Military reference books and manuals (2009-2023, Volume 2)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

References

References-2

FMI 2-22.9

5 December 2006

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

AR 380-5.

Department of the Army Information Security Program

. 9 September 2000. Available

online from Army Publishing Directorate at http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/index.html.

AR 381-11.

Productions Requirements and Threat Intelligence Support to the US Army

28 June 2000. Available online from Army Publishing Directorate at

http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/index.html

FM 3-61.1.

Public Affairs Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures

. 1 October 2000. Available online

from Army Publishing Directorate at

http://www.army.mil/usapa/doctrine/index.html

FM 5-0.

Army Planning and Orders Production

. 20 January 2005. Available online from Army

Publishing Directorate at

http://www.army.mil/usapa/doctrine/index.html

FM 5-0.1.

The Operations Process

. 31 March 2006. Available online from Army Publishing

Directorate at

http://www.army.mil/usapa/doctrine/index.html

FM 7-100.

Opposing Force Doctrinal Framework and Strategy

. 1 May 2003.

FM 34-3.

Intelligence Analysis.

15 March 1990.

FM 34-130.

Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield

. 8 July 1994.

FM 34-3-61.1.

Public Affairs Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures

. 1 October 2000. Available online

from Army Publishing Directorate at

http://www.army.mil/usapa/doctrine/index.html

OINT

UBLICATIONS

JP 1-02.

DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms

. 31 August 2005. Available online from

the Joint Staff, J7, Joint Doctrine Division Support Group’s Joint Electronic Library at

http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine

JP 2-0.

Doctrine for Intelligence Support to Joint Operations

. 9 March 2000.

JP 2-01.

Joint and National Intelligence Support to Military Operations

. 7 October 2004. Available

online from the Joint Staff, J7, Joint Doctrine Division Support Group’s Joint Electronic
Library at

http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine

JP 3-26.

Homeland Security

. 2 August 2005. Available online from the Joint Staff, J7, Joint Doctrine

Division Support Group’s Joint Electronic Library at

http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine

JP 3-54.

Joint Doctrine for Operations Security

. 24 January 1997. Available online from the Joint

Staff, J7, Joint Doctrine Division Support Group’s Joint Electronic Library at

http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine

UBLIC

AWS

THER

UBLICATIONS

US Public Law 109-163.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006

6 January 2006.

US Public Law 108-458.

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004

17 December 2004. Available online from the National Counterterrorism Center at

http://www.nctc.gov/docs/pl108_458.pdf

US Public Law 109-163.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006

. 6 December 2005.

Available online from the US Congress at

http://www.nctc.gov/docs

Aaron, Jane E.

The Little Brown Compact Handbook. 4th edition

. Boston: Addison Wesley

Educational Publishers, Inc., 2001.

CALL Initial Impressions Report.

Stability Operations and Support Operations, Operation IRAQI

FREEDOM

. January 2004. Retrieved from Center for Army Lessons Learned at

http://call.army.mil

CALL Initial Impressions Report.

Operation Enduring Freedom

. December 2003. Retrieved from

Center for Army Lessons Learned at

http://call.army.mil

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

References

5 December 2006

FMI 2-22.9

References-3

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

CALL Initial Impressions Report Number 04-28.

Combined/Joint Task Force Horn of Africa

October 2004

CALL Newsletter Number 99-2.

Task Force Eagle Information Operations Tactics, Techniques, and

Procedures

. January 1999. Retrieved from Center for Army Lessons Learned at

http://call.army.mil

CALL Newsletter Number 03-23.

Targeting For Victory: Winning the Civil Military Operations

September 2003. Retrieved from Center for Army Lessons Learned at

http://call.army.mil

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 3126.01.

Language and Regional Expertise

Planning

. 23 January 2006. Available online from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Directives Electronic Library at

http://www.dtic.mil/cjcs_directives/index.htm

Chatham House.

The Chatham House Rule

. Accessed 18 April 2006. Retrieved from Chatham

House at

http://www.riia.org

Circular 1.

Copyright Basics

. September 2000. Available online from the United States Copyright

Office at

http://www.copyright.gov

Circular 92.

Copyright Law of the United States of America and Related Laws Contained in Tıtle 17

of the United States Code

. June 2003. Available online from the United States Copyright

Office at

http://www.copyright.gov

Code of Federal Regulations.

Title 6 - Homeland Security

. 1 January 2005. Available online from

Government Printing Office Access online database at

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html

Code of Federal Regulations.

Title 32 – National Defense

. 1 July 2004. Available online from

Government Printing Office Access online database at

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html

Code of Laws of the US of America.

Title 10 – Armed Forces

. 8 January 2004. Available online from

Government Printing Office Access online database at

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/index.html

Code of Laws of the US of America.

Title 32 – National Guard

. 8 May 2002. Available online from

Government Printing Office Access online database at

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/index.html

Department of the Army.

Army Open Source Information Plan

. 31 May 1995. Washington, DC:

Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff For Intelligence.

Department of Defense.

Open Source Information System User Security Guide

. 27 September 2004.

Available online at

http://www.Interlink.gov

DOD Directive 5100.1.

Functions of the Department of Defense and its Components

. 1 August 2002.

Available online from the Defense Technical Information Center’s Directives and Records
Division at

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives

DOD Directive 5100.20.

The National Security Agency and the Central Security Service

(with Change

4), 24 June 1991. Available online from the Defense Technical Information Center’s
Directives and Records Division at

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives

DOD Directive 5200.27.

Acquisition of Information Concerning Persons and Organizations Not

Affiliated with the Department of Defense.

7 January 1980. Available online from the Defense

Technical Information Center’s Directives and Records Division at

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives

DOD Directive 5200.41.

DOD Centers for Regional Security Studies.

30 July 2004. Available online

from the Defense Technical Information Center’s Directives and Records Division at

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

References

References-4

FMI 2-22.9

5 December 2006

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

DOD Directive 5240.1.

DOD Intelligence Activities.

25 April 1998 and DODD 5240.1-R

(Procedure 2). Available online from the Defense Technical Information Center’s Directives
and Records Division at

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives

Executive Order 12333.

