United States Special Operations Forces (SOF) are components of the Department of Defense's United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).
The U.S. military definition of Special Operations Forces according to the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms is "Those Active and Reserve Component forces of the Military Services designated by the Secretary of Defense and specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. Also called SOF". The definition in the DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms references Joint Publication 3-05.1 - Joint Special Operations Task Force Operations (JP 3-05.1) as its source.
★ Represents a unit led by a Brigadier General or Rear Admiral (lower half)
★★ Represents a unit led by a Major General or Rear Admiral (upper half)
★★★ Represents a unit led by a Lieutenant General or Vice Admiral
Joint Special Operations Command
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) ★★★
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Airborne) (USA)
24th Special Tactics Squadron (USAF)
427th Special Operations Squadron (USAF)
Flight Concepts Division (USA)
Intelligence Support Activity (USA)
Joint Communications Unit (Joint Service)
Naval Special Warfare Development Group (USN)
Regimental Reconnaissance Company (USA)
Special Forces
Rangers
Military Information Support Operators (Psychological Operations)
Civil Affairs Soldiers
Enablers
Sustainers
Army Special Operations Aviators
Military Intelligence and other Special Operations/Support with enlisted Special Qualification (SQI) Identifier "S" or "K9" for Officers.
United States Marine Corps Critical Skills Operator (CSO)
Enablers
Special Operations Capabilities Specialist
Combat Services Specialist
Navy SEALs
Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen (SWCC)
Special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman (SARC)
Enablers
United States Navy EOD
Mobile Communications Team
Officers
Combat Rescue Officer (CRO) - PJ officers
Special Tactics Officer (STO) - CCT/SOWT officers
Air Liaison Officer (ALO)* - TACP officers
Enlisted
Combat Control (CCT)
Pararescue (PJ)
Special Operations Weather Technician (SOWT)
Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)*
* Note: ALO/TACP are not inherently designated SOF, only ALO/TACP belonging to Special Tactics Squadrons which are under AFSOC, the vast majority of TACPs/ALOs are in Air Support Operations Squadrons which belong to Air Combat Command.
U.S. Special Operations centers, schools, and courses
International Special Training Center (ISTC) - Pfullendorf, Federal Republic of Germany
Joint Special Operations University – Hurlburt Field
Advanced Special Operations Techniques Course (ASOTC) - Fort Bragg
John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School – Fort Bragg
Military Free Fall Advanced Tactical Infiltration Course (ATIC) - Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona
Naval Special Warfare Center – Coronado, California
Naval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command, Imperial Beach, CA
Recon and Surveillance Leaders Course (RSLC) - Fort Benning, Georgia
Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) - Fort Bragg
Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course - Key West, Florida
Special Forces Sniper Course (SFSC) - Fort Bragg
Special Forces Advanced Targeting Reconnaissance Target Analysis Exploitation Techniques (SFARTAETC)
Special Forces Physical Surveillance Course
SOF Sensitive Site Exploitation, Technical Exploitation Course
SOF Sensitive Site Exploitation, Operator Advanced Course
Special Forces Master Mountaineering Course (Level 1)
Special Forces Senior Mountaineering Course (Level 2)
Winter Warfare, Mountain and Cold Weather Operations
Special Forces Technical Surveillance (SFTSC)
Marine Special Operations School – Camp Lejeune
Marine Corps Special Operations Training Group
US Army Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) – Fort Benning, Georgia
US Army Small Unit Ranger Tactics (SURT) – Fort Benning, Georgia
USAF Combat Control School – Pope Field, North Carolina
USAF Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course - Kirtland AFB, NM
USAF Special Operations School – Hurlburt Field, FL
Special Tactics Training Squadron
Special Operations Terminal Attack Control Course (SOTACC), Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona
JTAC Advanced Instructor Course – Nellis AFB, NV
Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Naval Air Station Fallon, NV
US Navy Rescue Swimmer school, Pensacola, Florida
US Coast Guard Special Mission Training Center, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
Commands
United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)
United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)
United States Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC)
United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)
Special Operations Command – Joint Capabilities (SOC-JC)
Theater Special Operations Commands
Special Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA)
Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT)
Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR)Joint Special Operations Air Component Europe
Special Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC)
Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH)
Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH)
Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR)