United States special operations forces (SOF) are the active and reserve component forces of the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force within the US military, as designated by the Secretary of Defense and specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. All active and reserve special operations forces are assigned to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
Composition
Component commands
United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)
United States Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC)
United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)
Theater Special Operations Commands
Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA)
Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT)
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)
Joint Special Operations Air Component Europe
Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC)
Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH)
Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH)
Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR)
★★★ 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) ★★★
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
Signal 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)
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 (USAF)
Intelligence Support Activity (USA)
United States Army
United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) ★★★
1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) ★★
1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Headquarters Company
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
4th Battalion
Group Support Battalion
3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Headquarters Company
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
4th Battalion
Group Support Battalion
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Headquarters Company
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
4th Battalion
Group Support Battalion
7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Headquarters Company
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
4th Battalion
Group Support Battalion
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Headquarters Company
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
4th Battalion
Group Support Battalion
19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (Army National Guard)
Headquarters Company
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
Group Support Company
20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (Army National Guard)
Headquarters Company
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion
3rd Battalion
Group Support Company
4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)
Headquarters Company
6th POB(A) Battalion
7th POB(A) Battalion
8th POB(A) Battalion
8th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)
Headquarters Company
1st POB(A) Battalion
5th POB(A) Battalion
9th POB(A) Battalion
95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne)
91st Civil Affairs Battalion
92nd Civil Affairs Battalion
96th Civil Affairs Battalion
97th Civil Affairs Battalion
98th Civil Affairs Battalion
528th Sustainment Brigade, Special Operations (Airborne)
Special Troops Battalion
197th Special Troops Support Company (Texas Army National Guard)
112th Special Operations Signal Battalion
389th Military Intelligence Battalion (Airborne)
75th Ranger Regiment
1st Ranger Battalion
2nd Ranger Battalion
3rd Ranger Battalion
Regimental Military Intelligence Battalion (Intelligence, Reconnaissance, & Surveillance)
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment
Cyber Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) Company
Military Intelligence Company
Special Troops Battalion
Regimental Reconnaissance Company
U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) ★
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
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)
Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion
United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) ★★
1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne)
2nd Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne)
Special Warfare Education Group (Airborne)
Special Warfare Medical Group (Airborne)
United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) ★★
Marine Raider Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
2d Marine Raider Battalion
3d Marine Raider Battalion
Marine Raider Support Group
1st Marine Raider Support Battalion
2d Marine Raider Support Battalion
3d Marine Raider Support Battalion
Marine Raider Training Center
United States Navy
Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) ★★
Naval Special Warfare Group ONE
SEAL Team 1
SEAL Team 3
SEAL Team 5
SEAL Team 7
Logistics Support Unit 1
Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Unit 1
Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Unit 3
Naval Special Warfare Group TWO
SEAL Team 2
SEAL Team 4
SEAL Team 8
SEAL Team 10
Logistics Support Unit 2
Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Unit 2
Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Unit 4
Naval Special Warfare Unit (NSW) 10
Naval Special Warfare Group FOUR
Special Boat Team 12 (SBT-12)
Special Boat Team 20 (SBT-20)
Special Boat Team 22 (SBT-22)
Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS)
Naval Special Warfare Group EIGHT
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT-1)
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2 (SDVT-2); was reactivated on 8 March 2019
Logistics Support Unit 3
Special Reconnaissance Team 1
Special Reconnaissance Team 2
Training Detachment 3
Mission Support Center
Naval Special Warfare Group ELEVEN
SEAL Team 17 (Navy Reserve)
SEAL Team 18 (Navy Reserve)
Naval Special Warfare Center
Basic Training Command
Advanced Training Command
United States Air Force
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) ★★★
1st Special Operations Wing
1st Special Operations Group
4th Special Operations Squadron
8th Special Operations Squadron
9th Special Operations Squadron
15th Special Operations Squadron
23rd Weather Squadron
34th Special Operations Squadron
319th Special Operations Squadron
24th Special Operations Wing
720th Special Tactics Group
17th Special Tactics Squadron
21st Special Tactics Squadron
22nd Special Tactics Squadron
23rd Special Tactics Squadron
26th Special Tactics Squadron
720th Operations Support Squadron
724th Special Tactics Group
24th Special Tactics Squadron
724th Operations Support Squadron
724th Intelligence Squadron
724th Special Tactics Support Squadron
27th Special Operations Wing
27th Special Operations Group
3rd Special Operations Squadron
9th Special Operations Squadron
16th Special Operations Squadron
20th Special Operations Squadron
33rd Special Operations Squadron
56th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron
73rd Special Operations Squadron
318th Special Operations Squadron
524th Special Operations Squadron
137th Special Operations Wing (Air National Guard)
193d Special Operations Wing (Air National Guard)
193d Special Operations Squadron
919th Special Operations Wing (Air Force Reserve)
919th Special Operations Group
2d Special Operations Squadron
5th Special Operations Squadron
711th Special Operations Squadron
352d Special Operations Wing (Provisional)
7th Special Operations Squadron
67th Special Operations Squadron
321st Special Tactics Squadron
353rd Special Operations Group
1st Special Operations Squadron
17th Special Operations Squadron
Detachment 1, 43rd Intelligence Squadron
320th Special Tactics Squadron
492nd Special Operations Wing ★
19th Special Operations Squadron
6th Special Operations Squadron
18th Flight Test Squadron
280th Combat Communications Squadron
371st Special Operations Combat Training Squadron
551st Special Operations Squadron
United States Air Force Special Operations School
SOF career fields
United States Army
Special Forces
Rangers
Psychological Operations (Military Information Support Operators)
Civil Affairs Soldiers
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
Special Operations Capabilities Specialist
Combat Services Specialist
United States Navy
Navy SEALs
Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen (SWCC)
Special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman (SARC)
United States Navy EOD (EOD)
Enablers (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)
Pararescuemen* (PJ)
Combat Rescue Officer* (CRO)
Tactical Air Control Party** (ST TACP)
Tactical Air Control Party Officer** (ST TACP-O)
Psychological Operations
* 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.
** TACP-O/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.
U.S. special operations centers, schools, and courses
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 Raider Training Center – 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 Special Operations School – Hurlburt Field, FL
Special Tactics Training Squadron
Special Operations Terminal Attack Control Course (SOTACC), Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona
JTAC Advanced Instructor Course – Nellis AFB, NV
Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Naval Air Station Fallon, NV
US Navy Rescue Swimmer school, Pensacola, Florida
US Coast Guard Special Missions 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
Special Activities Center
Intelligence Support Activity
References
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.
Feickert, Andrew (6 January 2017). U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress(PDF). Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
External links
David Ignatius: Learning to Fight a War – Washington Post, 2008-02-10