United States Special Operations Command

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is a Unified Combatant Command with the mission statement

Provide fully capable Special Operations Forces to defend the United States and its interests. Plan and synchronize operations against terrorist networks.

It trains special operations personnel from all the U.S. military services, and either attaches units to geographic Unified Combatant Commands, or, when ordered to do so, may keep operational control of Special Operations units on strategic missions.

Army Component

Army Special Forces

United States Army Special Forces

Rangers

Organized into the three-battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, Rangers are airborne infantry specializing in quick raids, such as seizing airfields or providing security for more highly specialized special operators carrying out direct actions (e.g., prisoner capture, hostage rescue, high-value target destruction).

Air Force Component

Air Force Special Operations Command principally provides long-range transport and fire support aircraft, but also has specialists that operate with ground special operations troops. The ground roles include air traffic control for special operations aircraft, as well as meteorological monitoring in remote areas.

Marine Corps Component

See Marine Special Operations Command. This absorbed the special reconnaissance Marine Force Reconnaissance Companies, which had reported to the corps-level Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF). It also contains units focused on foreign internal defense, which are broadening their capabilities into other special operations missions.

A Marine Special Operations School (MSOS) recruits, qualifies, ad develops Special Operations Forces (MARSOF) and has responsibility for doctrine development in Foreign Internal Defense (FID), Direct Action (DA), and Special Reconnaissance (SR). MARSOC has also been directed to develop a capability in Unconventional Warfare (UW), Counter-Terrorism (CT), and Information Operations (IO). The Marine Special Operations Support Group (MSOSG) provides combat support and combat service support, the to MARSOC Units. The MSOS

Going forward, the base unit of MARSOC will be the 14-man Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT), commanded by a Captain. All MSOTs will have the same organization. MSOTs will be part of a Marine Special Operations Company, commanded by a Major. Each MSOC headquarters will have the same structure. All MSOCs will be elements of an MSOB, commanded by a LtCol. The uniform naming convention gives MARSOC consistent, clearly understood force modules which enable effective resourcing and joint employment.