United States Intelligence Activities

. Available online from Assistant to the

Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Oversight at

http://www.dod.mil/atsdio/

Herrington, Vee, Ph.D.

Open Source Information and the Military Intelligence Library.

Military

Intelligence Professional Bulletin, Volume 31, Issue 2. October-December 2005.

Jeffson, Joel J.

Creating an Open Source Intelligence Capability. Military Intelligence Professional

Bulletin

, Volume 31, Issue 2. October-December 2005.

Les Grau,

National Perceptions and Warfighting: How Potential Foes and Other Nations View United

States Strengths and Weaknesses

. (Accessed 15 December 2005). Available online from the

Foreign Military Studies Office at

http://www.fmso.osis.gov/products.htm

Ives, John M., CPT.

Brigade Intelligence Team: Fused and Focused

. 2003. The Vanguard, Volume

11, Number 1, Winter 2006. Available online from the Military Intelligence Corps
Association website at

www.micorps.org

Madill, Donald L., PhD.

Producing Intelligence From Open Sources

. Military Intelligence

Professional Bulletin, Volume 31, Issue 2. October-December 2005.

National Security Decision Directive 298.

National Operations Security Program

, 15 July 2003.

Available online from the Interagency Operations Security Support Staff at

http://www.ioss.gov/nsdd298.html

North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

NATO Open Source Intelligence Handbook

. November 2001.

Peavie, Barrett K., MAJ.

Information Sharing in Bosnia.

School of Advanced Military Studies, U.S.

Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

RAND Arroyo Center.

Street Smarts: Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield for Urban

Operations

. 2002

Reese, David A.

50 Years of Excellence: ASD Forges Ahead as the Army’s Premier OSINT Unit in

the Pacific

. Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, Volume 31, Issue 2.

October-December 2005.

Taylor, Michael C.

Open Source Intelligence Doctrine

. Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin,

Volume 31, Issue 2. October-December 2005.

Tulak, Arthur N., MAJ. (1999)

The Application of Information Operations Doctrine in Support of

Peace Operations

. U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth,

Kansas.

US Army Intelligence and Security Command.

INSCOM Open Source Intelligence Operations

Handbook

. May 2003. Fort Belvoir, VA: Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3.

US Army Office of Information Assurance and Compliance. Information Assurance Better Business

Practice 05-EC-M-0006.

Open Source Information System Services

, Version 1.0. 23

November 2005. Available online from the Army Information Assurance Directorate at

https://informationassurance.us.army.mil/bbp

US Army Special Operations Command.

Civil-Military Operations (4th Infantry Division)

. Undated

presentation received 9 February 2006.

TRADOC Regulation 25-36.

The TRADOC Doctrinal Literature Program

. 1 October 2004.

US Code.

Title 50 – War and National Defense

. 17 March 2005. Available online from Government

Printing Office Access online database at

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/uscode/index.html

National Security Act of 1947. July 1947, as amended on 10 August 1949.

Patriot Act of 2001. October 2001.

Intelligence Reform and Prevention of Terrorism Act of 2004. 7 December 2004.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

5 December 2006

FMI 2-22.9

Index-1

Index

Entries are by paragraph numbers.

All Source.

See

Intelligence

Disciplines.

analysis and control element

(ACE), 3-14

area of operations (AO)

in public operations, 2-9
in IO, 3-8
in CMO, 3-8
in document collection,

3-17, 3-19, 3-21

and TDN, 3-32

Army Intelligence Activities,

2-18, B-7, B-14, C-1, C-7,
C-10, C-16, F-3

Army Knowledge Online

(AKO), 3-31, A-8, H-7
through H-12, Table H-1

Army Reserve and National

Guard, A-3, B-7, B-8, C-16

command relationships,
C-7
functions, B-8
in homeland defense, C-1,

C-7

Army Service Component

Command, 2-14, A-1

Asian Studies Detachment,

A-1, A-9

as part of INSCOM, 3-21
audio visual media, A-10
materials and publications,

A-4

mission, A-2, A-5
operations branch, A-7
organization, Figure A-1, A-

reports, A-3, A-4, A-5
translation branch, A-5
websites, A-8, A-9

association matrix, 4-28, Figure

4-3

BDA.

See

combat assessment.

brigade combat team (BCT),

3-12, 3-37

cancelled reports, 4-49

categories of intelligence, 4-3

CIA, 4-14, E-3, Table H-1

Civil Affairs (CA), 3-15

as non-intelligence

organization, 2-25

in an ISR plan, 3-15

classified reports, 4-49

COCOM, 2-14, A-1, A-2, C-4,

E-4

COE, 4-12, 4-13, 4-14, 4-20,

Table H-1, J-1, J-7

combat assessment, 4-3

command and control (C2), C-

6, C-7 role, 2-15, 5-4, 5-9, 5-
28

command, control, and

communications (C3), 3-27

confidential source, 2-3, 2-7,

4-2

contractor, 3-25, 3-38, 3-39,

4-21, 5-27, A-3, B-7, B-8,
B-22, B-23, C-5, E-10, E-11,
E-12, E-19, H-7

COP, 3-36, 4-46

copyrights, 2-27, Appendix D,

I-22

counterintelligence (CI).

See

Intelligence Disciplines.

CTID, H-1

DA IIS, Table H-1

DCSINT responsibilities, Table

H-1

Department of Army Civilian

(DAC), A-3, A-5, C-16

Department of State, A-2,

E-21, E-13 reports, E-13

DHS, 4-19, F-1

Digital Audio Video Enterprise

(DAVE), E-11, E-14

DNI, 3-9, 3-19, 3-28, 5-14,

5-16, A-2, E-3, E-4, H-1

DOCEX, 2-15, 5-6, 5-22

HARMONY Suite, 3-17,

3-34

DOIM, 3-21, F-9, F-11

Elton B. Stephens Company,

H-6, H-8

FBI, 5-20, A-2, A-8, B-8, B-17,

C-9, C-10, E-12, E-21

file transfer protocol, E-16

fire support, 3-8

FMSO, 3-34, 4-17, 4-20, A-8,

E-13, Table H-1

force protection, 3-15, 3-27, 3-

39, A-7, B-23

general military intelligence

(GMI), 4-3

database, J-7
Intelligence categories, 4-3
Products, 4-40

HARMONY Suite.

