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The '''United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)''' is a Unified Combatant Command with the mission statement <blockquote>Provide fully capable Special Operations Forces to defend the United States and its interests. Plan and synchronize operations against terrorist networks.</blockquote>
The '''United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)''' is a [[Unified Combatant Command]] with the mission statement <blockquote>Provide fully capable Special Operations Forces to defend the United States and its interests. Plan and synchronize operations against terrorist networks.</blockquote>


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.  
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.  


The largest part of USSOCOM is Army, but it is truly interservice; the culture is such that Special Operations is often seen as a fifth branch of the U.S. military. At one time it was a backwater and career-killer; the establishment of USSOCOM as a four-star command was a major change, and, eventually, lead to special operations officers rising to [[Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff]].
The largest part of USSOCOM is Army, but it is truly interservice; the culture is such that Special Operations is often seen as a fifth branch of the U.S. military. At one time it was a backwater and career-killer; the establishment of USSOCOM as a four-star command was a major change, and, eventually, lead to special operations officers rising to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As of 2007, Admiral Eric Olson is the first United States Navy SEAL] to head USSOCOM.


[[#Joint Special Operations Command|Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)]] is a subcommand of USSOCOM, and may carry out the direct strategic role, or have a fairly independent role in a regional [[Unified Combatant Command]]. For example, in the [[Gulf War]], there was a "white" special operations component of [[United States Central Command]], under a colonel, but a "black" JSOC force operated there as well, with a major general commanding operations such as the "SCUD hunt". The official component had a classic role of advising foreign forces.
#Joint Special Operations Command|Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is a subcommand of USSOCOM, and may carry out the direct strategic role, or have a fairly independent role in a regional Unified Combatant Command. For example, in the Gulf War, there was a "white" special operations component of United States Central Command, under COL Jesse Johnson, but a "black" JSOC force operated there as well, with MG Wayne Downing commanding operations such as the "SCUD hunt". The official component had a classic role of advising foreign forces.


==Army Component==
==Army Component==
The existence of Army special operations is a change from the post-[[Vietnam War]] days, when a substantial amount of Special Forces was deactivated, and the Army's emphasis put on mechanized warfare. An exception was the creation of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in January 1974, and the 2nd Battalion in October. These, however, were seen as elite infantry rather than special operators. <ref name=Adams>{{citation
{{main|Army Special Operations Command}}
The existence of Army special operations is a change from the post-Vietnam War days, when a substantial amount of Special Forces was deactivated, and the Army's emphasis put on mechanized warfare. An exception was the creation of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in January 1974, and the 2nd Battalion in October. These, however, were seen as elite infantry rather than special operators. <ref name=Adams>{{citation
  | title = US special operations forces in action: the challenge of unconventional warfare
  | title = US special operations forces in action: the challenge of unconventional warfare
  | author =Thomas K. Adams
  | author =Thomas K. Adams
  | publisher = Taylor & Francis | year = 1998
  | publisher = Taylor & Francis | year = 1998
  | ISBN=0714643505
  | ISBN=0714643505
  | url =http://books.google.com/books?id=35tsY4Wa274C&pg=PA162&lpg=PA162&dq=%22BLUE+LIGHT%22+Special+Forces&source=bl&ots=xVYareKtb_&sig=pVzItijxg4s7cJY_mF7m1IWZHV8&hl=en&ei=aQPwSciXGZ6blAf-y_y6DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#PPA161,M1 }}, pp. 159-160</ref> During this period, COL [[Robert Mountel]], operations officer of the Special Warfare Center, wrote a study, "The Multi-Purpose Force Study: US Army Special Forces." While this 1976 document has never fully been declassified, one summary paragraph said: <blockquote>...there is a pervasive lack of understanding, interest and support of [[unconventional warfare (United States Doctrine)|unconventional warfare]] and [[United States Army Special Forces|Special Forces]] as a valid national response option. Based on research conducted for this study, this state of mind is nearly what existed in the mid-1950s. [The role of Special Forces] is seen primarily in guerilla warfare in support of conventional forces.<ref>Mountel report, quoted by Adams</ref></blockquote>
  | url =http://books.google.com/books?id=35tsY4Wa274C&pg=PA162&lpg=PA162&dq=%22BLUE+LIGHT%22+Special+Forces&source=bl&ots=xVYareKtb_&sig=pVzItijxg4s7cJY_mF7m1IWZHV8&hl=en&ei=aQPwSciXGZ6blAf-y_y6DA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3#PPA161,M1 }}, pp. 159-160</ref>  


