Updated December 6, 2018
Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
Overview
branches of U.S. SOF. The National Defense Authorization
Special Operations Forces (SOF) are those active duty and
Act (NDAA) of 1987 (P.L. 99-661, Part B –Special
reserve component forces of the military services
Operations Matters), established a new four-star command
designated by the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and
to prepare Special Operations Forces (SOF) to carry out
specifically selected, organized, trained, and equipped to
assigned missions and, if directed by the President or
conduct and support special operations. Special operations
SECDEF, to plan for and conduct special operations.
frequently require unique modes of employment, tactics,
techniques, procedures, and equipment. They are often
U.S. Special Operations Command
conducted in hostile, politically, and/or diplomatically
(USSOCOM)
sensitive environments, and are characterized by one or
Activated on April 16, 1987, and headquartered at MacDill
more of the following: time-sensitivity, clandestine or
Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, USSOCOM is the unified
covert nature, low visibility, work with or through
Combatant Command (COCOM) responsible for
indigenous forces, greater requirements for regional
organizing, training, and equipping all U.S. SOF units. As
orientation and cultural expertise, and a high degree of risk.
of February 2018, USSOCOM had 71,698 (57,478 active
SOF’s core activities are listed below.
duty, 7,668 reserve and 6,552 civilian) personnel assigned
to its headquarters, its service components, and sub-unified
ï‚· Direct action
commands. HQ USSOCOM consists of about 2,500
ï‚·
military and civilian members. The USSOCOM
Special reconnaissance
commander is four-star general officer from any Service,
ï‚· Countering weapons of mass destruction
who reports directly to the SECDEF. After the September
ï‚·
11, 2001, terrorist attacks, USSOCOM’s responsibilities
Counterterrorism
were expanded in the 2004 Unified Command Plan (UCP),
ï‚· Unconventional warfare
which assigned USSOCOM responsibility for coordinating
ï‚·
the Department of Defense (DOD) plans against global
Foreign internal defense
terrorism and conducting global operations as directed.
ï‚· Security force assistance
Since 2016, USSOCOM has also been assigned the roles
ï‚·
coordinating authority over countering violent extremist
Hostage rescue and recovery
operations (CVEO) and counter weapons of mass
ï‚· Counterinsurgency
destruction (CWMD) operations.
ï‚· Foreign humanitarian assistance
USSOCOM Service Component
ï‚· Military information support operations
Commands
ï‚· Civil affairs operations
Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
ï‚· Preparation of the environment
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 active and reserve
Selection of SOF Operational Personnel
components. With an allocated strength of approximately
SOF operational personnel (often referred to as “operators”)
33,000 soldiers, USASOC consists of Special Forces
undergo a rigorous screening and selection process
(Green Berets), Rangers, Special Operations Aviators, Civil
characterized by a low selection rate. After selection, they
Affairs Soldiers, Military Information Support Operators,
receive mission-specific training to achieve proficiency in a
Training Cadre, and Sustainment Soldiers. USASOC has
variety of special operations skills. SOF operators tend to
four major subordinate commands: the 1st Special Forces
be more experienced personnel and many maintain
Command (Airborne) (Provisional), U.S. Army John F.
competency in more than one military specialty. Selected
Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, U.S. Army
operators have regional, cultural, and linguistic expertise.
Special Operations Aviation Command, and the 160th
Some SOF personnel require highly technical and advanced
Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
training for anticipated missions such as Military Freefall
training, Combat Diver training, and Sniper training.
Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC)
Established on April 16, 1987, and based in Coronado, CA,
Command Structure and Components
the NSWC is responsible for organizing training and
In 1986, Congress, concerned about the status of SOF
equipping six Naval Special Warfare Groups (NSWG), the
within overall U.S. defense planning, passed legislation to
Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC), and the
strengthen special operations’ position within the defense
Development Group (DEVGRU). With approximately
community and to strengthen interoperability among the
10,000 personnel, the NSWC consists of Sea, Air, Land
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Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
(SEAL) Teams and Special Warfare Combatant Craft
ï‚· Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH),
Crewmen (SWCC) as part of Special Boat Teams (SBTs).