See

DOCEX.

high value target (HVT), 4-3,

5-7

homeland defense, C-1, C-3,

C-4, C-6, C-7

human intelligence (HUMINT).

See

Intelligence Disciplines.

I&W, 2-9, 2-11, 4-3, 4-42, 5-28

IMINT.

See

Intelligence

Disciplines.

improvised explosive device

(IED), 4-3

information requirement (IR), 3-

4, 3-6, 5-14, 4-29

infrastructure overlays, 4-30,

4-31, 4-32

INSCOM, 2-14, 3-9, 3-21, A-1,

B-7, B-17, C-10, F-8, Table
H-1

Intelligence Community, 3-17,

3-34, 5-20, B-3, B-8, B-22,
C-9, E-4, E-9, E-10, F-2,
H-6, Figure F-1

Intelligence Disciplines

All Source, 4-2, 4-17
CI, 2-7, 4-4, B-8, B-14

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Index

Index-2

FMI 2-22.9

5 December 2006

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

HUMINT, 2-7, 2-19, 3-12,

3-15

IMINT, 2-15
MASINT, B-13
OSINT, 4-22, 4-33, 4-46,

4-47

SIGINT, 2-15, 2-19, 3-12,

B-13, B-22

TECHINT, 4-2, 5-22

Intelligence Link-sensitive but

unclassified. See Intelink-
SBU.

intelligence process phases, 4-

intelligence reports, 4-48

Intelink-SBU, 3-21, 3-31, 3-34,

5-17, A-9, A-10, E-5,
Appendix F, H-1 through
H-12, Table H-1, I-1

IPB, 3-8

ISM, 3-15

ISR, 2-1, 3-9, 3-10, 3-14, 3-41,

4-43, C-5

plan 3-15, 3-17, 3-19, 3-21

Joint Analysis Center (JAC),

H-14

Joint Intelligence Operations

Center (JIOC), 3-14, 3-28,
5-14, 5-16

JWICS, 3-29, 3-34, E-8, E-11,

E-20, H-1

language, 2-15, 3-9, 3-21, 3-23

through 3-25, Table 3-1, 4-3,
4-21, 5-1 through 5-7, 5-19,
5-23 through 5-26, B-12,
E-3, I-3, I-15, K-9

Army Reach Language

Support Program, 5-18,
5-21

citations, D-3, I-22
Foreign Language

Integration Center, Table
H-1

listening proficiency, Table

G-1

reading proficiency, Table

G-2

speaking proficiency, Table

G-3

translation proficiency,

Table G-5

writing proficiency, Table

G-4

law enforcement agency, B-1,

C-13, C-15, C-17

linguists, 2-16, 2-23

link diagram, 4-33

MASINT.

See

Intelligence

Disciplines.

MDMP, 3-4, Figure 3-2

METT-TC, 3-4

MP roles and responsibilities,

2-26, C-12

National Air and Space

Intelligence Center, 4-17,
A-6, H-6

National Defense University,

4-19

NGO, 2-26, 4-5, I-7

NIPRNET, 3-21, 3-31, E-210,

F-6, F-9, F-14

Open Source Center (OSC), 3-

9, 3-14, 3-19, 3-21, 3-28, 3-
34, 3-37, 5-14, 5-16, A-2, A-
8

Academy courses, E-21,

E-22

customer service, E-20
DAVE, E-11
multilingual network, E-7
organization, Figure 3-7
PRINCE, E-11
products, E-18
responsibilities, Appendix E
video repository, E-11
websites, E-11, E-12, E-17,

E-19

open source intelligence

(OSINT).

See also

Intelligence Disciplines.

and data exploitation, B-15
and HLS, C-1
classification

considerations, Table 2-2

information exchange,

Figure 3-4

on SIPRNET, H-1
operations, Figure 3-5
report, Figure 4-9, Table

H-1

reporting considerations,

4-49

open source organizations, 2-

15, 3-28, 3-35

INSCOM, 2-14, 3-9, 3-21,

A-1, B-7, B-17, C-10, F-8

and copyrights, D-2
EAC, 3-21
IC, 5-20
CI surveys, C-17
limitations, 2-19
multinational, 3-17, 3-21,

3-28, 3-32

NGIC, 4-17

open sources, 2-5

OPORD, 3-16, 3-18, 3-20,

3-22, 3-26, 5-3

OPSEC, 2-21, H-6, I-2, I-4

PAO, 3-8, 3-15

PRINCE, 3-34, E-11

proficiency levels.

See

language.

research

and copyrights, 2-28, D-2,

E-11

and the intelligence

process, 3-6, 4-1, Figure
4-2

COE and Threat Integration

Directorate, 4-21

conduct, 3-7, 4-2, 4-4
FMSO, 4-20
Internet, I-1, I-3, Table I-1, I-

10, I-22

on domestic and

international subjects, 4-
21, A-4, C-2

open source, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6,

2-11, 2-15, 2-20, 3-2, 3-
3, 3-21, 3-35, 4-7, 4-
35, 5-1, J-1, J-4

practical, 4-5, 4-8, 4-9,

Figure 4-1, 4-10

resources, 4-17, Table H-1
questions, 4-6, 4-7, 4-8, 4-

Reports

Daily Intelligence Briefs,

Table H-1

DTG of, 5-13
FP and SA, A-8
guidelines, 5-29
IIR, 4-45, 4-47

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Index

5 December 2006

FMI 2-22.9

Index-3

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

in native language, A-5
open source center, E-9, E-

SIR, 3-6, 3-7, 4-5, 5-8, I-7
TACREP, 4-45, 5-29
TECHINT, 4-2
web-based, 4-46

S&TI, 54-3

SIGINT.

See

Intelligence

Disciplines.

SIPRNET, 3-30, 3-34, E-8,

E-11, E-20, H-1

SITMAP, 4-46

target development, 4-3

target intelligence, 4-3

TECHINT. See Intelligence

Disciplines.