The [[Army Special Operations Command]] is the Army component of this [[Unified Combatant Command]]. At Component headquarters, there are command and staff elements, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School, and various support elements. The major operational subcommands are:
The Army Special Operations Command is the Army component of this Unified Combatant Command. At Component headquarters, there are command and staff elements, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School, and various support elements. The major operational subcommands are:


*[[United States Army Special Forces]]
*United States Army Special Forces  
*[[75th Ranger Regiment]]
*75th Ranger Regiment
*160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
*Ranger School
*Ranger School
*[[4th Psychological Operations Group]]
*4th Psychological Operations Group
*[[95th Civil Affairs Group]]
*95th Civil Affairs Group


Certain Army special operations personnel are assigned to [[Joint Special Operations Command]].
Certain Army special operations personnel are assigned to Joint Special Operations Command.


==Navy Component==
==Navy Component==
Under the [[Naval Special Warfare Command]] headquarters are the overall staff and doctrinal development, schools, the [[United States Navy SEAL]]s, and various special warfare combat boat and other SEAL delivery units. Certain related functions, such as general Navy divers, are in other commands.
{{main|Naval Special Warfare Command}}
Under the Naval Special Warfare Command headquarters are the overall staff and doctrinal development, schools, the United States Navy SEALs including DEVGRU (formerly Seal Team 6), and various special warfare combat boat and other SEAL delivery units. Certain related functions, such as general Navy divers, are in other commands.


==Air Force Component==
==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.
{{main|Air Force Special Operations Command}}
The Air Force component 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==
==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 Air-Ground Task Force#Marine Expeditionary Force|Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF)]]. It also contains units focused on [[foreign internal defense]], which are broadening their capabilities into other special operations missions.  
{{main|Marine Special Operations Command}}
Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) absorbed the special reconnaissance Marine Force Reconnaissance Companies, which had reported to the corps-level Marine Air-Ground Task Force#Marine Expeditionary Force|Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF). It also contains units focused on foreign internal defense, which are broadening their capabilities into other special operations missions. Force Reconnaissance Battalions, however, remain assigned to Divisions.


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 (military)|Direct Action]] (DA), and [[Special Reconnaissance]] (SR). MARSOC has also been directed to develop a capability in [[Unconventional warfare (United States doctrine)|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.  
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 (military)|Direct Action (DA), and Special Reconnaissance (SR). The Marine Special Operations Support Group (MSOSG) provides combat support and combat service support, the  to MARSOC Units.  


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.<ref name=MARSOC-FAQ>{{citation  
Going forward, the base unit of MARSOC will be the 14-man Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT), commanded by a Captain. 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 lieutenant colonel. They will have capabilities in Unconventional warfare (United States doctrine)|Unconventional Warfare (UW), Counter-Terrorism (CT), and Information Operations (IO). <ref name=MARSOC-FAQ>{{citation  
  | url = http://www.marsoc.usmc.mil/questions-responses.html
  | url = http://www.marsoc.usmc.mil/questions-responses.html
  | author = Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command
  | author = Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command
  | title = Questions & Responses Page}}</ref>
  | title = Questions & Responses Page}}</ref> This parallels the Army Special Forces structure of a 12-man Operational Detachment A (ODA) commanded by a captain, an ODB by a major, and an ODC by a lieutenant colonel.


