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United States Special Operations Forces

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The United States Special Operations Forces is the official category which the United States Department of Defense lists the U.S. military units that have a training specialization in unconventional warfare and special operations. The Department refers to such units (and similar foreign organizations) as Special Operations Forces (SOF).

General information

While in the continental U.S., most SOF units fall administratively under their assigned branch of the military, but organizationally under U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Operational control of deployed units falls under the respective SOCOM and its Special Operations Command structure. However, the Secretary of Defense can place all Special Operations Forces under the direct control of the SOCOM, usually in time of active hostilities.

U.S. SOF units have the same basic role in warfare as the special forces of most other countries, supplying small, elite units that can operate far behind enemy lines on sabotage, reconnaissance, counter-insurgency and other missions. Most have extensive airborne training.

List of United States Special Operations Forces

Counter-Terrorist Units

Special Operation Forces

United States Army

United States Navy

United States Air Force

United States Marine Corps

United States Coast Guard

Intelligence Community Special Units

Disbanded or Inactive Units

In the modern U.S. military structure since World War II, dozens of special operations units have been formed and later disbanded. Many were created for a specific, limited objective (such as Task Force 11), or for a specific conflict. In some cases, a special operations unit is reconstituted under a different name, usually for reasons of security, or evolves from a pilot project into a more permanent force. See Former United States special operations units.

U.S. Special Operations Centers, Schools, and Courses

Federal Law Enforcement Special Units

Commands

See also

References

External links



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Last updated on Thursday March 13, 2008 at 17:08:39 PDT (GMT -0700)
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