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 ForcesRangersMilitary Information Support Operators (Psychological Operations)Civil Affairs SoldiersEnablersSustainersArmy Special Operations AviatorsMilitary 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)EnablersSpecial Operations Capabilities SpecialistCombat Services SpecialistNavy SEALsSpecial warfare combatant-craft crewmen (SWCC)Special amphibious reconnaissance corpsman (SARC)EnablersUnited States Navy EODMobile Communications TeamOfficersCombat Rescue Officer (CRO) - PJ officersSpecial Tactics Officer (STO) - CCT/SOWT officersAir Liaison Officer (ALO)* - TACP officersEnlistedCombat 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 GermanyJoint Special Operations University – Hurlburt FieldAdvanced Special Operations Techniques Course (ASOTC) - Fort BraggJohn F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School – Fort BraggMilitary Free Fall Advanced Tactical Infiltration Course (ATIC) - Yuma Proving Ground, ArizonaNaval Special Warfare Center – Coronado, CaliforniaNaval Special Warfare Advanced Training Command, Imperial Beach, CARecon and Surveillance Leaders Course (RSLC) - Fort Benning, GeorgiaSpecial Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) - Fort BraggSpecial Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course - Key West, FloridaSpecial Forces Sniper Course (SFSC) - Fort BraggSpecial Forces Advanced Targeting Reconnaissance Target Analysis Exploitation Techniques (SFARTAETC)Special Forces Physical Surveillance CourseSOF Sensitive Site Exploitation, Technical Exploitation CourseSOF Sensitive Site Exploitation, Operator Advanced CourseSpecial Forces Master Mountaineering Course (Level 1)Special Forces Senior Mountaineering Course (Level 2)Winter Warfare, Mountain and Cold Weather OperationsSpecial Forces Technical Surveillance (SFTSC)Marine Special Operations School – Camp LejeuneMarine Corps Special Operations Training GroupUS Army Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP) – Fort Benning, GeorgiaUS Army Small Unit Ranger Tactics (SURT) – Fort Benning, GeorgiaUSAF Combat Control School – Pope Field, North CarolinaUSAF Pararescue Recovery Specialist Course - Kirtland AFB, NMUSAF Special Operations School – Hurlburt Field, FLSpecial Tactics Training SquadronSpecial Operations Terminal Attack Control Course (SOTACC), Yuma Proving Ground, ArizonaJTAC Advanced Instructor Course – Nellis AFB, NVNaval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Naval Air Station Fallon, NVUS Navy Rescue Swimmer school, Pensacola, FloridaUS Coast Guard Special Mission Training Center, Camp Lejeune, North CarolinaCommands
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 CommandsSpecial Operations Command Africa (SOCAFRICA)Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT)Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR)Joint Special Operations Air Component EuropeSpecial Operations Command Pacific (SOCPAC)Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH)Special Operations Command North (SOCNORTH)Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR)