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UNITED STATES SPECIAL
OPERATIONS COMMAND
 USSOCOM
plans, directs, and executes special operations in the conduct of the
War on Terrorism in order to disrupt, defeat, and destroy terrorist
networks that threaten the United States, its citizens and interests
worldwide. USSOCOM organizes, trains, and equips special operations
forces provided to Geographic Combatant Commanders, American Ambassadors
and their country teams.
In the next
century, the spread of information, the development of and access to new
technologies, and an increasing recognition of global problems will
present vast opportunities for economic growth, regional integration,
and global political cooperation. Yet for all of this promise, the world
remains a complex, dynamic, and dangerous place. It will continue to be
an uncertain security environment, one for which U.S. special operations
forces (SOF) are uniquely suited, offering the capabilities to avert
emerging threats and providing unprecedented opportunities to address
the challenges in ways that advance U.S. interests.
 Naval Special Warfare
Command was commissioned April 16, 1987, at Naval Amphibious Base
Coronado in San Diego, CA. As the Naval component to the United States
Special Operations Command headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Commander,
Naval Special Warfare Command provides vision, leadership, doctrinal
guidance, resources and oversight to ensure component maritime special
operations forces are ready to meet the operational requirements of
combatant commanders. NSW provides a versatile, responsive and
offensively focused force with continuous overseas presence.
The major operational components of Naval Special Warfare Command
include Naval Special Warfare Groups ONE and THREE in San Diego, CA, and
Naval Special Warfare Groups TWO and FOUR in Norfolk, VA. These
components deploy SEAL Teams, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams, and Special
Boat Teams world wide to meet the training, exercise, contingency and
wartime requirements of theater commanders. With approximately 5,400
total active-duty personnel--including 2,450 SEALs and 600 Special
Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC)--NSW forces are busier than ever
answering “911 calls” from around the globe. NSW also calls upon a
1,200-person reserve of approximately 325 SEALs, 125 SWCC and 775
support personnel.
U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) has evolved through a
spirited heritage - spanning three centuries and threading itself
through numerous organizations. Its soldiers trace their lineage to the
1st Special Service Force (Devil 's Brigade) and derive their heritage
from elements of the Office of Strategic Services (Jedburghs,
Operational Groups and Detachment IO 1).
Special Operations Forces Truths
-
Humans are more important
than Hardware.
-
Quality is better than
Quantity.
-
Special Operations Forces
cannot be mass produced.
-
Competent Special Operations
Forces cannot be created after emergencies occur.
These truths have been
reaffirmed by the awe-inspiring performance of our special operations
forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, Colombia, the Philippines, and many other
countries around the world," he said. "I hope one day we may be able to
fully reveal their story.
With the shift from SOF being postured for reactive, regional
contingencies to being a global, proactive and pre-emptive force," he
continued, "we are witnessing a key evolution in how we must conduct our
security affairs in the future and address those 'safe havens,' and
build capacity to deal with those who would harm our country.
The Army's grueling Special
Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) has a historical attrition rate
that hovers around 70 percent--with another 10-15 percent lost in the
ensuing Special Forces Qualification Course. This is not attrition for
attrition's sake; in fact, Special Forces candidates are not harassed,
hazed, or otherwise coerced into quitting at any time. Rather, the
physical and mental rigors of the training cull out those who do not
possess the necessary attributes for service in SOF. The end result is a
soldier who is tough, self-reliant, innovative, and flexible. We have
witnessed the true value of this process in recent operations around the
world SOF has proven to be a decisive element and the force of choice in
our struggle against terrorism.
Special Forces soldiers have
earned the title of "Quiet Professional." They have been involved in
peacetime operations and armed conflicts around the world over the past
five decades. In addition to service in Vietnam, Special Forces were
recently employed in Panama during Operation Just Cause and during
Operations Desert Shield and Storm. Desert Storm Commander, Gen. H.
Norman Schwarzkopf, described Special Forces as the "eyes and ears" of
conventional forces and as the "glue that held coalition forces
together."
Special Forces soldiers continue to serve at home and abroad providing
humanitarian assistance and assisting with foreign internal defense in
friendly foreign nations. Recent humanitarian assistance missions
include Promote Liberty, Provide Comfort, Sea Angel, Guantanamo, Cuba,
Hurricane Andrew, and Restore Hope. They continue to willingly undertake
difficult missions in order to help those who are less fortunate.
 They
are quiet professionals, living by their motto "De Oppresso Liber" - To
Free the Oppressed.
On November 27, 1990, the U.S. Army 1st Special Operations Command was
redesignated the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne). Its
mission: to train, validate, and prepare Special Forces units to deploy
and execute operational requirements for the war-fighting
commanders-in-chief. Special Forces Command exercises command and
control over five active component groups. Additionally, it exercises
training oversight of two Army National Guards groups. Each Special
Forces Group is regionally oriented to support one of the war fighting
commanders-in-chief (CINCs). Special Forces soldiers routinely deploy in
support of the CINCs of U.S. European Command, U.S. Atlantic Command,
U.S. Pacific Command, U.S. Southern Command and the U.S. Central Command
.
Special Forces Recruiting
THE BEST OF THE BEST
All U.S. soldiers are special. But, Special Forces (SF) soldiers
represent the Army's cutting edge. The training they receive is the most
rigorous, intensive and challenging the Army offers. You've got to be
good, because training builds on what you already know.
As a member of a Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (or "A
Team"), you'll be part of a dynamic 12-man force with a real world
mission. You'll be in a tight-knit unit with men of the highest physical
and mental caliber who can be counted on to be inventive and
self-reliant under the most adverse conditions.
"A Teams" are made up of highly skilled specialists trained in guerrilla
warfare, sabotage, counterinsurgency and reconnaissance. You'll operate
in urban, desert, jungle, mountain, maritime and arctic environment
where you might have to survive behind enemy lines for months at a time.
You'll also be called upon to teach these skills in foreign languages to
people all over the world. In fact, a primary mission is to teach, and
SF soldiers consider themselves to be "the world's greatest
instructors."
You're an adventurer and sleuth, innovative and independent. You will
join a world-class brotherhood. You will be among the best in the world,
a "GREEN BERET"..
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
Special Forces candidates must be mature and self-motivated; open and
humble, particularly with other races and cultures; and better
conditioned physically and emotionally than the average soldier. We are
looking for Individuals who are a little more aggressive and
independent, but able to work well within a small, cohesive team.
Want to challenge yourself? Check out the most hardcore physical
fitness programs:
Navy SEALs
Workout and the
Army Special
Forces Workout.
SPECIFICALLY, EVERY CANDIDATE:
Must be a male soldier, pay grade O-2, O-3, or E3 to E7 , a high school
graduate or have a GED, and have a GT score of 100 or higher.
Must be Airborne-qualified or volunteer for Airborne training.
Must score a minimum of 229 points on the Army Physical Fitness Test and
be eligible for a SECRET security clearance prior to attending the
Qualification course.
Check out our new section on
Air Force Special
Operations.
 Lone
Survivor
Four US Navy SEALS departed one clear night in early July, 2005 for the
mountainous Afghanistan-Pakistan border for a reconnaissance mission.
Their task was to document the activity of an al Qaeda leader rumored to
have a small army in a Taliban stronghold. Five days later, only one of
those Navy SEALS made it out alive.
This is the story of the only survivor of Operation Redwing, US Navy
SEAL Petty Officer Marcus Luttrell, and the extraordinary firefight that
led to the largest loss of life in American Navy SEAL history. Lt.
Michael P. Murphy led the team of PO2 Luttrell, PO2 Dietz and PO2 Axelso.
Luttrell
fought valiantly beside his teammates until he was the only one left alive,
blasted by an RPG into a place where his pursuers could not find him.
Over the next four days, terribly injured and presumed dead, Luttrell
crawled for miles through the mountains and was taken in by sympathetic
villagers who risked their lives to keep him safe from surrounding
Taliban warriors.
 Masters
of Chaos
The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have given the U.S. Army's Special
Forces, also known as the Green Berets, a central role in American
military action like never before. Several hundred U.S. Special Forces
operators helped a motley band of Afghan rebels orchestrate a stunning
rout when they overthrew the Taliban after 9/11. In Iraq, as journalist
Linda Robinson explains in Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the
Special Forces, Special Forces units were the main U.S. elements on the
ground in the northern and western regions of the country, where they
defeated government forces that outnumbered them many times over.
Robinson tells the story of the Special Forces through the eyes of a few
of its more colorful personalities, men with call signs like Rawhide and
Killer. She follows them around the world from Panama and El Salvador to
Somalia, Kosovo, and, finally, Afghanistan and Iraq. Surprisingly,
however, she devotes only a few pages to the Green Beret-led victory in
Afghanistan, even though it was arguably their greatest achievement
since they were created after World War II.
 Special
Operations in Iraq
This sensational book reveals the true and compelling story of the
Special Force units of the Coalition, such as the SAS, SBS and Delta
Force who worked in the shadows, often unseen, unheard and unsung. It
describes their missions behind the lines from the early days, well
before hostilities opened formally. It was an open secret that groups
were deployed probably operating in the western desert against Saddam's
forces and the Scud missile threat. What was actually going on is
revealed here and until now their roles and actions have not been
described in any detail.
These are thrilling tales of incredible daring and endurance told by men
whose courage and military skills are inspiring. The book also covers
operations such as the spectacular rescue of POW Private Lynch and the
secret operations to target Saddam and other leaders of his regime of
terror.
 Among
Warriors in Iraq
Join Big Hungry, Kentucky Rife, Serpico and Jedi Knight for a harrowing
journey into the heart of the Iraqi insurgency. A former Marine
infantryman, Tucker follows the warriors of the 101st Airborne Division
in Mosul and the 82nd Airborne and 10th Mountain Divisions in Fallujah
during 19 weeks of urban warfare in late 2003 and early 2004. In
declaratives one might describe as debased Hemingway on speed, Tucker
tags along for counter-IED (improvised explosive devices) patrols and
zero-dark-30 (predawn) raids, capturing the adrenaline-laced urgency of
urban combat against a hidden enemy. His conversations with troopers are
refreshingly authentic; his analysis of the politics of Iraq tends
toward open advocacy for the Kurds and a separate state of Kurdistan.
(Tucker is the author of Hell Is Over: Voices of the Kurds After
Saddam.) But his gritty firsthand account is packed with detail: from
the slow ballet of "scoping roof tops and alley corners," the
excruciating tension of disarming IEDs and the frenetic choreography of
urban combat to the children who are never far away and are always quick
with a smile, a wave and an enthusiastic "Amerikee!" Several impressive
accounts of the second Iraq War have appeared already from embedded
journalists, but few are as personal and edgy as Tucker's.
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