https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated November 21, 2022
Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
Overview
Special Operations Forces (SOF) are those active duty and
reserve component forces of the military services
designated by the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and
specifically selected, organized, trained, and equipped to
conduct and support special operations. Special operations
frequently require unique modes of employment, tactics,
techniques, procedures, and equipment. SOF often conducts
special operations in hostile, politically, and/or
diplomatically sensitive environments, and are
characterized by one or more of the following: time-
sensitivity, clandestine or covert nature, low visibility, work
with or through indigenous forces, greater requirements for
regional orientation and cultural expertise, and a high
degree of risk. SOF’s core activities are
Direct action
Special reconnaissance
Countering weapons of mass destruction
Counterterrorism
Unconventional warfare
Foreign internal defense
Security force assistance
Hostage rescue and recovery
Counterinsurgency
Foreign humanitarian assistance
Military information support operations
Civil affairs operations
Selection of SOF Operational Personnel
SOF operational personnel (often referred to as “operators”)
undergo a rigorous screening and selection process
characterized by a low selection rate. After selection, they
receive mission-specific training to achieve proficiency in a
variety of special operations skills. SOF operators tend to
be experienced personnel and many maintain competency
in more than one military specialty. Selected operators have
regional, cultural, and linguistic expertise. Some SOF
personnel require highly technical and advanced training
for anticipated missions such as Military Freefall training,
Combat Diver training, and Sniper training.
Command Structure and Components
In 1986, Congress, concerned about the status of SOF
within overall U.S. defense planning and budgeting, passed
legislation to strengthen special operations’ position within
the defense community and to strengthen interoperability
among the branches of U.S. SOF. The National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) of 1987 (P.L. 99-661),
established an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special
Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (ASD (SOLIC)) and
a new four-star command to prepare Special Operations
Forces (SOF) to carry out assigned missions and, if directed
by the President or SECDEF, to plan for and conduct
special operations.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Special Operations and Low Intensity
Conflict (ASD (SOLIC))
The ASD (SOLIC) is the principal civilian advisor to the
SECDEF on special operations and low-intensity conflict
matters. The ASD (SOLIC) has as their principal duty
overall supervision (to include oversight of policy and
resources) of special operations and low-intensity conflict
activities. The ASD (SOLIC) falls under and reports to the
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD (P)).
Congress, wanting ASD (SOLIC) to exercise greater
oversight of USSOCOM, enacted Section 922, FY2017
National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 114-328) to
facilitate and resource ASD (SOLIC)’s originally intended
Service Secretary-like authorities.
U.S. Special Operations Command
(USSOCOM)
Activated on April 16, 1987, and headquartered at MacDill
Air Force Base in Tampa, FL, USSOCOM is the unified
Combatant Command (COCOM) responsible for
organizing, training, and equipping all U.S. SOF units.
Headquarters, USSOCOM consists of approximately 2,500
military and civilian personnel, and overall, the command
has more than 70,000 personnel assigned to its
headquarters, its service components, and sub-unified
commands. The USSOCOM commander is a four-star
general officer from any Service, who reports directly to the
SECDEF. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks,
USSOCOM’s responsibilities were expanded in the 2004
Unified Command Plan (UCP), assigning USSOCOM
responsibility for coordinating the Department of Defense
(DOD) plans against global terrorism and conducting global
operations as directed. Since 2016, USSOCOM has also
been assigned the roles coordinating authority over
countering violent extremist operations (CVEO) and
counter weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) operations.
USSOCOM Service Component
Commands
Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
On December 1, 1989, USASOC was established at Fort
Bragg, NC, as a major Army command to enhance the
readiness of Army SOF in the active and reserve
components. With an allocated strength of approximately
35,000 personnel, USASOC consists of Special Forces
(Green Berets), Rangers, Special Operations Aviators, Civil
Affairs Soldiers, Psychological Operations soldiers, training
