This page shows textual changes in the document between the two versions indicated in the dates above. Textual matter removed in the later version is indicated with red strikethrough and textual matter added in the later version is indicated with blue.
U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) are those active duty and reserve component forcescomponents of the military services designatedthat are designated as SOF by the Secretary of Defense, who is using "Secretary of War" as a "secondary title" under Executive Order (EO) 14347, dated September 5, 2025. These forces are specificallySOF are selected, organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. Special operations frequently require unique modes of employment, tactics, techniques, procedures, and equipment. SOF often conductsconduct special operations in hostile, politically, and/or diplomatically sensitive environments, and. Special operations are characterized by one or more of the following: time-sensitivity, clandestine or covert in nature, low visibility, workbeing time-sensitive and/or clandestine, occurring in low-visibility conditions, happening with or through indigenous forces, greater requirements forrequiring regional orientation and cultural expertise, andor carrying a high degree of risk. SOF's core activities are
SOF operational personnel (often referred to as "operators") undergo a rigorous screening and selection process characterized byresulting in a low selection rate. After selection, they receive mission-specific training to achieveinstill proficiency in a variety of special operations skills. SOF operators tend to be experienced personnel and many maintain competency in more than one military specialty. Selected operators have regional, cultural, and linguistic expertise. Some SOF personnel require highly technical and advanced training for anticipated missions, such as Military Freefall parachute training, Combat Diver training, and Sniper training.
In 1986, Congress, concerned about the status of SOF within overall U.S. defense planning and budgeting, enacted legislation to strengthen special operations' position within the defense community and to strengthen interoperability among the branches of U.S. SOF. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 1987 (NDAA; P.L. 99-661), established an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (ASD [SOLIC](SOLIC)) and a new four-star command to prepare SOF to carry out assigned missions and, if directed by the President or Secretary of Defense (Secretary of War), to plan for and conduct special operations.
The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD [SOLIC]), who is using Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict (ASW [SOLIC]) and Low Intensity Conflict as a secondary title under E.O.EO 14347, is the principal civilian advisor to the Secretary of Defense (Secretary of War) on special operations and low-intensity conflict matters.
The ASD (SOLIC) has, as their principal duty, overall supervision (to include oversight of policy and resources) of special operations and low-intensity conflict activities. The ASD (SOLIC) falls under and reports to the Under Secretary of Defense (War) for Policy (USD [P])for Policy. Congress, wanting the ASD (SOLIC) to exercise greater oversight of USSOCOMU.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), enacted Section 922 of the FY2017 NDAA (P.L. 114-328) to facilitate and resourcestrengthen and provide resources for the ASD (SOLIC), as originally intended, to assume Service Secretary-like authorities.
Activated on April 16, 1987, and headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, USSOCOM is the unified Combatant Command responsible for organizing, training, and equipping all U.S. SOF units. Headquarters, USSOCOMAs of 2026, Headquarters, USSOCOM, consists of around 23,500 military and civilian personnel, and overall, the command has approximately 70,000 personnel assigned to its headquarters, its service components, and sub-unified commands. The USSOCOM commander is a four-star general officer from any Serviceservice who reports directly to the Secretary of Defense (Secretary of War). After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, USSOCOM's responsibilities were expanded in the 2004 Unified Command Plan (UCP), assigning USSOCOM responsibility for coordinating the Department of Defense (Department of War) plans against global terrorism and conducting global operations as directed. Since 2016, USSOCOM has also been assigned the roles coordinating authority over countering violent extremist operations (CVEO) and counterand countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) operations.
On December 1, 1989, USASOC was established at Fort Bragg, NC, as a major Army command to enhance the readiness of Army SOF in the activeactive duty and reserve components. With an allocated strength of approximately 36,000 personnel, USASOC consists of Special Forces (Green Berets), Rangers, Special Operations Aviators, Civil Affairs Soldiers, Psychological Operations soldiersSoldiers, training cadre, and sustainment soldiersSustainment Soldiers. USASOC has three major subordinate commands: the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, and the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command.
Established on April 16, 1987, and based in Coronado, CA, the NSWC is responsible for organizing training and equipping five Naval Special Warfare Groups (NSWG), the Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC), and the Development Group (DEVGRU). With approximately 11,000 personnel, the NSWC consists of Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) Teams andoperators (SEALs), Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewmen (SWCC) as part of Special Boat Teams (SBTs). Enablers, including logistics, communications, and intelligence personnel, are also part of NSWC-Craft Crewmen (SWCC), and Combat Support and Combat Service Support personnel.
Established May 22, 1990, with its headquarters at Hurlburt Field, FL, AFSOC is responsible for organizing, training, and equipping five Active DutyComponent Special Operations Wings (SOW)—the 24th SOW was disestablished in May 2025—SOWs), three Reserve Component Special Operations WingsSOWs, and the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center. AFSOC consists of about 17,000 personnel, comprising Special Operations Aviators, Special Tactics Airmen—including Combat Controllers, Pararescue Airmen, Special Operations Weather Airmen, Tactical Air Control PartyAir Commandos, Special Tactics Airmen, and support Air Commandos, who provide a wide variety of mission support services.
Headquartered in Camp Lejeune, NC, and established February 24, 2006, MARSOC consists of the Marine Raider Regiment, the Marine Raider Support Group, and the Marine Special OperationsRaider Training School. MARSOC's almost 3,500 personnel consist of Critical Skills OperatorsMarine Raiders, Marine Raider Officers, Special Operations OfficersIndependent Duty Corpsmen, Special Operations Capability Specialists, Special Operations Combat Services Specialists, and Special Operations Independent Duty CorpsmenCapabilities Specialists, and Combat Service Support Specialists.Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs)
U.S. SOF frequently operate with conventional forces of the Joint Force. SOF theater-level command and control (C2) responsibilities are vested in TSOCs. TSOCs are special operational headquarters elements designed to support the National Command Authority, the Joint Force, and the Global Combatant Commands' special operations logistics, planning, and operational command and control requirements. Following are the current TSOCs.
Established October 22, 1980, JSOC is a sub-unified command of USSOCOM. JSOC "prepares assigned, attached, and augmented units to conductforces and, when directed, conducts special operations against threats to protect the homeland and U.S. overseas interests.
U.S. SOF frequently operates with conventional forces of the Joint Force. SOF theater-level command and control responsibilities are vested in Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs), which are sub-unified commands under their respective Geographic Combatant Commanders (GCCs). TSOCs are special operational headquarters elements designed to support a GCC's special operations logistics, planning, and operational command and control requirements, and are normally commanded by a one- or two-star general officer. Current TSOCs include the following:
SREC is responsible for
[s]ynchronizing, integrating, and enabling special reconnaissance (SR) capabilities across the joint force. It serves as a [C2] body that focuses on leveraging and optimizing SR assets, which include technical, environmental, and human intelligence collection, to support special operations. The command works to improve the network architecture, data sharing, and collaboration between special reconnaissance units and other elements of the joint force to enhance overall mission effectiveness.
There are seven regionally aligned TSOCs:
Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH), Homestead Air Reserve Base, FL, supports U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM);|
Relevant Statutes Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 162 – Combatant Commands: Assigned Force, Chain of Command. Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 167 – Unified Combatant Command for Special Operations Forces. Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 138 – Assistant Secretaries of Defense. |
|
CRS Products CRS Report RS21048, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress, by Andrew Feickert. |
|
Other Resources United States Special Operations Command, USSOCOM Fact Book 2025, at https://www.socom.mil/FactBook/2025%20Fact%20Book.pdf. |