thumb|Emblem of [[United States Special Operations Command]]

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).

  • Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
  • Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH)
  • 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) (Joint Service)
  • Joint Cyber Operations Group (JCOG) (Formerly Joint Communications Integration Element/JCIE)(Joint Service)
  • Joint Special Operations Command Intelligence Brigade (JSOCIB)
  • 427th Special Operations Squadron (USAF)
  • Intelligence Support Activity (USA)

United States Army

thumb|Army Rangers during a training operation

thumb|Army Green Berets, conduct a nighttime raid during a joint operation alongside the [[Deployable Specialized Forces#Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT)|Coast Guard's Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT)]]

thumb|[[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)|160th SOAR MH-47 unloading 23rd Special Tactics Squadron operators at Wynnehaven Beach, Florida, April 9, 2013]]

  • United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) ★★★
  • SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT-1) was reactivated on 8 March 2019
  • Logistics Support Unit 3
  • Special Reconnaissance Team 2
  • 4th Special Operations Squadron
  • 17th Special Tactics Squadron
  • 3rd Special Operations Squadron
  • 193rd Special Operations Wing (Air National Guard)
  • 2nd Special Operations Squadron
  • 67th Special Operations Squadron
  • 17th Special Operations Squadron
  • 6th Special Operations Squadron
  • Civil Affairs Soldiers -- similar to MISO, only active duty units that fall under USASOC are SOF; Reserve and National Guard Civil Affairs units are conventional forces and not SOF.
  • United States Marine Corps Critical Skills Operator (CSO)

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

thumb|200px|[[Deployable Specialized Forces U.S. Coast Guard operators fire Mk18 rifles while instructors supervise during the Advanced Tactical Operations Course at Special Missions Training Center]]

  • 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)
  • Special Missions Training Center/Joint Maritime Training Center, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
  • 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 Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course – Kirtland AFB, NM
  • 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 Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center (NDSTC), Panama City Beach
  • US Navy Rescue Swimmer school, Pensacola, Florida
  • US Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician Training Center, Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina
  • International Special Training Center (ISTC) – Pfullendorf, Federal Republic of Germany

See also

  • U.S. Air Force Deployed Aircraft Ground Response Element (DAGRE)
  • U.S. Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF)
  • Intelligence Support Activity
  • Military Liaison Element
  • Special Activities Center

References

  • David Ignatius: Learning to Fight a War – Washington Post, 2008-02-10
  • US Special Operation Forces – 2009 SOCOM Factbook
  • American Special Operations Forces