United States Army Special Operations Command
Encyclopedia
The United States Army Special Operations Command (Airborne) (USASOC or ARSOC)
is the command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Forces
(SOF)
of the United States Army
. The command is part of the United States Special Operations Command
(USSOCOM); a larger
command overseeing all the different SOF Commands of each branch of the U.S. military
. The commander of United States Army Special Operations Command is Lieutenant General
John F. Mulholland, Jr.
Special Forces Command's Unconventional Warfare capabilities provide a viable military option for a variety of operational taskings that are inappropriate or infeasible for conventional forces, making it the U.S. military's premier unconventional warfare force.
Foreign Internal Defense operations, SF's main peacetime mission, are designed to help friendly developing nations by working with their military and police forces to improve their technical skills, understanding of human rights issues, and to help with humanitarian and civic action projects.
Often SF units are required to perform additional, or collateral, activities outside their primary missions. These collateral activities are coalition warfare/support, combat search and rescue, security assistance, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, humanitarian de-mining and counter-drug operations.
75th Ranger Regiment
The 75th Ranger Regiment, composed of three Ranger battalions, is the premier light infantry unit of the United States Army. Headquartered at Fort Benning
, Georgia
, the 75th Ranger Regiment’s mission is to plan and conduct special missions in support of U.S. policy and objectives. The three Ranger and one special troops battalions that comprise the 75th Ranger Regiment are geographically dispersed. Their locations are:
The Army maintains the Regiment at a high level of readiness. Each battalion can deploy anywhere in the world with 18 hours notice. Because of the importance the Army places on the 75th Ranger Regiment, it must possess a number of capabilities. These capabilities include:
To maintain readiness, Rangers train constantly. Their training encompasses Arctic, jungle, desert, and mountain operations, as well as amphibious instruction. The training philosophy of the 75th Ranger Regiment dictates the unit's' high state of readiness. The philosophy includes performance-oriented training emphasizing tough standards and a focus on realism and live-fire exercises, while concentrating on the basics and safety. Training at night, during adverse weather, or on difficult terrain multiplies the benefits of training events. Throughout training, Rangers are taught to expect the unexpected.
The 160th SOAR (A) actively seeks and assigns the best-qualified aviators and support soldiers available in the Army. The unique mission of the unit requires that all members be three time volunteers, i.e. Army, Airborne, 160th SOAR (A). Once assigned, incoming officers and enlisted soldiers go through Basic Mission Qualification. The Officer Qualification Course lasts 20–28 weeks while the Enlisted Qualification Course is five weeks in duration. Two other qualification levels exist, Fully Mission Qualified and Flight Lead. Associated progression through these levels are 12–24 months and 36–60 months respectively.
In 2011, the 160th SOAR will become part of the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC).
4th Psychological Operations Group
Psychological Operations are a vital part of the broad range of U.S. political, military, economic, and ideological activities used by the U.S. government to secure national objectives. PSYOP is the dissemination of information to foreign audiences in support of U.S. policy and national objectives.
Used during peacetime, contingencies, and declared war, these activities are a form of force
, and are force multipliers that use nonviolent means in often violent environments. Persuading rather than compelling physically, they rely on logic, fear, desire or other mental factors to promote specific emotions, attitudes or behaviors. The ultimate objective of U.S. military psychological operations is to convince enemy, neutral, and friendly nations and forces to take action favorable to the United States and its allies.
PSYOP Soldiers will often deploy with fellow SOF units in wartime and peace time
Note: There are two other PSYOP Groups - the 2nd and 7th POG(s)
All though 2nd and 7th POG(s) are not officially under USASOC due to recent changes, all documentation is still held by USASOC - 2nd and 7th Group fall under USACAPOC which holds 70% of PSYOP Soldiers.
95th Civil Affairs Brigade
Civil affairs units support military commanders by working with civil authorities and civilian populations in the commander's area of operations during peace, contingency operations and war.
Used during both conventional and special operations, civil affairs forces have a vital role and are capable of assisting and supporting the civil administration during operations. Civil affairs specialists identify critical requirements needed by local citizens in war or disaster situations. They also locate civilian resources to support military operations, help minimize civilian interference with operations, support national assistance activities, plan and execute noncombatant evacuation, support counterdrug operations and establish and maintain liaison with civilian aid agencies and other nongovernmental organizations.
