NDM Article - U.S. Special Operations Command: A Snapshot

Sponsors

ARTICLE

February 2004

U.S. Special Operations Command: A Snapshot

by Harold Kennedy

The U.S. Special Operations command includes:

U.S. Army Special Operations Command. ASOC, based at Fort Bragg, N.C., is made up of Special Forces, Rangers, special operations helicopters, civil affairs and psychological operations units.
Naval Special Warfare Command. Located in Coronado, Calif., NAVSPECWARCOM consists of Navy Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) teams, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams and Special Boat Squadrons and Units.
U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command. AFSOC, headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Fla., provides highly specialized, rapidly deployable fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, including transports, gun ships and “Commando Solo” platforms for airborne radio and television broadcasts for psychological operations. These aircraft, EC-130s, also are called “weapons of mass persuasion.”
Joint Special Operations Command. JSOC, also situated at Fort Bragg, has representatives from all SOCOM commands. It is designed to study special operations requirements and techniques, ensure interoperability and equipment standardization; plan and conduct joint special operations exercises and training, and develop joint special operations tactics. Although SOCOM won’t talk about it, JSOC also is widely reported to be the command that conducts U.S. covert counter-terrorism operations. Its units are said to include the 1st Special Forces Detachment—Delta, SEAL Team Six and the 24th Special Tactics Squadron.
U.S. Marine Detachment. A detachment of 81 Marines and five Navy medics have been deployed to the SEAL base at Coronado. The detachment’s mission is to work with SEAL teams in conducting special reconnaissance operations and direct-action strikes.