Foreign Internal Defense Operations, along with Special Reconnaissance and Direct Action, are a core task of the United States Special Operations Community. US Army Special Forces are currently engaged in Foreign Internal Defense operations from Iraq and Afghanistan to Colombia and the Philippines. Foreign Internal Defense means providing support to a host nation's military, police and intelligence processes - activities which are extremely important for new US Allies. Typically FID operations are undertaken in response to internal strife within the host nation such as an insurgency. Narco-terrorism, religious terrorism and economic crisis are all triggers for Special Forces FID assistance. From the preface page; "Field manual (FM) 3-05.202, Special Forces Foreign Internal Defense Operations, supports FM 3-05.20, Special Forces Operations, which is the keystone manual of Special Forces (SF). FM 3-05.202 defines the current United States (U.S.) Army SF concept of planning and conducting SF foreign internal defense (FID) missions. As with all doctrinal manuals, FM 3-05.202 is authoritative but not directive. It serves as a guide and does not preclude SF units from developing their own standing operating procedures (SOPs) to meet their needs. It explains planning, roles of SF in FID, and the various programs that SF Soldiers participate in to conduct FID operations. Other SF primary missions are discussed at length in appropriate manuals in the series." Presented in Special Operations Press' distinctive OCP camouflage cover denoting a current publication, this manual is printed in easy-to-read 6 x 9, perfect-bound paperback format. Proudly printed in the USA.