United States special operations forces

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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.[1][2] All active and reserve special operations forces are assigned to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).[2][3]

Emblem of United States Special Operations Command

Composition

Component commands
★★★ 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) ★★★[7]

United States Army

Army Rangers during a training operation
Army Green Berets, conduct a nighttime raid during a joint operation alongside the Coast Guard's Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT)
160th SOAR MH-47 unloading 23rd Special Tactics Squadron operators at Wynnehaven Beach, Florida, April 9, 2013

United States Marine Corps

Marine Raiders fine-tune Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) skills.

United States Navy

Navy SEALs during night operation in Afghanistan.
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team (SDV) 2 conduct diving lock out
SWCC from Special Boat Team 22 operating a SOC-R
  • Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM) ★★[7]
    • Naval Special Warfare Group ONE[7]
    • Naval Special Warfare Group TWO[7]
      • SEAL Team 2[7]
      • SEAL Team 4[7]
      • SEAL Team 8[7]
      • SEAL Team 10[7]
      • Logistics Support Unit 2[7]
      • Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Unit 2[7]
      • Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Unit 4[7]
      • Naval Special Warfare Unit (NSW) 10[7]
    • Naval Special Warfare Group FOUR[7]
      • Special Boat Team 12 (SBT-12)[7]
      • Special Boat Team 20 (SBT-20)[7]
      • Special Boat Team 22 (SBT-22)[7]
      • Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS)[7]
    • Naval Special Warfare Group EIGHT[10][11]
      • SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 (SDVT-1)[7]
      • SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2 (SDVT-2);[12] was reactivated on 8 March 2019[13]
      • Logistics Support Unit 3[7]
      • Special Reconnaissance Team 1[14]
      • Special Reconnaissance Team 2[14]
      • Training Detachment 3[14]
      • Mission Support Center[7]
    • Naval Special Warfare Group ELEVEN[7]
    • Naval Special Warfare Center[7]
      • Basic Training Command[7]
      • Advanced Training Command[7]

United States Air Force

Note: nonoperations-related squadrons are not included for a condensed list of units
Air Force Combat Controllers provide air traffic control for a C-130 in Afghanistan
23rd STS Air Force commandos training in Jordan
Air Force Pararescuemen (PJs) jump from an HC-130J Combat King II near Camp Lemonnier
Air Force TACP training with a SOFLAM at Barry Goldwater Air Force Range, Arizona

SOF career fields

United States Army

Army Special Forces (Green Berets) during breach and clear training near al-Tanf, Syria

United States Marine Corps

United States Navy

Special Boat Team 20 navigates a rigid-hull inflatable boat while a SEAL team boards a yacht

United States Air Force

* 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.[25]

** 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.[26]

U.S. special operations centers, schools, and courses

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

See also

References

External links

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