==Joint Special Operations Command==
==Joint Special Operations Command==
The multiservice Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) focuses on much more secret operations than the rest of USSOCOM. It provides task forces called Special Mission Units (SMU), which often have a Ranger company attached for perimeter security.  
{{main|Joint Special Operations Command}}
 
The multiservice Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) focuses on much more secret operations than the rest of USSOCOM. It provides task forces called Special Mission Units (SMU), which often have a Ranger company attached for perimeter security. It has components from each of the service special operations commands, plus staff of its own:
When the 1979 Iranian rescue crisis took place, [[#Army Special Operations Detachment Delta|]]Delta was the unit best qualified for the mission, but the mission was much larger than the tasks for which it was designed. Further, there were no trained special operations aviation or other support assets to deliver it to Iran. An ''ad hoc'' force involving all the services was put together in four months, but the operation failed. JSOC was the response to having a permanent force for such missions.
*Delta Force
===Army Special Operations Detachment Delta===
*DEVGRU
{{main|Delta Force}}
*Detachment from 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
In 1977, President [[Jimmy Carter]] sent a letter to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, asking if the U.S. had an antiterrorist capability such as the German [[GSG-9]] unit that had conducted a hostage rescue in [[Mogadishu]], [[Somalia]]. [[Edward Meyer|Edward "Shy" Meyer]], then Army Vice Chief of Staff, convinced GEN [[Bernard Rogers]], then [[Chief of Staff of the Army]], to create such a unit; it was an Army, not joint, initiative. Meyer tasked COL [[Charles Beckwith|Charlie Beckwith]] to create a "ranger/shooter" type of unit that would be formally called  First Special Operations Detachment Delta (Airborne), or commonly Delta Force, the unit was consciously patterned after British [[Special Air Service]], with whom had served an exchange tour. It also reflected Beckwith's experience with [[MACV-SOG]].
*Air Force Special Tactics Squadron
 
Beckwith, in a 1973 tour with the [[Joint Casualty Resolution Center]], had proposed such a unit to his commander, BG Robert Kingston. <ref name=Beckwith>{{citation
| title = Delta Force: The Army's Elite Counterterrorist Unit
| author = Charlie A. Beckwith, Donald Knox
| publisher =  HarperCollins | year = 1983
|ISBN=0380809397
| url =http://books.google.com/books?id=Qwf1udr7lTMC&pg=PA115&vq=Meyer&source=gbs_search_r&cad=0_1#PPA102,M1 }}, pp. 99-102</ref>  In 1975, Kingston had been promoted to commander of the Special Warfare Center, while Beckwith, now a colonel, commanded the Special Warfare School. Kingston responded to inquiries from Meyer with a proposal from Beckwith, which was briefed to various senior officers, some of whom saw the proposed force as competition to the Rangers. He was, however, given the go-ahead in September 1977. <ref>Beckwith, pp. 126-127</ref>  While SAS has an advisory and guerilla leadership capability, it is not their primary emphasis.<ref>Adams, pp. 161-163</ref>
Mountel, however, had developed a more general-purpose, clandestine operations and special reconnaissance subunit, called BLUE LIGHT, within his command, 5th Special Forces Group.  Beckwith saw this as competing, and, when Beckwith made Rogers and Carter aware of it, BLUE LIGHT was cancelled. Mountel wrote, <blockquote>It [Delta] was more a pastiche of techniques and backgrounds &mdash; some borrowed from SAS and some borrowed from the Vietnam across-the-border operations &mdash; and all blundered into a macho whole that did not square with what I thought I knew about counter-terror operations in the twentieth century.<ref>quoted in Adams, p. 162</ref></blockquote>
 
===Detachment, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment===
In the Iran rescue mission, the helicopters came from a Marine unit not trained for special operations, which used Navy minesweeping helicopters to avoid the suspicion that Air Force special operations [[MH-53 PAVE LOW]] might have attracted. One of the results was to form a permanent Army special operations aviation unit for short to medium range operations, and assign [[Air Force Special Operations Command]] assets for the long-range helicopters and fixed-wing JSOC role.
 
