https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/JFKNSF/330/JFKNSF-330-007
RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARAMILITARY OPERATIONS
1. For the purpose of this study, a paramilitary operation is considered to be one which by its tactics and its requirements in
military-type personnel, equipment and training approximates a conventional military operation. It may be undertaken in support of an
existing government friendly to the U.S. or in support of a rebel group seeking to overthrow a government hostile to us. The U.S. may render
assistance to such operations overtly, covertly or by a combination of both methods. In size these operations may vary from the infiltration
of a squad of guerillas to a military operation such as the Cuban invasion.
The small operations will often fall completely within the normal capability of one agency; the large ones may affect State, Defense, CIA, USIA
and possibly other departments and agencies.
2. In order to conduct paramilitary operations with maximum effectiveness and flexibility within the context of the Cold War, it is recommended that current directives and procedures be modified to effect the following:
a. Any proposed paramilitary operation in the concept state will be presented to the Strategic Resources Group for initial con-
sidertation and for approval as necessary by the President. Thereafter, the SRG will assign primary responsibility for planning, for
interdepartment coordination and for execution to the Task Force, department or individual best qualified to carry forward the operation
to success, and will indicate supporting responsibilities. Under this principle, the Department of Defense will normally receive
responsibility for overt paramilitary operations. Where such an operation is to be wholly covert or disavowable, it may be assigned to CIA, provided that it is within the normal capabilities of the
agency. Any large paramilitary operation wholly or partly covert which requires significant numbers of military trained personnel,
amounts to military equipment which exceed normal CIA-controlled stocks and/or military experience of a kind and level peculiar to the
Armed services is properly the primary responsibility of the Department of Defense with the CIA in a supporting role.
https://ratical.org/ratville/JFK/USO/appE.html#NSAM57
JFK’S VISION: Trump’s DOD ‘Watershed Reform’ with Special Operations Civilian Leadership
Former President John F. Kennedy was invoked at the announcement.
“Ezra Cohen-Watnick just delivered a speech regarding the move to place civilian SpecOps directly underneath the Acting Sec of Defense. Listen closely,” one poster wrote.
“The Department of Defense has started the process of formalizing what we have long known the fundamental role of US Special operations in defense of the foreign policy, and by elevating special operations forces to a level on par with Military Departments as authorized and erected by Congress. As we enact these reforms, we follow these reforms; we enact the vision of President John F. Kennedy, who predicted the rise of special operations nearly 60 years ago. He foresaw “another type of war, new in its intensity, ancient in its origin that would require a whole new kind of strategy, a wholly different kind of force, and forces which are too unconventional.
President Kennedy gave these remarks at the nuclear age opening when the Pentagon was primarily organized to plan and direct large conventional operations against superpowers, not special operations short of overt declared conflicts. The Global demands for special operations forces, then and now, have confirmed his foresight. Under President Trump’s leadership, we fully realize President Kennedy’s view of Special Operations. We should be again entering of great power competitions as we will affirm the importance of the special operations committee and then, as now I know the special operations will play a vital role and by historical reforms that we have enacted today, will give us civilian forces commemorate to the secretary’s other military departments. I am honored to serve as your service secretary,” Cohen-Watnick said.
https://djhjmedia.com/kari/jfks-vision-trumps-dod-watershed-reform-with-special-operations-civilian-leadership/