Homestead Air Force Base, FL; supports U.S. Southern
Enablers, including logistics, communications, intelligence,
Command (USSOUTHCOM).
and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel, are also
part of NSWC.
ï‚· Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA),
Stuttgart, Germany; supports U.S. Africa Command
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)
(USAFRICOM).
Established May 22, 1990, with its headquarters at Hurlburt
Field, FL, AFSOC is responsible for organizing, training
ï‚· Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR),
and equipping seven Special Operations Wings (SOW), one
Stuttgart, Germany; supports U.S. European Command
Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Air Force Special
(USEUCOM).
Operations Air Warfare Center. AFSOC consists of about
19,500 personnel comprising Special Operations Aviators,
ï‚· Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT),
Special Tactics Airmen—including Combat Controllers,
MacDill Air Force Base, FL; supports U.S. Central
Pararescuemen, Special Operations Weather Airmen,
Command (USCENTCOM).
Tactical Air Control Party Airmen, and Air Support
Commandos, who provide a wide variety of mission
ï‚· Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC), Camp
support service. The command’s active duty and reserve
Smith, HI; supports U.S. Pacific Command
component flying units operate specially equipped fixed
(USPACOM).
and rotary-wing aircraft.
ï‚· Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR),
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations
Yongsang, Korea; supports U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).
Command (MARSOC)
Headquartered in Camp Lejeune, NC, and established
ï‚· Special Operations Command U.S. Northern Command
February 24, 2006, MARSOC consists of the Marine Raider
(SOCNORTH), Peterson Air Force Base, CO; supports
Regiment, the Marine Raider Support Group, and the
U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).
Marine Special Operations School. MARSOC’s almost
3,000 personnel consist of Critical Skills Operators, Special
Relevant Statutes
Operations Officers, Special Operations Capability
Specialists, and Special Operations Combat Services
Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 162 – Combatant Commands:
Specialists.
Assigned Force, Chain of Command.
Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 167 – Unified Combatant Command
Joint Special Operations Command
for Special Operations Forces.
(JSOC)
Activated in 1980, JSOC is a sub-unified command of

USSOCOM and is charged to study special operations
requirements and techniques, ensure interoperability and
CRS Products
equipment standardization, plan and conduct special
operations exercises and training, and develop joint special
CRS Report RS21048, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF):
operations tactics. Members of JSOC have previously
Background and Issues for Congress, by Andrew Feickert.
served in the following operations: Desert One in Iran
(1980), Grenada (1983), the Mediterranean Sea during the
Other Resources
Achille Lauro hijacking (1985), Panama (1989), the
Department of Defense, Joint Publication 1, Doctrine for the
Mideast during the Gulf War (1991), Somalia (1993), Haiti
Armed Forces of the United States, March 25, 2013,
(1994), the Balkans (1996-2002), Afghanistan (2001-
Incorporating Change 1, 12 July 2017:
present), and Iraq (2003-present).
http://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp1_c
Theater Special Operations Commands
h1.pdf
(TSOCs)
DOD, Joint Publication 3.05, Doctrine for Special Operations,
U.S. SOF frequently operates with the conventional forces
July 16, 2014, at
of the Joint Force. SOF theater-level command and control
http://www.jcs.mil/Portals/36/Documents/Doctrine/pubs/jp3_0
responsibilities are vested in Theater Special Operations
5.pdf
Commands (TSOCs). TSOCs are sub-unified commands
United States Special Operations Command, USSOCOM Fact
under their respective Geographic Combatant Commanders
Book 2018, at
(GCCs). TSOCs are special operational headquarters
https://www.socom.mil/FactBook/2018%20Fact%20Book.pdf
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 from any Service. Current TSOCs
Barbara Salazar Torreon, Senior Research Librarian
include:
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
IF10545
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Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces


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