Updated January 2, 2020
Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
Overview
to prepare Special Operations Forces (SOF) to carry out
Special Operations Forces (SOF) are those active duty and
assigned missions and, if directed by the President or
reserve component forces of the military services
SECDEF, to plan for and conduct special operations.
designated by the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and
specifically selected, organized, trained, and equipped to
U.S. Special Operations Command
conduct and support special operations. Special operations
(USSOCOM)
frequently require unique modes of employment, tactics,
Activated on April 16, 1987, and headquartered at MacDill
techniques, procedures, and equipment. They are often
Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, USSOCOM is the unified
conducted in hostile, politically, and/or diplomatically
Combatant Command (COCOM) responsible for
sensitive environments, and are characterized by one or
organizing, training, and equipping all U.S. SOF units.
more of the following: time-sensitivity, clandestine or
Headquarters, USSOCOM consists of approximately 2,500
covert nature, low visibility, work with or through
military and civilian personnel, and overall, the command
indigenous forces, greater requirements for regional
has more than 70,000 personnel assigned to its
orientation and cultural expertise, and a high degree of risk.
headquarters, its service components, and sub-unified
SOF’s core activities are listed below.
commands. The USSOCOM commander is four-star
general officer from any Service, who reports directly to the
Direct action
SECDEF. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,
USSOCOM’s
responsibilities were expanded in the 2004
Special reconnaissance
Unified Command Plan (UCP), which assigned USSOCOM
Countering weapons of mass destruction
responsibility for coordinating the Department of Defense
(DOD) plans against global terrorism and conducting global
Counterterrorism
operations as directed. Since 2016, USSOCOM has also
Unconventional warfare
been assigned the roles coordinating authority over
countering violent extremist operations (CVEO) and
Foreign internal defense
counter weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) operations.
Security force assistance
USSOCOM has also been given the mission to field a
transregional Military Information Support Operations
Hostage rescue and recovery
(MISO) capability to address the opportunities and risks of
Counterinsurgency
the global information space. In this regard, the Joint MISO
WebOps Center (JMWC) has been established, and plans
Foreign humanitarian assistance
call for it to achieve full operating capability by the end of
Military information support operations
FY2025.
Civil affairs operations
USSOCOM Service Component
Selection of SOF Operational Personnel
Commands
SOF operational personnel (often referred to as “operators”)
Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
undergo a rigorous screening and selection process
On December 1, 1989, USASOC was established at Fort
characterized by a low selection rate. After selection, they
Bragg, NC, as a major Army command to enhance the
receive mission-specific training to achieve proficiency in a
readiness of Army SOF in the active and reserve
variety of special operations skills. SOF operators tend to
components. With an allocated strength of approximately
be more experienced personnel and many maintain
33,000 personnel, USASOC consists of Special Forces
competency in more than one military specialty. Selected
(Green Berets), Rangers, Special Operations Aviators, Civil
operators have regional, cultural, and linguistic expertise.
Affairs Soldiers, Military Information Support Operators,
Some SOF personnel require highly technical and advanced
Training Cadre, and Sustainment Soldiers. USASOC has
training for anticipated missions such as Military Freefall
three major subordinate commands: the 1st Special Forces
training, Combat Diver training, and Sniper training.
Command (Airborne), U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special
Command Structure and Components
Warfare Center and School, and the U.S. Army Special
Operations Aviation Command.
In 1986, Congress, concerned about the status of SOF
within overall U.S. defense planning, passed legislation to
Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC)
strengthen special operations’ position within the defense
Established on April 16, 1987, and based in Coronado, CA,
community and to strengthen interoperability among the
the NSWC is responsible for organizing training and
branches of U.S. SOF. The National Defense Authorization
equipping six Naval Special Warfare Groups (NSWG), the
Act (NDAA) of 1987 (P.L. 99-661, Part B –Special
Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC), and the
Operations Matters), established a new four-star command
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Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
Development Group (DEVGRU). With approximately
Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA),
10,000 personnel, the NSWC consists of Sea, Air, Land
Stuttgart, Germany; supports U.S. Africa Command
(SEAL) Teams and Special Warfare Combatant Craft
(USAFRICOM).
Crewmen (SWCC) as part of Special Boat Teams (SBTs).
Enablers, including logistics, communications, intelligence,
Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR),
and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel, are also
Stuttgart, Germany; supports U.S. European Command
part of NSWC.
(USEUCOM).
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)
Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT),
Established May 22, 1990, with its headquarters at Hurlburt
MacDill Air Force Base, FL; supports U.S. Central
Field, FL, AFSOC is responsible for organizing, training
Command (USCENTCOM).
and equipping seven Special Operations Wings (SOW), one
Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Air Force Special
Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC), Camp
Operations Air Warfare Center. AFSOC consists of about
Smith, HI; supports U.S. Pacific Command
20,800 personnel comprising Special Operations Aviators,
(USPACOM).
Special Tactics Airmen—including Combat Controllers,
Pararescuemen, Special Operations Weather Airmen,
Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR), Camp
Tactical Air Control Party Airmen, Combat Aviation
Humphreys, South Korea; supports U.S. Forces Korea
Advisors, and Support Air Commandos, who provide a
(USFK).
wide variety of mission support service. The command’s
active duty and reserve component flying units operate
Special Operations Command U.S. Northern Command
specially equipped fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.
(SOCNORTH), Peterson Air Force Base, CO; supports
U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations
Command (MARSOC)
Relevant Statutes
Headquartered in Camp Lejeune, NC, and established
February 24, 2006, MARSOC consists of the Marine Raider
Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 162 – Combatant Commands:
Regiment, the Marine Raider Support Group, and the
Assigned Force, Chain of Command.
Marine Special Operations School. MARSOC’s almost
Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 167 – Unified Combatant Command
3,000 personnel consist of Critical Skills Operators, Special
for Special Operations Forces.
Operations Officers, Special Operations Capability
Specialists, Special Operations Combat Services
Specialists, and Special Operations Independent Duty
Corpsmen.
CRS Products
Joint Special Operations Command
CRS Report RS21048, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF):
(JSOC)
Background and Issues for Congress, by Andrew Feickert.
Activated in 1980, JSOC is a sub-unified command of
USSOCOM and is charged to study special operations
Other Resources
requirements and techniques, ensure interoperability and
Department of Defense, Joint Publication 1, Doctrine for the
equipment standardization, plan and conduct special
Armed Forces of the United States, March 25, 2013,
operations exercises and training, and develop joint special
Incorporating Change 1, 12 July 2017:
operations tactics.
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 2020, at
(GCCs). TSOCs are special operational headquarters
https://www.socom.mil/FactBook/2020%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
Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH),
IF10545
Homestead Air Force Base, FL; supports U.S. Southern
Command (USSOUTHCOM).
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Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10545 · VERSION 6 · UPDATED