In support of special operations, these culturally oriented, linguistically capable soldiers may also be tasked to provide functional expertise for foreign internal defense operations, unconventional warfare operations and direct action missions.
Specializing in advanced communications and resupply capabilities, members of the 112th SOSB (A) and the 528th SB (A), have a difficult mission supporting ARSOF. In their respective fields, signal and support soldiers provide supplies, maintenance, equipment and expertise allowing Special Operation Forces to "shoot, move and communicate" on a continuous basis. Because ARSOF often uses SOF-unique items, soldiers assigned to these units are taught to operate and maintain a vast array of specialized equipment not normally used by their conventional counterparts. To meet the needs of ARSOF, the two battalions have developed logistical and signal packages that are deployable on a moments notice. Soldiers assigned to these units are airborne qualified.
is the command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Forces
United States Special Operations Forces
United States Special Operations Forces under United States Special Operations Command are active and reserve component forces of U.S. Military...
(SOF)
of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. The command is part of the United States Special Operations Command
United States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
(USSOCOM); a larger
command overseeing all the different SOF Commands of each branch of the U.S. military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
. The commander of United States Army Special Operations Command is Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
John F. Mulholland, Jr.
U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) (USASFC)
The United States Army Special Operations is a Special Operations Force (SOF) of the United States Army tasked with five primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, and counter-terrorism. These missions make Special Forces unique in the U.S. military, because they are employed throughout the three stages of the operational continuum: peacetime, conflict and war.Special Forces Command's Unconventional Warfare capabilities provide a viable military option for a variety of operational taskings that are inappropriate or infeasible for conventional forces, making it the U.S. military's premier unconventional warfare force.
Foreign Internal Defense operations, SF's main peacetime mission, are designed to help friendly developing nations by working with their military and police forces to improve their technical skills, understanding of human rights issues, and to help with humanitarian and civic action projects.
Often SF units are required to perform additional, or collateral, activities outside their primary missions. These collateral activities are coalition warfare/support, combat search and rescue, security assistance, peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, humanitarian de-mining and counter-drug operations.
United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS)
USAJFKSWCS trains USSOCOM and Army Special Operations Forces through development and evaluation of special operations concepts, doctrines and trainings.75th Ranger Regiment75th Ranger Regiment (United States)The 75th Ranger Regiment , also known as Rangers, is a Special Operations light infantry unit of the United States Army. The Regiment is headquartered in Fort Benning, Georgia with battalions in Fort Benning, Hunter Army Airfield and Joint Base Lewis-McChord...
(Airborne)
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, the 75th Ranger Regiment’s mission is to plan and conduct special missions in support of U.S. policy and objectives. The three Ranger and one special troops battalions that comprise the 75th Ranger Regiment are geographically dispersed. Their locations are:
- 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army AirfieldHunter Army AirfieldHunter Army Airfield , located in Savannah, Georgia, United States, is a military airfield and subordinate installation to Fort Stewart.Hunter features a runway that is 11,375 feet long and an aircraft parking area that is more than 350 acres...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... - 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort LewisFort LewisJoint Base Lewis-McChord is a United States military facility located south-southwest of Tacoma, Washington. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Joint Base Garrison, Joint Base Lewis-McChord....
, Washington - 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort BenningFort BenningFort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... - Special Troops Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort BenningFort BenningFort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
The Army maintains the Regiment at a high level of readiness. Each battalion can deploy anywhere in the world with 18 hours notice. Because of the importance the Army places on the 75th Ranger Regiment, it must possess a number of capabilities. These capabilities include:
- Infiltrating and exfiltrating by land, sea and air
- Conducting direct action operations
- Conducting raids
- Recovery of personnel and special equipment
To maintain readiness, Rangers train constantly. Their training encompasses Arctic, jungle, desert, and mountain operations, as well as amphibious instruction. The training philosophy of the 75th Ranger Regiment dictates the unit's' high state of readiness. The philosophy includes performance-oriented training emphasizing tough standards and a focus on realism and live-fire exercises, while concentrating on the basics and safety. Training at night, during adverse weather, or on difficult terrain multiplies the benefits of training events. Throughout training, Rangers are taught to expect the unexpected.
