United States Special Operations Forces (SOF) are the special forces of the United States Department of Defense's United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) within the United States Armed Forces, used for special operations.
Composition[]
- Component commands
- United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)[1]
- Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)[1]
- United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)[1]
- United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)[1]
- United States Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC)[1]
- United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)[1]
- Theater Special Operations Commands
- Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA)[1]
- Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT)[1]
- Joint Interagency Task Force – Counter Terrorism (JIATF-CT - Afghanistan)
- Special Operations Command Central Forward (SOCCENT FWD)
- Special Operation Command Forward Yemen (SOC FWD-Y)
- SOCCENT Cultural Engagement Group (CEG)
- Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR)[1]
- Joint Special Operations Air Component Europe
- Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC)[1]
- Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH)[1][2]
- Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH)[3][1]
- Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR)[1]
- ★★★ Represents a unit led by a lieutenant general or vice admiral
- ★★ Represents a unit led by a major general or rear admiral (upper half)
- ★ Represents a unit led by a brigadier general or rear admiral (lower half)
Joint Special Operations Command[]
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) ★★★[4]
- 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Airborne) (1st SFOD-D) (A) (USA)
- A Squadron (Assault)
- B Squadron (Assault)
- C Squadron (Assault)
- D Squadron (Assault)
- E Squadron (Aviation)
- G Squadron (Intelligence, Reconnaissance, & Surveillance)
- Combat Support Squadron
- Naval Special Warfare Development Group (USN)
- Blue Squadron (Assault)
- Gold Squadron (Assault)
- Red Squadron (Assault)
- Silver Squadron (Assault)
- Black Squadron (Intelligence, Reconnaissance, & Surveillance)
- White Squadron (EOD Tactics Development & Evaluation Squadron)
- Gray Squadron (Mobility Teams, Transportation/Divers)
- Green Squadron (Selection/Training)
- X Squadron (Experimental, R&D, technical innovations)
- Combat Support Squadron
- Technical Support Squadron (Tactical Cryptologic Support, Tactical Information Operations)
- Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC) (USA)
- RRD Team 1
- RRD Team 2
- RRD Team 3
- 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24th STS) (USAF)
- Black Team
- Blue Team
- Gold Team
- Gray Team
- Silver Team
- Integrated Survey Program Team
- Green Team (OTC - Assessment, Selection, Training)
- Joint Communications Unit[5] (Joint Service)
- A Squadron
- B Squadron
- C Squadron
- D Squadron
- Quick Reaction Team (QRT)
- Special Mission Troop (SMT)
- Executive Communications Detachment
- Joint Cyber Operations Group (JCOG) (Formerly Joint Communications Integration Element/JCIE)(Joint Service)
- Joint Special Operations Command Intelligence Brigade (JSOCIB)
- Joint Exploitation Squadron (JES)
- Joint GEOINT Squadron
- Joint Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (JPED) Squadron
- Geospatial Exploitation Troop (GET)
- Joint Exploitation Troop
- Joint Targeting Squadron (JTS)
- Joint SIGINT Targeting and Exploitation Troop (JSTET)
- Joint Publicly Available Information (PAI) Troop
- Interrogation and Exploitation Troop
- 427th Special Operations Squadron[6] (USAF)
- Flight Concepts Division[6] (USA)
- Intelligence Support Activity (USA)
United States Army[]
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1-10th Special Forces Group secure their weapons after a day of training at the Panzer Range Complex, Boeblingen, Germany, Nov. 8, 2016.
Army Rangers during a training operation.
- United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) ★★★[4]
- 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) ★★[4]
- 1st SFC(A) Military Intelligence Battalion[4]
- 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- Group Support Battalion
- 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- Group Support Battalion
- 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- Group Support Battalion
- 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- Group Support Battalion
- 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- Group Support Battalion
- 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (Army National Guard)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- Group Support Company
- Template:Tree list/final branch 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (Army National Guard)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- Group Support Company
- 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 6th POB(A) Battalion
- 7th POB(A) Battalion
- 8th POB(A) Battalion
- Template:Tree list/final branch 8th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st POB(A) Battalion
- 5th POB(A) Battalion
- 9th POB(A) Battalion
- 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne)[4]
- Template:Tree list/final branch 528th Sustainment Brigade, Special Operations (Airborne)[4]
- 75th Ranger Regiment[4]
- 1st Ranger Battalion[4]
- 2nd Ranger Battalion[4]
- 3rd Ranger Battalion[4]
- Ranger Military Intelligence Battalion
- Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment
- Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) Company
- Military Intelligence Company
- Template:Tree list/final branch Special Troops Battalion[4]
- Regimental Reconnaissance Company
- U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command(USASOAC) ★[4]
- 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)[4]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st Battalion
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- 4th Battalion
- USASOC Flight Company (UFC)
- Special Operations Training Battalion (SOATB)
- Systems Integration Management Office (SIMO)
- Technology Applications Program Office (TAPO)
- Template:Tree list/final branch Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion[4]
- 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)[4]
- Template:Tree list/final branch United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) ★★[4]
- 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) ★★[4]
United States Marine Corps[]
Marine Raiders fine-tune Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) skills.
- United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) ★★[4]
[]
Navy SEALs during night operation in Afghanistan.
_2_and_Naval_Special_Warfare_Logistics_Support_conducting_Lock_Out.jpg){kind=link}
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team (SDV) 2 conduct diving lock out
SWCC from Special Boat Team 22 operating a SOC-R
- Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) ★★[4]
United States Air Force[]
Air Force Special Tactics Commandos training in Jordan
- Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) ★★★[4]
- 1st Special Operations Wing[4]
- Template:Tree list/final branch1st Special Operations Group[9]
- 24th Special Operations Wing[4]
- 27th Special Operations Wing[4]
- Template:Tree list/final branch 27th Special Operations Group[11]
- 3rd Special Operations Squadron[11]
- 9th Special Operations Squadron[11]
- 16th Special Operations Squadron[11]
- 20th Special Operations Squadron[11]
- 33rd Special Operations Squadron[11]
- 56th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron[11]
- 73rd Special Operations Squadron[11]
- 318th Special Operations Squadron[11]
- Template:Tree list/final branch 524th Special Operations Squadron[11]
- Template:Tree list/final branch 27th Special Operations Group[11]
- 193d Special Operations Wing (Air National Guard)[4]
- Template:Tree list/final branch 193d Special Operations Squadron
- 919th Special Operations Wing (Air Force Reserve)[4]
- 352d Special Operations Wing (Provisional)[4]
- 353rd Special Operations Group[4]
- Template:Tree list/final branch Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center ★★[4]
- 19th Special Operations Squadron[15]
- 5th Special Operations Squadron (Air Force Reserve)[15]
- 6th Special Operations Squadron[15]
- 18th Flight Test Squadron[15]
- 280th Combat Communications Squadron[15]
- 371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron[15]
- 551st Special Operations Squadron[15]
- Template:Tree list/final branch United States Air Force Special Operations School[15]
- 1st Special Operations Wing[4]
SOF career fields[]
United States Army[]
Army Special Forces (Green Berets) during breach and clear training near al-Tanf, Syria
- Special Forces
- Rangers
- Psychological Operations (Military Information Support Operators)
- Civil Affairs Soldiers
- Paratroopers (Enablers)[1]
- Army Special Operations Aviators
- Military Intelligence and other Special Operations/Support with enlisted Special Qualification (SQI) Identifier "S" or "K9" for Officers.
United States Marine Corps[]
- United States Marine Corps Critical Skills Operator (CSO)
- Enablers[1]
- Special Operations Capabilities Specialist
- Combat Services Specialist
[]
- Navy SEALs
- Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen (SWCC)
- Special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman (SARC)
- United States Navy EOD (EOD)
- Enablers[1] (TECH)
United States Air Force[]
- Combat Rescue Officer
- Combat Control (CCT)
- Special Reconnaissance (SR)
- Special Tactics Officer (STO)
- Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST)
- Combat Aviation Advisor (CAA)
- PararescuemenTemplate:Asterisk (PJ)
- Combat Rescue OfficerTemplate:Asterisk (CRO)
- Tactical Air Control PartyTemplate:AsteriskTemplate:Asterisk (ST TACP) – Enlisted
- Air Liaison OfficerTemplate:AsteriskTemplate:Asterisk (ST ALO)
Template:Asterisk Not all PJs/CROs are assigned to AFSOC; many are assigned to Rescue Squadrons within ACC, PACAF, and USAFE. There is no difference in training or selection between Rescue and Special Tactics assignments.[16]
Template:AsteriskTemplate:Asterisk ALO/TACP Airmen must undergo additional selection and training to be assigned to AFSOC Special Tactics Squadrons. Most are assigned to ACC and support conventional Army Units.[17]
U.S. special operations centers, schools, and courses[]
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- International Special Training Center (ISTC) – Pfullendorf, Federal Republic of Germany
- Joint Special Operations University – Hurlburt Field
- Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course (ASOTC) – Fort Bragg
- John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School – Fort Bragg
- Military Free Fall Advanced Tactical Infiltration Course (ATIC) – Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona
- Naval Special Warfare Center – Coronado, California
- Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command, Imperial Beach, CA
- Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School- John C. Stennis Space Center, Mississippi
- Recon and Surveillance Leaders Course (RSLC) – Fort Benning, Georgia
- Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) – Fort Bragg
- Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course – Key West, Florida
- Special Forces Sniper Course (SFSC) – Fort Bragg
- Special Forces Advanced Targeting Reconnaissance Target Analysis Exploitation Techniques (SFARTAETC)
- Special Forces Physical Surveillance Course
- SOF Sensitive Site Exploitation, Technical Exploitation Course
- SOF Sensitive Site Exploitation, Operator Advanced Course
- Special Forces Master Mountaineering Course (Level 1)
- Special Forces Senior Mountaineering Course (Level 2)
- Winter Warfare, Mountain and Cold Weather Operations
- Special Forces Technical Surveillance (SFTSC)
- Operational Emergency Medical Skills Course (SOF)
- Marine Special Operations School – Camp Lejeune
- Marine Corps Special Operations Training Group
- US Army Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) – Fort Benning, Georgia
- US Army Small Unit Ranger Tactics (SURT) – Fort Benning, Georgia
- USAF Combat Dive Course – NDSTC Panama City, Florida
- USAF Combat Control School – Pope Field, North Carolina
- USAF Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course – Kirtland AFB, NM
- USAF Special Operations School – Hurlburt Field, FL
- Special Tactics Training Squadron
- Special Operations Terminal Attack Control Course (SOTACC), Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona[18]
- JTAC Advanced Instructor Course – Nellis AFB, NV[19]
- Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Naval Air Station Fallon, NV
- US Navy Rescue Swimmer school, Pensacola, Florida
- US Coast Guard Joint Maritime Training Center, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
- US Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician Training Center, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina
See also[]
- United States Marine Corps Special Operations Capable Forces
- U.S. Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces
- U.S. Coast Guard MSST & MSRT teams
- Military Liaison Element
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 "SOCOM 2014 Factbook" (PDF). 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ Special Operations Command South
- ↑ U.S. Special Operations Command, North (Provisional Command) > U.S. Northern Command > Article View. Northcom.mil (2013-05-16). Retrieved on 2014-05-24.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39 4.40 4.41 4.42 4.43 4.44 4.45 4.46 4.47 4.48 4.49 4.50 4.51 4.52 4.53 4.54 4.55 4.56 4.57 4.58 4.59 4.60 4.61 4.62 4.63 4.64 4.65 4.66 4.67 4.68 4.69 4.70 4.71 4.72 4.73 4.74 4.75 4.76 4.77 4.78 4.79 4.80 4.81 4.82 4.83 4.84 4.85 4.86 4.87 4.88 4.89 4.90 4.91 4.92 SOCOM Public Affairs (2015). SOCOM Fact Book 2015. SOCOM Public Affairs. http://www.socom.mil/FactBook/2015%20Fact%20Book.pdf.
- ↑ "Joint Communications Unit | JCU | Fort Bragg, NC". www.jcu.mil. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 6.0 6.1 Trevithick, Joseph. "Shedding Some Light On The Pentagon's Most Shadowy Aviation Units". The Drive. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE (Report). Naval Special Warfare Center. May 2013. NWP 3-05. https://info.publicintelligence.net/USNavy-SpecialWarfare.pdf. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ↑ Faram, Mark D. (25 February 2019). "SEALs revive stealthy submarine delivery team in Virginia". Navy Times. https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/02/26/seals-revive-stealthy-submarine-delivery-team-in-virginia/.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 "1st Special Operations Group fact sheet". July 1, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 "24th Special Operations Wing fact sheet". July 1, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 "27th Special Operations Wing fact sheet". July 1, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 "919th Special Operations Wing fact sheet". July 1, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "352d Special Operations Wing fact sheet". July 1, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "353rd Special Operations Group fact sheet". July 1, 2015.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 "Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center". 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Unit Info". 19 January 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Policy changes allow Airmen to retrain into special ops". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ SUN, CHUCK WULLENJOHN, SPECIAL TO THE. "Air Force becomes newest YPG tenant". Yuma Sun. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Enlisted heroes receive graduate-level education at Weapons School". 6 February 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
{{cite web}}:
- United States Department of Defense (5 June 2003). "US DOD Dictionary of Military Terms: Joint Acronyms and Abbreviations". United States Department of Defense. United States of America. Retrieved 11 January 2004.
{{cite web}}: - CSM Eric Haney (retired, former Delta Force operator and founding member) (2002). Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counterterrorist Unit. Delacorte Press. ISBN 0-385-33603-9.
- Linda Robinson (2004). Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces. PublicAffairs. ISBN 1-58648-249-1.
- Mark Bowden (1999). Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern Warfare. Atlantic Monthly Press. ISBN 0-87113-738-0.
- Sean Naylor (2005). Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda. The Berkeley Publishing Group. ISBN 0-425-19609-7.
- "Special Forces Units". Retrieved 8 October 2006.
{{cite web}}: - Feickert, Andrew (January 6, 2017). U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RS21048.pdf. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
External links[]
- David Ignatius: Learning to Fight a War – Washington Post, 2008-02-10
- US Special Operation Forces – 2009 SOCOM Factbook
- American Special Operations Forces
Template:US Special Operations Forces