TROJAN Data Network, 3-32

URL domains, 2-18, B-18,

Table 2-1, Appendix I

warfighting function, 4-4

World Basic Information

Library, 2-10, 3-34

Worldwide Equipment Guide,

Table H-1

WMD, 4-3, 4-19

Prepared by

Joint Special Operations University

Strategic Studies Department
Hurlburt Field, Florida 32544

The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU)

provides its publications to contribute

toward expanding the body of knowledge about joint special operations. JSOU publica-
tions advance the insights and recommendations of national security professionals and
the Special Operations Forces (SOF) students and leaders for consideration by the SOF
community and defense leadership.

JSOU is the educational component of the United States Special Operations Com-

mand (USSOCOM), MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The JSOU mission is to educate SOF
executive, senior, and intermediate leaders and selected other national and international
security decision makers, both military and civilian, through teaching, outreach, and
research in the science and art of joint special operations. JSOU provides education to
the men and women of SOF and to those who enable the SOF mission in a joint environ-
ment.

JSOU conducts research through its Strategic Studies Department where effort cen-

ters upon the USSOCOM mission and the commander’s priorities.

The Strategic Studies Department also provides teaching and curriculum support

to Professional Military Education institutions—the staff colleges and war colleges. It
advances SOF strategic influence by its interaction in academic, interagency, and United
States military communities.

The JSOU portal is https://jsoupublic.socom.mil.

Book design by Marvin Cochrane

Parks Photographic Laboratory (46TSSQ/TSRMV)

Eglin AFB, FL 32542

First Edition, June 2005 (Revised July 2006)

Second Edition, August 2008

August 2008

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

iii

Contents

Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ix

Chapter 1.

Introduction to Special Operations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-1

Special Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Four Factors for Successful Special Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Characteristics of Special Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

Doctrinal Overview of Special Operations Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Successful Conduct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Joint Special Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Shaping Environments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Integrated Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Attributes of SOF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Precision Strike and Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Tailored and Integrated Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Ubiquitous Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Regional Expertise, Presence, and Influence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

C4ISR Dominance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Agile and Unconventional Logistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Force Protection and Survivability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4

Special Operations Core Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Direct Action (DA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Counterterrorism (CT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Foreign Internal Defense (FID) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Unconventional Warfare (UW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5

Special Reconnaissance (SR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6

Information and Psychological Operations (IO and PSYOP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6

Civil Affairs Operations (CAO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6

Counterproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (CP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6

Synchronizing DoD Global War on Terrorism Efforts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7

Chapter 2

. Special Operations Force Structure

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-1

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command (HQ USSOCOM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Center for Special Operations Command Support (SOCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3

Center for Special Operations Networks and Communications Center (SONC) . . . . . . 2-3

Center for Special Operations (CSO) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

Center for Special Operations Requirements and Resources (SORR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

Special Operations Acquisition and Logistics (SOAL) Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5

Center for Special Operations Knowledge and Futures (SOKF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6

Center for Special Operations Financial Management (SOFM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

August 2008

Special Operations Forces Reference Manual

USSOCOM Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8

Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8

Joint Military Information Support Command (JMISC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9

Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10

Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs)

and the Special Operations Division (SOD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11

Special Operations Command, Joint Forces Command (SOCJFCOM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12

Special Operations Command, Central Command (SOCCENT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12

Special Operations Command, Europe (SOCEUR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13

Special Operations Command, Pacific (SOCPAC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14

Special Operations Command, Korea (SOCKOR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15

Special Operations Command, Southern Command (SOCSOUTH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16

Special Operations Command, Africa Command (SOCAFRICA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17

USNORTHCOM Special Operations Division (SOD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18

SOF Operational Command and Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19

Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19

Joint Psychological Operations Task Force (JPOTF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-21

Joint Civil-Military Operations Task Force (JCMOTF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23

Joint Psychological Operations Command and Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24

SOF Integration with Conventional Operations and Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-28

Chapter 3.

U.S. Army Special Operations Forces

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-1

United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne) – SB(SO)(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Concept of Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

75th Ranger Regiment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

75th Ranger Regiment Task . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5

75th Ranger Regiment Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6

Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7

Command and Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8

U .S . Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) – (USASFC(A)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10

USASFC(A) Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10

USASFC(A) Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10

Special Forces Group (Airborne) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11

Special Forces Group Support Battalion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12

Special Forces Battalion (Airborne) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14

Battalion Support Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14

Special Forces Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15

Special Forces Operational Detachment “A” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15

160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17

SOAR Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17

August 2008

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Contents

SOAR Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17

Responsibilities in Support of SOF CORE Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18

SOAR Aircraft and Employment Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-18

95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20

Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20

Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20

U.S. Army Civil Affairs Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-20

4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne) – 4th POG(A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23

PSYOP Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23

PSYOP Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23

POG Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23

POG Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-24

9th Tactical PSYOP Battalion (Tactical POB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26

PSYOP Dissemination Battalion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27

Psychological Operations Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27

U .S . Army John F . Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30

Task . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30

Directorate of Special Operations Proponency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30

Directorate of Doctrine and Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31

Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31

Noncommissioned Officers Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31

1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31

Department of Special Operations Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31

Chapter 4.

U.S. Naval Special Operations Forces

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4-1

Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM, also NSWC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

Naval Special Warfare Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2

Naval Special Warfare Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

NAVSPECWARCOM Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Naval Special Warfare Center (NSWCEN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Naval Special Warfare Center For SEAL and SWCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Naval Special Warfare Development Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Naval Special Warfare Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

Logistics and Support Units ONE and TWO (LOGSU 1/2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8

Support Activity ONE and TWO (SUPPACT 1/2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9

Mobile Communications Detachments (MCDs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9

SEAL Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9

SEAL Team – Expeditionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11

Naval Special Warfare Task Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11

Special Boat Teams (SBTs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12

SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-14

Naval Special Warfare Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15

Naval Special Warfare Weapons Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16

MK V Special Operations Craft (MK V SOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-16

Special Operations Craft–Riverine (SOC-R) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-17

Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-18

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

August 2008

Special Operations Forces Reference Manual

Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (CRRC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19

SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK VIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-19

Dry Deck Shelter (DDS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20

Advanced SEAL Delivery System (ASDS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20

Chapter 5.