160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) (160th SOAR (A))
Shortly after a failed hostage rescue mission, Desert One, in Iran, the Army formed a special aviation unit. The unit drew on the best aviators in the Army and immediately began an intensive training program in low-level, night operations. The unit became a battalion of its own on 16 Oct. 1981. Designated the 160th Aviation Battalion, the unit was popularly known as Task Force 160 because of the constant attachment and detachment of units to prepare for a wide variety of missions. Its focus on night operations resulted in the nickname, the "Night Stalkers." On 16 May 1990, the unit was reorganized, designated the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), and assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.The 160th SOAR (A) actively seeks and assigns the best-qualified aviators and support soldiers available in the Army. The unique mission of the unit requires that all members be three time volunteers, i.e. Army, Airborne, 160th SOAR (A). Once assigned, incoming officers and enlisted soldiers go through Basic Mission Qualification. The Officer Qualification Course lasts 20–28 weeks while the Enlisted Qualification Course is five weeks in duration. Two other qualification levels exist, Fully Mission Qualified and Flight Lead. Associated progression through these levels are 12–24 months and 36–60 months respectively.
In 2011, the 160th SOAR will become part of the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC).
4th Psychological Operations Group4th Psychological Operations GroupThe 4th Military Information Support Group or 4th MISG is one of the United States Army's active military information support operations units alongside with the 8th Military Information Support Group, which was activated August 26, 2011 at Fort Bragg...
(Airborne) (4th POG)
Psychological Operations are a vital part of the broad range of U.S. political, military, economic, and ideological activities used by the U.S. government to secure national objectives. PSYOP is the dissemination of information to foreign audiences in support of U.S. policy and national objectives.Used during peacetime, contingencies, and declared war, these activities are a form of force
Initiation of force
The initiation of force is the start, or beginning, of the use of physical and/or legal coercion, violence, or restraint. This is to be distinguished from retaliatory force and violence...
, and are force multipliers that use nonviolent means in often violent environments. Persuading rather than compelling physically, they rely on logic, fear, desire or other mental factors to promote specific emotions, attitudes or behaviors. The ultimate objective of U.S. military psychological operations is to convince enemy, neutral, and friendly nations and forces to take action favorable to the United States and its allies.
PSYOP Soldiers will often deploy with fellow SOF units in wartime and peace time
Note: There are two other PSYOP Groups - the 2nd and 7th POG(s)
All though 2nd and 7th POG(s) are not officially under USASOC due to recent changes, all documentation is still held by USASOC - 2nd and 7th Group fall under USACAPOC which holds 70% of PSYOP Soldiers.
95th Civil Affairs Brigade95th Civil Affairs BrigadeThe 95th Civil Affairs Brigade is a civil affairs brigade of the United States Army based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The concept for a civil affairs brigade had been under consideration for years, but was finally approved as a result of the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review...
(Airborne) (95th CA BDE)
Civil affairs units support military commanders by working with civil authorities and civilian populations in the commander's area of operations during peace, contingency operations and war.Used during both conventional and special operations, civil affairs forces have a vital role and are capable of assisting and supporting the civil administration during operations. Civil affairs specialists identify critical requirements needed by local citizens in war or disaster situations. They also locate civilian resources to support military operations, help minimize civilian interference with operations, support national assistance activities, plan and execute noncombatant evacuation, support counterdrug operations and establish and maintain liaison with civilian aid agencies and other nongovernmental organizations.
In support of special operations, these culturally oriented, linguistically capable soldiers may also be tasked to provide functional expertise for foreign internal defense operations, unconventional warfare operations and direct action missions.
528th Sustainment Brigade (United States)
528th SB (A), activated on 2 December 2005, is the newest major subordinate unit in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Its activation realigned the command and control organizational structure of the following units: 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (Airborne), Brigade Troops Battalion, Army SOF Support Cell, two Medical Level II teams and five Special Operation Liaison Elements. It also concentrates a dedicated, regionally oriented, combat and health services, communications planning, coordination and liaison base to assure support for all Army Special Operations Forces units.Specializing in advanced communications and resupply capabilities, members of the 112th SOSB (A) and the 528th SB (A), have a difficult mission supporting ARSOF. In their respective fields, signal and support soldiers provide supplies, maintenance, equipment and expertise allowing Special Operation Forces to "shoot, move and communicate" on a continuous basis. Because ARSOF often uses SOF-unique items, soldiers assigned to these units are taught to operate and maintain a vast array of specialized equipment not normally used by their conventional counterparts. To meet the needs of ARSOF, the two battalions have developed logistical and signal packages that are deployable on a moments notice. Soldiers assigned to these units are airborne qualified.
Chain of Command