Special Operations Units

Special Operations Forces (SOF) are specially trained and equipped military units employing unconventional tactics and techniques around the world.

U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has about 70,000 Active Duty, National Guard, and reserve personnel from all four services and Department of Defense (DOD) civilians assigned to its headquarters.

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM):

Role – Organize, train, equip and provide fully capable special operations forces to defend the United States and its interests.

USSOCOM develops, and employs, the world’s finest SOF to conduct global special operations and activities as part of the Joint Force, in concert with the U.S. Government Interagency, Allies, and Partners, to support persistent, networked, and distributed combatant command operations and campaigns against state and non-state actors all to protect and advance U.S. policies and objectives.

• U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
• U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
• U.S. Naval Special Warefare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM)
• U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)
• U.S. Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)
• Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
  • Special Missions Unit(s) (SMU) / Tier One: (The U.S. Government does not acknowledge which units specifically are designated as special missions units.)
    • 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) / Delta Force, Combat Application Group (CAG) – U.S. Army
    • SEAL Team Six, Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG) / Development Group (DEVGRU) – U.S. Navy
    • 24th Special Tactics Squadron (STS) – U.S. Air Force
• Special Operations Command – Africa (SOCAFRICA)
• Special Operations Command – Central (SOCCENT)
• Special Operations Command – Europe (SOCEUR)
• Special Operations Command – Korea (SOCKOR)
• Special Operations Command – North (SOCNORTH)
• Special Operations Command – Pacific (SOCPAC)
• Special Operations Command – South (SOCSOUTH)