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Forces

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5-1

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

AFSOC Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

AFSOC Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2

Air Force Special Operations Training Center (AFSOTC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

Aircraft And Unique Unit Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4

MC-130E Combat Talon I, MC-130H Combat Talon II, and MC-130W Combat Spear 5-4

AC-130H Spectre and AC-130U Spooky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4

MC-130P Combat Shadow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4

MH-53J/M Pave Low III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4

EC-130J (Commando Solo) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4

CV-22 Osprey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

MQ-1 Predator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

MQ-9 Reaper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

The 6th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

Special Tactics (ST) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

USAF Special Operations School (USAFSOS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

Augmenting USAF Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6

AFSOC Numbered Air Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

23rd Air Force, Air Force Special Operations Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

623rd Air Operations Center (623 AOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-7

18th Flight Test Squadron (18 FLTS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

11th Intelligence Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-7

AFSOC Wings and Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

1st Special Operations Wing (1 SOW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

27th Special Operations Wing (27 SOW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

352d Special Operations Group (352 SOG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

353d Special Operations Group (353 SOG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

720th Special Tactics Group (720 STG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9

Air Reserve and Air National Guard Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10

Air Force Special Operations Forces Logistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10

New AFSOC Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11

318th Special Operations Squadron (318 SOS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11

AFSOC Aircraft and Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13

MC-130E Combat Talon I/MC-130H Combat Talon II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13

AC-130H SPECTRE Gunship/AC-130U Spooky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19

MC-130P Combat Shadow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27

MC-130W Combat Spear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30

EC-130J Commando Solo III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-31

MH-53J/M PAVE LOW III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33

CV-22 Osprey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-39

U-28A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-40

August 2008

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

vii

Contents

MQ-1 Predator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-41

MQ-9 REAPER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-42

Special Tactics Squadrons (STS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43

Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43

Specific Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43

Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-43

Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-44

Mission Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-44

Basic Planning Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-45

Combat Aviation Advisors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46

Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46

Operating Rationale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46

Concept Of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46

Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-47

Specialized Training Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48

Operating Arenas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-49

Tasking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-50

Air Mobility Command (AMC) C-17 SOLL II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51

Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51

Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51

SOLL II Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51

Planning Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51

Crew Duty Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-52

Chapter 6.

U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Forces

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6-1

Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Heritage, History, and Milestones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2

MARSOC Core Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3

Marine Special Operations Advisor Group (MSOAG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3

1st and 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalions (MSOBs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3

Marine Special Operations Support Group (MSOSG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4

Marine Special Operations School (MSOS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5

Appendix A.

Special Operations Related Definitions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A-1

Appendix B.

Glossary

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B-1

Appendix C.

Bibliography

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C-1

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Special Operations Forces Reference Manual

Preface

his Special Operations Forces Reference

Manual provides general information and

mission planning data and focuses on U.S.

Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force SOF. More spe-

cifically, this document is designed to accomplish

four broad purposes:

Provide SOF personnel with a single primary

source of fundamental reference material and

planning data on all SOF components.

Provide newly assigned SOF personnel or

non-SOF personnel an overview of special

operations and special operations forces in

order to facilitate the integration of conven-

tional forces and provide SOF capabilities

and planning data to conventional force staff

officers who may not routinely use this data.

Provide standard SOF reference data to SOF

faculty members at PME institutions for use

in their instruction.

When combined with tactical situations and

scenarios, provide SOF commanders and units

a vehicle to facilitate unit/staff-level seminar

wargames.

The target audience for this manual is Special

Operations staff officers and enlisted personnel at

USSOCOM, its component and subordinate com-

mands, the Theater Special Operations Commands,

and the conventional force headquarters/unified

commands and their staffs which may employ SOF

in their areas of responsibility.

This reference manual is doctrinally based,

drawing information and data from Joint, USSO-

COM, and Service publications.

Distribution for this document is to U.S. Govern-

ment personnel and agencies For Official Use Only.

Personnel requesting a copy of this document or who

wish to submit questions, comments, and issues for

inclusion in future updates of the manual should

contact the Joint Special Operations University, 357

Tully Street, Hurlburt Field, Florida 32544, ATTN:

SOF Reference Manual Editor.

August 2008

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

1-1

Chapter 1.

Introduction to Special Operations

Special Operations

Characteristics of Special Operations

Special operations normally require operator-

level planning and detailed intelligence.

Knowledge of the culture(s) and language(s)

of the geographical area in which the mission

is to be conducted.

Rigorous training and rehearsals of the mission

are integral to the success of the mission.

They are often conducted at great distances

from the supporting operational bases.

They may employ sophisticated communica-

tions systems.

They frequently require discriminate and

precise use of force. This often requires

development, acquisition, and employment

of equipment that are not standard for other

Department of Defense (DoD) forces.

They employ sophisticated means of inser-

tion, support, and extraction to penetrate and

successfully return from hostile, denied, or

politically sensitive areas.

pecial operations (SO) encompass the use of

small units in direct or indirect military actions

focused on strategic or operational objectives. These

actions require units with combinations of special-

ized personnel, equipment, and tactics that exceed

the routine capabilities of conventional military

forces. SO are characterized by certain attributes

that cumulatively distinguish them from conven-

tional operations. SO are often politically sensitive

missions where only the best-equipped and most

proficient forces must be deployed to avoid detection

and possible mission failure.

Four Factors for Successful Special Operations

Clear national and theater strategic objec-

tives.

Effective command, control, communications,

computers, and intelligence (C4I) support at

the operational level.

Competent tactical planning and execution.

A force trained, equipped, and organized

to conduct special opera-

tions.

A U.S. special operations

soldier performs a last

minute inspection of an

Iraqi special operations

forces soldier before the

drop during an air assault

in northern Iraq.

Special Operations Forces Reference Manual

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Doctrinal Overview of Special Operations Forces

pecial operations forces (SOF) are small, spe-

cially organized units manned by carefully

selected people using modified equipment and

trained in unconventional applications of tactics

against strategic and operational objectives.

Successful Conduct

The successful conduct of special operations relies on

individual and small unit proficiency in specialized

skills applied with adaptability, improvisation, and

innovation against adversaries often unprepared to

react. The unique capabilities of SOF complement

those of conventional forces.