===DEVGROUP, Naval Special Operations===
Formerly known as SEAL Team 6, this is a direct action, special reconnaissance and counterterrorist unit that adds underwater skills.


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}

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https://en.citizendium.org/wiki/index.php?title=United_States_Special_Operations_Command&printable=yes
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.
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.

The largest part of USSOCOM is Army, but it is truly interservice; the culture is such that Special Operations is often seen as a fifth branch of the U.S. military. At one time it was a backwater and career-killer; the establishment of USSOCOM as a four-star command was a major change, and, eventually, lead to special operations officers rising to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As of 2007, Admiral Eric Olson is the first United States Navy SEAL] to head USSOCOM.

  1. Joint Special Operations Command|Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is a subcommand of USSOCOM, and may carry out the direct strategic role, or have a fairly independent role in a regional Unified Combatant Command. For example, in the Gulf War, there was a "white" special operations component of United States Central Command, under COL Jesse Johnson, but a "black" JSOC force operated there as well, with MG Wayne Downing commanding operations such as the "SCUD hunt". The official component had a classic role of advising foreign forces.

Army Component

For more information, see: Army Special Operations Command.

The existence of Army special operations is a change from the post-Vietnam War days, when a substantial amount of Special Forces was deactivated, and the Army's emphasis put on mechanized warfare. An exception was the creation of the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in January 1974, and the 2nd Battalion in October. These, however, were seen as elite infantry rather than special operators. [1]

The Army Special Operations Command is the Army component of this Unified Combatant Command. At Component headquarters, there are command and staff elements, the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School, and various support elements. The major operational subcommands are:

  • United States Army Special Forces
  • 75th Ranger Regiment
  • 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
  • Ranger School
  • 4th Psychological Operations Group
  • 95th Civil Affairs Group

Certain Army special operations personnel are assigned to Joint Special Operations Command.

Navy Component

For more information, see: Naval Special Warfare Command.

Under the Naval Special Warfare Command headquarters are the overall staff and doctrinal development, schools, the United States Navy SEALs including DEVGRU (formerly Seal Team 6), and various special warfare combat boat and other SEAL delivery units. Certain related functions, such as general Navy divers, are in other commands.

Air Force Component

For more information, see: Air Force Special Operations Command.

The Air Force component 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

For more information, see: Marine Special Operations Command.

Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC) absorbed the special reconnaissance Marine Force Reconnaissance Companies, which had reported to the corps-level Marine Air-Ground Task Force#Marine Expeditionary Force|Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF). It also contains units focused on foreign internal defense, which are broadening their capabilities into other special operations missions. Force Reconnaissance Battalions, however, remain assigned to Divisions.

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 (military)|Direct Action (DA), and Special Reconnaissance (SR). The Marine Special Operations Support Group (MSOSG) provides combat support and combat service support, the to MARSOC Units.

Going forward, the base unit of MARSOC will be the 14-man Marine Special Operations Team (MSOT), commanded by a Captain. 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 lieutenant colonel. They will have capabilities in Unconventional warfare (United States doctrine)|Unconventional Warfare (UW), Counter-Terrorism (CT), and Information Operations (IO). [2] This parallels the Army Special Forces structure of a 12-man Operational Detachment A (ODA) commanded by a captain, an ODB by a major, and an ODC by a lieutenant colonel.

Joint Special Operations Command

For more information, see: Joint Special Operations Command.

The multiservice Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) focuses on much more secret operations than the rest of USSOCOM. It provides task forces called Special Mission Units (SMU), which often have a Ranger company attached for perimeter security. It has components from each of the service special operations commands, plus staff of its own:

  • Delta Force
  • DEVGRU
  • Detachment from 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
  • Air Force Special Tactics Squadron

References

  1. ↑ Thomas K. Adams (1998), US special operations forces in action: the challenge of unconventional warfare, Taylor & Francis, ISBN 0714643505, pp. 159-160
  2. ↑ Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, Questions & Responses Page
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