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



1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D) "Delta Force" (United States Army)
United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group "DEVGRU" (United States Navy)
24th Special Tactics Squadron - United States Air Force
Intelligence Support Activity (known under various codenames since 1989, including Centra Spike, Torn Victor and Gray Fox)

Special Operation Forces

United States Army



75th Ranger Regiment ("Rangers")
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) ("Night Stalkers")
United States Army Special Forces ("Green Berets")
4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)
95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne)

United States Navy

SEALs (Sea, Air, Land)
Special Boat Teams

United States Air Force

352d Special Operations Group
353d Special Operations Group
720th Special Tactics Group

United States Marine Corps

Marine Force Reconnaissance (Reconnaissance and Direct Action)
Marine Recon (Deep Reconnaissance and Surveillance)
Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO)
Radio Reconnaissance Platoon
Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams (FAST)
Special Reaction Teams (SRTs)

United States Coast Guard

Port Security Units (overseas port security for U.S. Navy and allied civilian installations)
Law Enforcement Detachments
Maritime Safety and Security Teams (MSST)

Intelligence Community Special Units

Strategic Support Branch (SSB, DIA)
Special Activities Division (CIA)
Special Collections Service (SCS, joint NSA - CIA)
Proactive and Preemptive Operations Group (P2OG, DoD)

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.

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

Ranger School and Course - Fort Benning
John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School - Fort Bragg
Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training - Naval Special Warfare Center
Air Force Special Operations School - Hurlburt Field
Special Missions Training Center (USCG) - Camp Lejeune
Marine Special Operations School - Camp Lejeune

Federal Law Enforcement Special Units

Special Response Teams - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Special Operations Group - United States Marshals Service
Hostage Rescue Team - Federal Bureau of Investigation
Mobile Enforcement Teams - Drug Enforcement Administration
Special Response Teams - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Mobile Security Division - Bureau of Diplomatic Security
Tactical Teams - U.S. Border Patrol
Counter Assault Team - U.S. Secret Service

Commands








United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command 
United States Army Special Operations Command 
United States Air Force Special Operations Command 
United States Naval Special Warfare Command 
United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) 
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) 

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