Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
Updated January 8, 2024
Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
Overview
Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (ASD (SOLIC)) and
Special Operations Forces (SOF) are those active duty and
a new four-star command to prepare Special Operations
reserve component forces of the military services
Forces (SOF) to carry out assigned missions and, if directed
designated by the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and
by the President or SECDEF, to plan for and conduct
specifically selected, organized, trained, and equipped to
special operations.
conduct and support special operations. Special operations
frequently require unique modes of employment, tactics,
Assistant Secretary of Defense for
techniques, procedures, and equipment. SOF often conducts
Special Operations and Low Intensity
special operations in hostile, politically, and/or
Conflict (ASD (SOLIC))
diplomatically sensitive environments, and are
The ASD (SOLIC) is the principal civilian advisor to the
characterized by one or more of the following: time-
SECDEF on special operations and low-intensity conflict
sensitivity, clandestine or covert nature, low visibility, work
matters. The ASD (SOLIC) has as their principal duty
with or through indigenous forces, greater requirements for
overall supervision (to include oversight of policy and
regional orientation and cultural expertise, and a high
resources) of special operations and low-intensity conflict
degree of risk. SOF’s core activities are
activities. The ASD (SOLIC) falls under and reports to the
•
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD (P)).
Direct action
Congress, wanting ASD (SOLIC) to exercise greater
• Special reconnaissance
oversight of USSOCOM, enacted Section 922, FY2017
•
National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 114-328) to
Countering weapons of mass destruction
facilitate and resource ASD (SOLIC)’s originally intended
• Counterterrorism
Service Secretary-like authorities.
• Unconventional warfare
U.S. Special Operations Command
• Foreign internal defense
(USSOCOM)
•
Activated on April 16, 1987, and headquartered at MacDill
Security force assistance
Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, USSOCOM is the unified
• Hostage rescue and recovery
Combatant Command (COCOM) responsible for
•
organizing, training, and equipping all U.S. SOF units.
Counterinsurgency
Headquarters, USSOCOM consists of around 2,500 military
• Foreign humanitarian assistance
and civilian personnel, and overall, the command has
•
approximately 70,000 personnel assigned to its
Military information support operations
headquarters, its service components, and sub-unified
• Civil affairs operations
commands. The USSOCOM commander is a four-star
general officer from any Service, who reports directly to the
Selection of SOF Operational Personnel
SECDEF. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,
SOF operational personnel (often referred to as “operators”)
USSOCOM’s responsibilities were expanded in the 2004
undergo a rigorous screening and selection process
Unified Command Plan (UCP), assigning USSOCOM
characterized by a low selection rate. After selection, they
responsibility for coordinating the Department of Defense
receive mission-specific training to achieve proficiency in a
(DOD) plans against global terrorism and conducting global
variety of special operations skills. SOF operators tend to
operations as directed. Since 2016, USSOCOM has also
be experienced personnel and many maintain competency
been assigned the roles coordinating authority over
in more than one military specialty. Selected operators have
countering violent extremist operations (CVEO) and
regional, cultural, and linguistic expertise. Some SOF
counter weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) operations.
personnel require highly technical and advanced training
for anticipated missions such as Military Freefall training,
USSOCOM Service Component
Combat Diver training, and Sniper training.
Commands
Command Structure and Components
Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
In 1986, Congress, concerned about the status of SOF
On December 1, 1989, USASOC was established at Fort
within overall U.S. defense planning and budgeting, passed
Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), NC, as a major Army
legislation to strengthen special operations’ position within
command to enhance the readiness of Army SOF in the
the defense community and to strengthen interoperability
active and reserve components. With an allocated strength
among the branches of U.S. SOF. The National Defense
of approximately 35,000 personnel, USASOC consists of
Authorization Act (NDAA) of 1987 (P.L. 99-661),
Special Forces (Green Berets), Rangers, Special Operations
established an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special
Aviators, Civil Affairs Soldiers, Psychological Operations
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Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
soldiers, training cadre, and sustainment Soldiers. USASOC
• Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH),
has three major subordinate commands: the 1st Special
Homestead Air Force Base, FL; supports U.S. Southern
Forces Command (Airborne), U.S. Army John F. Kennedy
Command (USSOUTHCOM).
