Special Operations Forces Reference Manual
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Special Operations Forces Reference Manual Fourth Edition The JSOU Press MacDill AFB, Florida June 2015 Prepared by Joint Special Operations University and the Center for Special Operations Studies and Research MacDill AFB, FL 33621 The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU). The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) provides its publications to contribute toward expanding the body of knowledge about joint special operations. JSOU publications advance the insights and recom- mendations of national security professionals and the Special Operations Forces (SOF) students and leaders for consideration by the SOF community and defense leadership. JSOU is the educational component of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The JSOU mission is to educate SOF execu- tive, senior, and intermediate leaders and selected other national and international security decision-makers, both military and civilian, through teaching, outreach, and research in the science and art of joint special operations. JSOU provides education to the men and women of SOF and to those who enable the SOF mission in a joint and interagency environment. JSOU conducts research through its Center for Special Operations Studies and Research (CSOSR) where effort centers upon the USSOCOM mission: USSOCOM mission. Provide fully capable Special Operations Forces to defend the United States and its interests. Synchronize planning of global operations against terrorist networks. The CSOSR also provides teaching and curriculum support to Professional Military Education institutions—the staff colleges and war colleges. It advances SOF strategic influence by its interaction in academic, interagency, and United States military communities. The JSOU public Web page is located at https://jsou.socom.mil. JSOU publications can also be found on the JSOU library web site at http://jsou.libguides.com Fourth Edition Editorial Team: John Alvarez Robert Nalepa Anna-Marie Wyant Fred Zimmerman Book layout and graphic design by Claire Luke First Edition, June 2005 (Revised July 2006) Second Edition, August 2008 Third Edition, September 2011 Fourth Edition, June 2015 This work was cleared for public release; distribution is unlimited. ISBN 978-1-933749-91-4 On the Cover. The cover image depicts special operations forces from U.S. Army Special Operations Command, U.S. Navy Special Operations Command, U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command conducting activities that are enabled through specialized education, training, and equipment. The content of this manual represents an ongoing, dynamic project to capture the existing organization, responsibilities, and capabilities of United States Spe- cial Operations Command and its subordinate commands. The cutoff date for input to this Fourth Edition was 28 February 2015. Any omissions or errors are completely unintentional. This reference manual is intended for classroom use and does not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the United States Government, Department of Defense, United States Special Operations Command, or the Joint Special Opera- tions University. Contents Special Operations Forces Reference Manual ..................................... xi Preface . xi Chapter 1. Introduction to Special Operations .................................. 1-1 Special Operations . 1-1 Four Factors for Successful Special Operations ........................................ 1-1 Characteristics of Special Operations ................................................ 1-1 SOF Truths ....................................................................... 1-1 SOF Ethic and Culture - Quiet Professionals ......................................... 1-1 Doctrinal Overview of Special Operations Forces . 1-2 Successful Conduct ............................................................... 1-2 United States Special Operations Command . 1-2 Joint Special Operations . 1-2 Shaping Environments ............................................................. 1-3 The Strategic Environment ......................................................... 1-3 Attributes of SOF . 1-4 Precision Strike and Effects ......................................................... 1-4 Tailored and Integrated Operations .................................................. 1-4 Ubiquitous Access ................................................................ 1-4 Regional Expertise, Presence, and Influence .......................................... 1-4 C4ISR Dominance ................................................................ 1-4 Agile and Unconventional Logistics ................................................. 1-4 Force Protection and Survivability .................................................. 1-4 SOF Operational Framework/SOF Operating Concept . 1-5 Special Operations and Strategic Challenges .......................................... 1-5 SOF Operating Concept ........................................................... 1-5 SOF Core Activities ............................................................... 1-6 Stability Operations ............................................................... 1-8 Support Considerations for SOF .................................................... 1-8 Chapter 2. Special Operations Force Structure .................................. 2-1 United States Special Operations Command . 2-1 USSOCOM—A Unique Organization ................................................ 2-2 Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command (HQ USSOCOM) ..................... 2-3 USSOCOM J2 Intelligence ......................................................... 2-4 USSOCOM J3 Operations ......................................................... 2-4 Global Mission Support Center (GMSC) ............................................. 2-5 SOF Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics (SOF AT&L) . 2-5 USSOCOM J5 Strategy, Plans, and Policy ............................................ 2-6 USSOCOM J6 Communications Systems ............................................ 2-6 USSOCOM J8 Force Structure, Requirements, Resources, and Strategic Assessments Directorate .................................................. 2-7 Special Operations Financial Management (SOFM) .................................... 2-7 June 2015 v Special Operations Forces Reference Manual USSOCOM Directorate of Force Management and Development (FMD) (J1, J7, J9, and Joint Special Operations University) ..................................... 2-8 Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) .......................................... 2-9 USSOCOM Organizations . 2-12 Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) ......................................... 2-12 Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs) . 2-13 Special Operations Command, Africa (SOCAFRICA) . 2-14 Special Operations Command, Central (SOCCENT) ................................. 2-15 Special Operations Command, Europe (SOCEUR) ................................... 2-16 Special Operations Command, Korea (SOCKOR) .................................... 2-17 Special Operations Command, North (SOCNORTH) ................................ 2-18 Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC) .................................... 2-19 Special Operations Command, South (SOCSOUTH) ................................. 2-20 SOF Operational Command and Control . 2-21 Special Operations Forces Joint Task Force .......................................... 2-21 Command and Control of SOF in Theater .......................................... 2-22 Role of the TSOC Commander ..................................................... 2-23 Forming a SOF Command and Control Structure (JSOTF or JFSOCC) .................. 2-24 SOF as the Lead for a Joint Task Force .............................................. 2-24 Notional Organization of a JSOTF .................................................. 2-25 Joint Special Operations Air Component (JSOAC) .................................... 2-25 SOF Integration with Conventional Operations and Forces ............................ 2-26 Joint Military Information Support Task Force (JMISTF) ............................. 2-27 Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force (JCMOTF) . 2-28 NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan/Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan (NSOCC-A/SOJTF-A) ....................... 2-29 Chapter 3. U.S. Army Special Operations Forces ............................... 3-1 United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) . 3-1 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (Provisional) – 1st SFC (A) (P) . 3-2 Special Forces Regiment ........................................................... 3-2 Special Forces Group (Airborne) .................................................... 3-3 Special Forces Group Support Battalion (GSB) ........................................ 3-4 Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) .................................................. 3-6 Battalion Support Company ....................................................... 3-6 Special Forces Company ........................................................... 3-6 Special Forces Operational Detachment “A” .......................................... 3-7 Army National Guard - Special Operations Detachment (SOD) ......................... 3-9 Military Information Support Operations (MISO) ................................... 3-10 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) ............................................... 3-14 528th Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations)(Airborne)