Combat search and rescue must be planned for military operations where friendly personnel are in danger of being isolated. This often involves a downed aircrew. But it may include any civilian, soldier or diplomat who is separated from friendly control, either in denied territory behind enemy lines or under the control of hostile forces, such as in a kidnapping. Because special-operations forces (SOF) are trained and equipped to penetrate and operate behind enemy lines, many commanders think of SOF as the force of choice to perform combat search-and-res-cue (CSAE) missions to recover friendly personnel. While in the joint and combined environment SOF may be the most sophisticated asset available, and while SOF are very capable of performing this task, they should not be the force of choice. There are other search-and-rescue assets within the U.S. military services that are trained and ready to conduct CSAR and, in most cases, they can accomplish the rescue mission just as capably as SOF. Furthermore, SOF are considered a strategic asset, and U.S. military doctrine does not favor using strategic assets to accomplish a tactical mission, which CSAR usually is.
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