Special Warfare Center and School, and the U.S. Army
• Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA),
Special Operations Aviation Command.
Stuttgart, Germany; supports U.S. Africa Command
Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC)
(USAFRICOM).
Established on April 16, 1987, and based in Coronado, CA,
•
the NSWC is responsible for organizing training and
Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR),
equipping six Naval Special Warfare Groups (NSWG), the
Stuttgart, Germany; supports U.S. European Command
Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWC), and the
(USEUCOM).
Development Group (DEVGRU). With approximately
• Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT),
10,500 personnel, the NSWC consists of Sea, Air, Land
MacDill Air Force Base, FL; supports U.S. Central
(SEAL) Teams and Special Warfare Combatant Craft
Command (USCENTCOM).
Crewmen (SWCC) as part of Special Boat Teams (SBTs).
Enablers, including logistics, communications, intelligence,
• Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC), Camp
and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel, are also
Smith, HI; supports U.S. Pacific Command
part of NSWC.
(USPACOM).
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)
• Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR), Camp
Established May 22, 1990, with its headquarters at Hurlburt
Humphreys, South Korea; supports U.S. Forces Korea
Field, FL, AFSOC is responsible for organizing, training
(USFK).
and equipping seven Special Operations Wings (SOW), one
• Special Operations Command U.S. Northern Command
Special Operations Group (SOG), and the Air Force Special
(SOCNORTH), Peterson Air Force Base, CO; supports
Operations Air Warfare Center. AFSOC consists of about
U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).
16,800 personnel comprising Special Operations Aviators,
Special Tactics Airmen—including Combat Controllers,
Pararescuemen, Special Operations Weather Airmen,
Relevant Statutes
Tactical Air Control Party Airmen, Combat Aviation
Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 162 – Combatant Commands:
Advisors, and Support Air Commandos, who provide a
Assigned Force, Chain of Command.
wide variety of mission support service. The command’s
active duty and reserve component flying units operate
Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 167 – Unified Combatant Command
specially equipped fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.
for Special Operations Forces.
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations
Command (MARSOC)
Headquartered in Camp Lejeune, NC, and established
CRS Products
February 24, 2006, MARSOC consists of the Marine Raider
CRS Report RS21048, U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF):
Regiment, the Marine Raider Support Group, and the
Background and Issues for Congress, by Andrew Feickert.
Marine Special Operations School. MARSOC’s almost
3,500 personnel consist of Critical Skills Operators, Special
Other Resources
Operations Officers, Special Operations Capability
Specialists, Special Operations Combat Services
Department of Defense, Joint Publication 1, Doctrine for the
Specialists, and Special Operations Independent Duty
Armed Forces of the United States, is “the capstone publication
Corpsmen.
for all joint doctrine, presenting fundamental principles and
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
overarching guidance for the employment of the Armed
Forces of the United States,” effective 1 January 2019, at
Established October 22, 1980, JSOC is a sub-unified
https://www.jcs.mil/Doctrine/Joint-Doctrine-Pubs/Capstone-
command of USSOCOM. JSOC prepares assigned,
Series/.
attached, and augmented units to conduct special operations
against threats to the homeland and U.S. overseas interests.
DOD, Joint Publication 3.05, Doctrine for Special Operations,
1 January 2019, at https://www.jcs.mil/Doctrine/Joint-
Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs)
Doctrine-Pubs/3-0-Operations-Series/.
U.S. SOF frequently operates with conventional forces of
the Joint Force. SOF theater-level command and control
United States Special Operations Command, USSOCOM Fact
responsibilities are vested in Theater Special Operations
Book 2023, 40 pages, at https://www.socom.mil/latest-
Commands (TSOCs). TSOCs are sub-unified commands
factbook.
under their respective Geographic Combatant Commanders
(GCCs). TSOCs are special operational headquarters
elements designed to support a GCC’s special operations
Barbara Salazar Torreon, Senior Research Librarian
logistics, planning, and operational command and control
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
requirements, and are normally commanded by a one- or
two-star general officer from any Service. Current TSOCs
IF10545
include the following:
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Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10545 · VERSION 15 · UPDATED