United States special operations forces

The United States Special Operations Forces is the official category where the United States Department of Defense lists the US military units that have a training specialization in unconventional warfare and special operations. Special Operations Forces are often referred to incorrectly as US Special Forces, which, in actuality, is the official name for the Green Berets.

The Department refers to such units (and similar foreign organizations) as Special Operations Forces (SOF).

General Information

During peacetime, SOF units are usually under the operational command of their assigned branch of the military. But the Secretary of Defense can place Special Operations Forces (including all of the below, as well as US Navy SEAL units, selected units of the US Air Force, and other units) under the direct control of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), usually in time of active hostilities. US 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.

Rangers on patrol

List of US Special Operations Forces (Incomplete)

Active

Army

• Special Forces "Green Berets"
• 75th Ranger Regiment "Rangers"
• 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (160th SOAR(A)) "Night Stalkers"
• 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D) "Delta Force"
• Long Range Surveillance Units (LRSUs)

• Task Force 11 (Covert Delta Force/SEAL Team/Ranger)

Air Force

• Air Force Air Commandos
• Phoenix Raven
• Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs)

Navy

• SEALs
• Special Boat Teams (SBT)
• Special Boat Units (SBU's)
• Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) aka SEAL Team SIX
• Red Cell
• Mobile Communications Team (MCT)
• Basic Underwater Demolition / SEAL (BUD/S)
• Underwater Demolition Team (UDT's)

Marine Corps

• Marine Corps Force Recon (FORECON)
• Marine Corps Detachment One, US Special Operations Command MCSOCOM Detachment One
• Radio Recon Platoons
• Air and Naval Gunfire Company (ANGLICO)
• Maritime Special Pourpose Forces (MSPF)
• Direct Action Platoons (DAPs)
• Marine Scout Snipers
• Marine Long Range Reconnaissance Battalions (LRRPs)
• Special Reaction Teams (SRTs)
• Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams (FAST)

Other

• CIA - Special Activities Division (SAD)
• FBI - Hostage Rescue Team (HRT)

Former

• Blue Light
• Devil's Brigade (WW II)
• Gray Fox/Capacity Gear still exists (joint task force)
• Marine Raiders (WW II)
• Task Force 20 still active
• Task Force 120 still active
• Task Force 126
• Task Force 262
• Task Force 505 still active
• Task Force 5
• Force 21 still active
• Task Force 121 still active
• Tiger Force
• Merrill's Marauders aka. 5307th Composite Unit (provisional) (WW II)
• Omega Group, Sigma Group - Vietnam War era special forces units, of which much is speculated, rumored to still exist in some form.
• Paramarines (WWII)
• SWAT Global Strike Team (SWAT GST)

See also

• United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
• Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
• SWAT

External links

1. http://www.specialoperations.com/Units/military.htm
2. http://specwarnet.net/

References

1. USDOD (June 5, 2003). US DOD Dictionary of Military Terms. United States Department of Defense. United States of America.
2. USDOD (June 5, 2003). US DOD Dictionary of Military Terms: Joint Acronyms and Abbreviations. United States Department of Defense. United States of America.
3. Inside Delta Force by CSM. Eric Haney (ret.) former Delta Force operator and founding member
4. Masters of Chaos by Linda Robinson
5. Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern Warfare by Mark Bowden
6. http://www.specialoperations.com/Units/military.htm