[Eddie]

Originally Posted by HorseSoldier

The other HUMINT capability is guys who can do confirmation on targets up close, though this could be a mission for the Recon Troops mentioned.

My professional recommendation is to outsource this particular function. The CTR (close target reconnaissance) community is pretty small and characterized by guys who pay attention to detail, meaning that in some of the basic qualifying training for this type of operation, guys are going to meet each other then get real curious when that guy Steve from RRC who was at 15 years time in service just disappeared and didn't retire.

It'll start the rumor mill and draw attention to a group that doesn't want attention.

Besides, these guys are used to getting a targeting packet, actioning it, then reporting to the ether and not knowing where the report is actually being directed. And they have all of the resources and funding codes in place.

I would see the HUMINT function of this group as developing the operational picture once the organization is on the ground through tactical questioning and other collection methods.

The forensic accounting team is a cool idea. Probably a lot of potential there for recruiting from FBI, DEA, Marshalls, etc. and putting law enforcement skills and techniques into play as well.

And not without precedent. Law Enforcement Professionals have deployed as part of Brigades for at least five years now to advise Brigade Combat Teams on tactical site exploitation and evidence handling techniques, amongst other things. FBI's HRT has deployed personnel as part of Special Operations Task Forces for a while as well.

Who's to say that these practices weren't brought about by some field grade who rotated out of this group and went back to conventional military units (as in openly operating, special operations or not)?

Which brings about the topics of posse comitatus and the moral implications of this entire line of thought, is violating the Constitution in service of the nation acceptable?

First, posse comitatus. It's almost always an afterthought in literature, movies, video and role-playing games. Especially when it supports a good story (which is admittedly the purpose of all of the above). However, in character motivation and development...how far would these arguably patriotic people push their zone of compliance? At what point does this military unit cease lawful operations and become the terrorists that they are actioning against? Where are the external checks and balances on the targeting process? Frex, IRL in Iraq as early as 2008 with the adoption of the SOFA agreement after the Surge, even SOF and CIA elements couldn't action targets without an approved Iraqi-court warrant unless said target was literally in the act of a crime.

Here in the US, at Fort Stewart, GA, when planning something as mundane as our hurricane disaster relief plans in May, we were hamstrung to only being able to send medics and rescue personnel to locations on Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield. We couldn't go outside the gate to direct traffic or render medical aid, legally, without a federal disaster declaration by the president.

I understand that this idea is conceived to be a unit that works outside the law of the land for the land. I understand the dramatic and entertainment aspects and implications of this group. And I completely understand and agree with one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter. I just have a hard time wrapping my head around the motivation for this unit's creation and use.

During the Twilight War (admittedly updated to the new millenium in your game world from other threads), when the economies of money and warfighting capabilities are being stretched to the breaking points and beyond; the threat of world war is building to or has passed beyond the point of no return; the foundations of the US are starting to break into the fractured entities of CIVGOV and MILGOV; I just don't see the pressing danger that necessitates such a draconian and blatantly illegal recourse such as this.

Which in and of itself could bring great interpersonal conflict to a character assigned to this unit if you chose to play him/her...all of the above is just food for thought.