United States Special Operations Command
(USSOCOM)

Provides trained and combat-ready SOF to

geographic combatant commanders and

as directed by the President or Secretary of

Defense (SecDef), plans and conducts selected

SO worldwide.

Integrates and coordinates DoD psychologi-

cal operations (PSYOP) capabilities support-

ing U.S. Strategic Command’s information

operations (IO) responsibilities and other

combatant commanders’ PSYOP planning

and execution.

Commander, USSOCOM is the DoD lead

combatant commander for planning, syn-

chronizing, and, as directed, executing global

operations against terrorist networks in coor-

dination with other combatant commanders.

This role is considered to be an internal core

activity of the Headquarters, USSOCOM and

includes the following specific responsibili-

ties:

• Integrating strategy, campaign plans,

intelligence priorities, and operations

• Prioritizing and synchronizing theater

security cooperation activities, deploy-

ments, and capabilities

• Providing military representation to

United States (U.S.) national and interna-

tional agencies for U.S. and multinational

campaigns against terrorist networks

• Planning and executing regional activities

which may support future operations.

Commander, USSOCOM exercises combatant

command (COCOM) of all active and reserve

SOF, active U.S. Army PSYOP, and active Civil

Affairs (CA) forces.

• COCOM of continental U.S. (CONUS)-

based U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) PSYOP

and CA forces, U.S. Navy CA forces, and

U.S. Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR)

CA forces is exercised by the U.S. Joint

Forces Command.

• COCOM of Hawaii-based USAR CA

forces is exercised by U.S. Pacific Com-

mand.

Joint Special Operations

SO are conducted in hostile, denied, or

politically sensitive environments to achieve

military, diplomatic, informational, and/

or economic objectives employing military

capabilities for which there is no broad

conventional force requirement. These

operations may require low visibility, clan-

destine, or covert capabilities. SO are appli-

cable across the range of military operations.

They can be conducted independently or in

conjunction with operations of conventional

forces or other government agencies and may

include operations through, with, or by indig-

enous or surrogate forces. SO differ from con-

ventional operations in degree of physical and

political risk, operational techniques, modes

of employment, independence from friendly

support, and dependence on detailed opera-

tional intelligence and indigenous assets.

SOF perform two types of activities. First, they

perform activities that no other forces in DoD

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1-3

Chapter 1. Introduction to Special Operations

conduct. Second, they perform activities that

are conducted by DoD forces, but do so to a

unique set of conditions and standards.

SOF capabilities include being able to quickly

task-organize and deploy using a lower profile

or footprint than conventional forces; gaining

access to hostile and denied areas; rapidly

surveying, assessing, and reporting local situ-

ations; working closely with regional military

and civilian authorities and populations; orga-

nizing people to help solve local problems;

and providing tailored or unconventional

responses to ambiguous situations. The spe-

cialized skills and low visibility capabilities

inherent in SOF provide an adaptable military

response in crisis situations requiring tailored,

precise, and focused use of force.

SOF limitations stem from their few numbers

and the time needed to develop and replace

highly trained people and units. Austere SOF

logistical support systems require extensive

support from conventional force structures.

SOF are organized and trained for employment

against targets of strategic and operational

relevance. SOF are not used as a substitute

for conventional forces.

Shaping Environments

In likely or potential areas of operation, SOF play a

major role in preparing and shaping environments

and, when designated, battlespaces, by setting con-

ditions which mitigate risk and facilitate successful

follow-on operations. The regional focus, cross-

cultural/ethnic insights, and relationships of SOF

provide access to and influence in nations where the

presence of conventional U.S. forces is unaccept-

able or inappropriate. SOF contributions provide

operational leverage by gathering critical informa-

tion, undermining a potential adversary’s will or

capacity to wage war, and enhancing the capabilities

of conventional U.S., multinational, indigenous or

surrogate forces.

Integrated Operations

The Joint Force Commander (JFC), using SOF

independently or integrated with conventional air,

ground, and naval forces, gains an additional and

unique capability to achieve objectives that may

not otherwise be attainable. Integration enables the

JFC to take fullest advantage of conventional force/

service and SOF core competencies.

SOF are most effective when SO are fully inte-

grated into the overall plan, and the execution of

SO is through proper SOF command and control

(C2) elements responsive to the needs of the sup-

ported commander. SOF C2 elements are provided

to supported or supporting conventional force com-

manders and include Joint Special Operations Task

Forces to conduct a specific SO or prosecute SO in

support of a theater campaign, Special Operations

Command and Control Elements to synchronize

integrated SOF/conventional force operations, and

Special Operations Liaison Elements to coordinate

SO with conventional air operations. Exchange of

SOF and conventional force liaison officers is also

essential to enhance situational awareness and

facilitate staff planning and training for integrated

operations.

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August 2008

Regional Expertise, Presence, and Influence

The SOF warrior is a diplomat, and as such utilizes

recurring deployments to hone language skills,

cultural awareness, and to build the political and

military contacts that contribute to future opera-

tions and activities. Forward presence and regional

expertise allow for “first response” abilities when

required and permit a full range of unconventional

military options against a targeted entity.

C4ISR Dominance

Dominance in the realm of command and control,

communications, computers, intelligence, surveil-

lance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) is vital to the

success of SOF operations. Exploiting superiority in

this area allows the SOF warrior to access, develop,

and operate effectively in any situation, taking deci-

sive action that shapes the desired results without

effective opposition.

Agile and Unconventional Logistics

SOF are as self-sufficient as possible, but they can be

provided with rapid and effective materials, utiliz-

ing both service-common and SOF-unique supplies

and materials as the situation requires. Superior

technology and advanced equipment are used to

ensure logistical support is consistently provided to

deployed units.

Force Protection and Survivability

SOF elements employ stealth, speed, and counter-

measures to ensure survivability and retain freedom

of action. To the maximum extent possible, SOF

personnel are protected from the effects of enemy

offensive systems and can operate under extreme

environmental conditions.

Attributes of SOF

OF are unique because they provide the Presi-

dent and/or SecDef a broad range of capabilities.

The demands of SO require forces with attributes

that distinguish them from conventional forces.

