the NATO Special Operations Transformation Initiative and the NATO Special Operations Coordination Centre

<p>The NATO Special Operations Transformation Initiative agreed to at the 2006 Riga Summit established three goals for NATO special operations: first to improve the representation of special operations expertise at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE); second to create a federation of special operations training centers and third to create a coordination center for all NATO special operations activities. This agreement led to the creation of the NATO Special Operations Coordination Centre (NSCC) which has become central to all three goals. This paper evaluates how well NATO has resourced the NSCC examines the effectiveness of that organization and analyzes decisions made by the North Atlantic Council to address the challenges of special operations command and control in multinational combat operations. The paper explains how in just three years the NSCC has proven itself a valuable entity whose progress has emboldened the North Atlantic Council to create a more robust Special Operations Headquarters which for the first time will bring special operations as a function to a comparable level of representation as NATO's existing functional headquarters for land maritime and air forces. The paper explores personnel intelligence sharing C4I and funding challenges associated with a forthcoming NATO Special Operations Headquarters.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>