Joint Special Operations University
7701 Tampa Point Boulevard
MacDill AFB FL 33621
https://jsou.libguides.com/jsoupublications
JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS UNIVERSITY
Dr. Robert R. Greene Sands’ Assessing Special Operations Forces Language,
Region, and Culture Needs uses his vast experience and knowledge of this
subject and draws from the existing Department of Defense Defense
Language Transformation Roadmap (DLRT), recent lessons learned, and
historical beginnings to outline the importance to the U.S. military, espe-
cially the Special Operations Forces (SOF) community. The past decade
of counterinsurgency operations has challenged the U.S. military person-
nel in their ability to carry out a variety of missions involving culturally
complex situations and interactions. Success in such operations often
depends on dicult linguistic and interpersonal skill-based competencies
and abilities. Dr. Sands emphasizes the utility of language skills, along with
regional and cultural knowledge and cross-cultural competence, in engag-
ing populations across sometimes uncompromising cultural divides. This
monograph provides key lessons learned as U.S. Special Operations Com-
mand determines the way ahead for LRC education and training to better
prepare the future SOF operator to meet the challenges of operating in
complex environments and meet the command’s priority to continue to
build relationships.
ISBN 978-1-941715-00-0
Assessing Special Operations
Forces Language, Region, and
Culture Needs
Leveraging Digital and LRC Learning to
Reroute the “Roadmap” from Human
Terrain to Human Domain
Robert R. Greene Sands
JSOU Report 16-8
JSOU Report 16- 8 Assessing Special Operations Forces Language, Region, and Culture Needs Sands