Precision Strike and Effects

SOF perform precision strikes and achieve scal-

able lethal or non-lethal effects. SOF personnel

can survive in a variety of environments, and they

can remain on station for extended periods. The

persistence of in-area SOF produces effects beyond

those of an airstrike. These effects are achieved

through the utilization of human and material assets

designed to perform precision reconnaissance and

surveillance, and through the employment of a wide

variety of weapons and methods including advanced

technologies.

Tailored and Integrated Operations

SOF transform and reshape organizational design

and force structure to ensure effective collaboration

in joint, interagency, and combined operational

environments. SOF elements exercise flexibility at

the strategic, operational, and tactical levels, as well

as agility in terms of operational time and space

considerations, types of missions, and the methods

of accomplishment.

Ubiquitous Access

SOF have access to and can potentially influence

events or conduct overt or clandestine operations

on demand. SOF possess or have access to the latest

in emerging and leap-ahead mobility assets to enter,

operate in, and be exfiltrated from the designated

area of operations.

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Chapter 1. Introduction to Special Operations

Special Operations Core Activities

welve Special Operations Core Activities have

been designated, as shown in Figure 1-1. SOF

are organized, trained, and equipped specifically to

accomplish these core activities.

Direct Action (DA)

DA operations are short duration strikes and other

small-scale offensive operations principally under-

taken by SOF to seize, destroy, capture, recover, or

inflict damage on designated personnel or mate-

rial. In the conduct of these operations, SOF may

employ raid, ambush, or direct assault tactics; em-

place mines and other munitions; conduct stand

off attacks by fire from air, ground, or maritime

platforms; and provide terminal guidance for preci-

sion weapons, conduct independent sabotage, and

anti-ship operations.

Counterterrorism (CT)

CT is a highly specialized, resource-intensive mis-

sion. Certain SOF units maintain a high state of

readiness to conduct CT operations and possess a

full range of CT capability. CT activities include

antiterrorism (AT), CT, recovery of hostages or sen-

sitive material from terrorist organizations, attack

of terrorist infrastructure, and reduction of vulner-

ability to terrorism.

Foreign Internal Defense (FID)

FID is participation by civilian and military agen-

cies of a government in any of the action pro-

grams taken by another government to free

and protect its society from subversion,

lawlessness, and insurgency. SOF’s primary

contribution in this interagency activity is to

organize, train, advise, and assist host nation

(HN) military and paramilitary forces. The

generic capabilities required for FID in-clude

instructional skills; foreign language profi-

ciency; area and cultural orientation; tactical

skills; advanced medical skills; rudimentary

construction and engineering skills; familiarity

with a wide variety of demolitions, weapons, weapon

systems, and communications equipment; and basic

PSYOP and CA skills.

Unconventional Warfare (UW)

A broad spectrum of military and paramilitary

operations, normally of long duration, predomi-

nantly conducted by indigenous or surrogate forces

that are organized, trained, equipped, supported,

and directed in varying degrees by an external

source. UW includes guerrilla warfare and other

direct offensive, low-visibility, clandestine, or covert

operations, as well as the indirect activities of sub-

version, sabotage, intelligence activities, and evasion

and escape. When UW is conducted independently

during conflict or war, its primary focus is on politi-

cal and psychological objectives. When UW opera-

tions support conventional military operations, the

focus shifts to primarily military objectives.

Figure 1-1. Special Operations Core Activities

Direct

Action

Unconventional

Warfare

Special

Reconnaissance

Core

Activities

Counter-

terrorism

Foreign

Internal

Defense

Information

and Psycho-

logical Ops

Civil

Affairs

Operations

Counter-

proliferation

of Weapons

of Mass

Destruction

Synchro-

nizing DoD
Global War

on Terrorism

Efforts

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August 2008

Special Reconnaissance (SR)

SOF conduct a wide variety of information gather-

ing activities of strategic or operational significance.

Collectively, these activities are called SR. SR is

reconnaissance and surveillance action conducted

by SOF to obtain or verify, by visual observation

or other collection methods, information concern-

ing the capabilities, intentions, and activities of an

actual or potential enemy or to secure data concern-

ing the meteorological, hydrographic, or geographic

characteristics of a particular area. SR may also

include assessment of chemical, biological, residual

nuclear or environmental hazards in a denied area.

SR includes target acquisition, area assessment,

and post-strike reconnaissance. SR complements

national and theater intelligence collection systems

by obtaining specific, well-defined, and time-sensi-

tive information when other systems are constrained

by weather, terrain-masking, hostile countermea-

sures, or conflicting priorities.

Information and Psychological Operations
(IO and PSYOP)

IO involves actions taken to affect adversary infor-

mation and information systems while defending

one’s own information and information systems.

The following SO missions support IO: DA, SR,

PSYOP, CA, and FID. (DoD Directive S-3600.1 and

JP 3-13).

PSYOP are planned operations to convey selected

information and indicators to foreign audiences to

influence their emotions, motives, objective reason-

ing, and ultimately the behavior of foreign govern-

ments, organizations, groups, and individuals. The

purpose of PSYOP is to induce or reinforce foreign

attitudes and behaviors favorable to the originator’s

objectives by conducting planned operations to

convey selected information to foreign audiences to

influence their emotions, motives, objective reason-

ing, and ultimately the behavior of foreign govern-

ments, organizations, groups, and individuals.

Civil Affairs Operations (CAO)

CAO are those military operations conducted by

civil affairs forces that (1) enhance the relationship

between military forces and civil authorities in local-

ities where military forces are present; (2) require

coordination with other interagency organizations,

intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental

organizations, indigenous populations and institu-

tions, and the private sector; and (3) involve applica-

tion of functional specialty skills that normally are

the responsibility of civil government to enhance the

conduct of civil-military operations.

Counterproliferation of Weapons of
Mass Destruction (CP)

CP refers to the actions taken to seize, destroy, render

safe, capture, or recover weapons of mass destruction

(WMD). SOF provide unique capabilities to monitor

and support compliance with arms control treaties.

If directed, SOF can conduct or support SR and DA

missions to locate and interdict sea, land, and air

shipments of dangerous materials or weapons. SOF

are tasked with organizing, training, equipping, and

otherwise preparing to conduct operations in sup-

port of U.S. Government CP objectives.

AH/MH-6 Direct Action

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2-1

Chapter 2

. Special Operations Force Structure

United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

USSOCOM VISION

SSOCOM was formally established as a uni-

fied combatant command at MacDill Air

Force Base, Florida, on 16 April 1987. It is com-

manded by a four-star flag or general officer with the

title Commander, United States Special Operations

Command (COMUSSOCOM).

All SOF of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and

Marines based in the United States are placed under

COMUSSOCOM. USSOCOM has four service

component commands: U.S. Army Special Opera-

tions Command (USASOC); Naval Special Warfare

Command (NAVSPECWARCOM); Air Force Spe-

cial Operations Command (AFSOC); Marine Corps

Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC);

and one sub-unified command, the Joint Special

Operations Command (JSOC).

The USSOCOM mission is threefold: a) to plan,

direct, and execute special operations in the conduct

of the Global War on Terrorism in order to deter, dis-

rupt, and defeat terrorist networks that threaten the

USSOCOM MISSION

Synchronize
GWOT for DoD

Focus on quality

Obtain persistent
intelligence, surveillance,
and reconnaissance (ISR)

Emphasize culturally-
attuned engagement

Care for our
people and families

Upgrade SOF mobility

Foster interagency
cooperation

Train and educate
the warrior/diplomat

Equip the operator

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August 2008

Special Operations Forces Reference Manual

United States, its citizens, and interests worldwide; b)

to train and develop SOF and care for our people and

families; and c) to organize, train, and equip SOF

provided to geographic combatant commanders,

American ambassadors, and their country teams.

USSOCOM responsibilities include:

Readiness of assigned forces and

monitoring the readiness of over-

seas SOF

Monitoring the professional devel-

opment of all SOF personnel

Developing joint SOF tactics, tech-

niques, and procedures

Conducting specialized courses of

instruction

Training assigned forces

Executing its own program and

budget (its funding comes directly

from congress and not from the

services)

Figure 2-1. Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command

* AE dual-hatted as SOAL

USASOC

JSOU

JMISC

NAVSPECWARCOM

AFSOC

MARSOC

JSOC

J1/Staff

J10

Cdr, USSOCOM

SOCS

SOKF

SOFM

SORR

SONC

Deputy Cdr, USSOCOM

SCSO

Dep SCSO

Acquisition Exec*

Dep Cdr Mob &

Reserve Affairs

Political Advisor

(POLAD)

Chief Financial Off

Sr Advisor Science

& Technology

Chief Info Off

Director Strategic

Communications

Chief of Staff

Sr Enl Adv

SOAL

Members of U.S. Special Operations
Command, 9 July 2007. DoD photo
by Cherie Thurlby.

Conducting research, development, and acqui-

sition of special operations peculiar items

Synchronizing DoD efforts in the Global War

on Terrorism.

August 2008

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

2-3

Chapter 2. Special Operations Force Structure

Figure 2-2. Center for Special Operations

Command Support

Headquarters, U.S. Special Operations Command
(HQ USSOCOM)

In April 2004, COMUSSOCOM reorganized the

USSOCOM headquarters staff from a functional-

center configuration to a blended organization, retain-

ing the functional centers with a J-staff orientation

for each. Two new centers were created (the Center

for Special Operations and the Center for Special

Operations Knowledge and Futures), and one was

renamed (the Center for Special Operations Networks

and Communications Center).

This reorganization strengthens USSOCOM’s

ability to support its customers by ensuring a flexible

command structure adaptable to future challenges.

An overview of the new organization is shown in

Figure 2-1.

Center for Special Operations Command Support (SOCS)

The SOCS is a process-oriented support center

that also operates as the J1, providing personnel

Figure 2-3. Center for

Special Operations Networks

and Communications

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Director, SONC

Deputy Director, SONC

Director,

C4 Systems/J6

Deputy J6

J61

Systems

Div

J63

Network Ops

Div

J65

Contingency

Ops Div

CIO-P

C41 Combat

Sys Dev Div

CIO-R

C41

Resources

Div

CIO-C

Primary COR

Ofc

CIO-K

Bus Enterprise

Mgmt Div

J62

Information

Assurance Div

J64

IT Services

Spt Div

Commander

Communi-

cations

Director,

CIO Support

Command

History Office

(SOCS-HO)

Command

Chaplain

(SOCS-CH)

Commandant

(SOCS-PM)

Secretary
Joint Staff

(SOCS-SJS)

Command

Surgeon

(SOCS-SG)

Command

Engineer

(SOCS-EN)

Director of

Personnel

(SOCS-J1)

Chief of Staff (SOCS)

Deputy (SOCS-D)

Reserve Com-

ponent Office

(SOCS-RC)

Diversity Mgt

Office

(SOCS-DMO/EO)

and special staff support to the headquarters and

its components. The SOCS includes public affairs,

executive services, medical, chaplain, historian,

equal opportunity, security, quality integration,

engineering, protocol, headquarters command, and

joint secretariat support services. The USSOCOM

chief of staff directs the center.

Center for Special Operations Networks
and Communications Center (SONC)

The SONC performs the J6 staff function to pro-

vide for integrated information management in

communications, information protection, network

management, and audiovisual support. The SONC

integrates C41SR and IO to gain information supe-

riority throughout the spectrum of engagement

and conflict. The SONC validates requirements and

develops special operations C41SR and IO training,

doctrine, and procedures.

2-4

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

August 2008

Special Operations Forces Reference Manual

Figure 2-4. Center for Special Operations

Center for Special Operations (CSO)

USSOCOM’s CSO is the fusion point for DoD

GWOT synchronization efforts, combining opera-

tions, intelligence, and long-range planning and

strategy.

The CSO provides a venue for

regular meetings, briefings, and confer-

ences with each of the geographic

combatant commands, the in-

teragency, and partner nations.

This consistent dialogue is the

catalyst for ongoing planning and

situational understanding that

simply did not exist even a year

ago.

The continuous collaboration

is augmented with a USSOCOM-

Military reference books and manuals (2009-2023, Volume 2) - page 25