2. Small unit proficiency
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
Special operations encompasses the use of small units in military actions, direct or indirect,
Small unit proficiency

3. SPECIAL OPERATIONS Strategic or operational objectives
focused on strategic or operational objectives.
Operational Detachment Alpha
with future Afghan Prime Minister
Strategic or operational objectives

4. Specialized personnel, equipment, training, tactics
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
These units combine specialized personnel, equipment, training, and tactics
Specialized personnel, equipment, training, tactics

5. SOF medic treating Afghan Mullah
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
with unique capabilities not found in conventional military forces.
SOF medic treating Afghan Mullah
Unique capabilities

6. Searching weapons cache in Afghanistan Full spectrum of conflict
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
The most effective Special Operations is strategic in nature and is conducted across the spectrum of conflict in hostile, denied or politically sensitive areas.
Searching weapons cache in Afghanistan
Full spectrum of conflict

7. Adaptability, improvisation, innovation, self-reliance
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
by a high degree of adaptability, improvisation, innovation, and self-reliance.
Adaptability, improvisation, innovation, self-reliance

8. It is a supporting command, commanded by a four-star general, whose primary responsibility is to prepare special operations forces to carry out assigned missions. When appropriate, USSOCOM also may be called upon to conduct special operations missions unilaterally or to serve as a supported combatant command.

9. SOF CORE TASKS CORE TASKS Unconventional Warfare
Counterproliferation of WMD
Counterterrorism
Direct Action
Psychological Operations
Information Operations
Counterproliferation of WMD
Counterterrorism
Foreign Internal Defense
Special Reconnaissance
Direct Action
Psychological Operations
Civil Affairs
Information Operations

10. UNCONVENTIONAL WARFARE
Unconventional Warfare is defined as a “broad spectrum of military and paramilitary operations, normally of a long duration. UW is predominantly conducted by, with or through indigenous or surrogate forces who are organized, trained, equipped, supported and directed to some degree by an external source. UW includes guerrilla warfare and other direct offensive, low-visibility, covert or clandestine operations, as well as the indirect activities of subversion, sabotage, intelligence activities & unconventional assisted recovery.

11. COUNTERPROLIFERATION of WMD
Refers to actions taken to support DoD & other governmental agencies to prevent, limit, and or minimize the development, possession, & employment of WMD, new advanced weapons, and advanced-weapon-capable technologies.

12. Counterterrorism
CT involves offensive measures taken to prevent, deter, preempt and respond to terrorism. Elements of Special Operations are specifically organized, trained and equipped to conduct covert, clandestine or discreet CT missions in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments. Missions include intelligence operations, attacks against terrorist networks & infrastructures, hostage rescue, recovery of sensitive material and non-kinetic activities aimed at the ideologies or motivations that spawn terrorism.

13. FOREIGN INTERNAL DEFENSE
Participation by civilian or military agencies of a government in any of the action programs taken by another government or designated organization to free their society from subversion, lawlessness, and insurgency. SOCOM’s primary contribution to this interagency activity is to organize, train, advise, and assist host nation military and paramilitary forces. The goal is to enable these forces to maintain the host nation’s internal stability, to counter subversion and violence in their country, and to address the causes of instability.

14. SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE
Reconnaissance and surveillance actions conducted as special operations in hostile, denied or politically sensitive environments to collect or verify information of strategic or operational significance, employing military capabilities not normally found in conventional forces. These actions provide an additive capability for commanders and may supplement other intelligence collection when conventional reconnaissance and surveillance actions are limited by weather, terrain, or adversary countermeasures.

15. DIRECT ACTION
The conduct of short-duration strikes and other small-scale offensive actions conducted as a special operation in hostile, denied or politically sensitive environments to seize, destroy, capture, exploit, recover or damage designated targets of strategic or operational significance, employing specialized military capabilities. Direct action differs from conventional offensive actions in the level of physical and political risk, operational technlques, and the use of discriminating force to achieve specific objectives.

16. PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS
Planned operations to convey truthful information and indicators to foreign audiences to influence their emotions, motives, objective reasoning, and ultimately, the behavior of foreign governments, organizations, groups and individuals. The purpose of PSYOP is to induce or reinforce foreign attitudes and behaviors favorable to the originator’s objectives.

17. CIVIL AFFAIRS
Operations consisting of civil affairs activities and specialized support provided to commanders responsible for conducting civil military operations. Civil Affairs activities involve establishing and conducting military government or civil administration until civilian authority or government can be restored or transitioned to other appropriate authorities. Civil Affairs supports civil military operations by focusing efforts to minimize civilian interference with military operations & limit the adverse impact of military operations on civilian populations and resources.

18. INFORMATION OPERATIONS
Actions taken to influence, affect or defend information, information systems and decision-making

19. Secure US From Direct Attacks
DEFENSE STRATEGY &
Special Ops MISSIONS
Counterproliferation of WMD
Counterterrorism
Special Reconnaissance
Direct Action
Psychological Operations
Unconventional Warfare
Civil Affairs
Information Operations
Secure US From Direct Attacks
The Secretary of Defense has charted a national defense strategy designed to embrace uncertainty and contend with surprise.
(click) The U.S. military plays a critical role in assuring allies and friends that the Nation will honor its obligations and will be a reliable security partner.
(click) SOF’s foreign internal defense and civil affairs missions are unmistakable
(click) and concrete demonstrations of American determination in promoting security cooperation in critical areas of the world.
(Key enabler of all missions)

20. Secure Strategic Access & Retain Global Freedom of Action
DEFENSE STRATEGY &
Special Ops MISSIONS
Secure Strategic Access & Retain Global Freedom of Action
Unconventional Warfare
Foreign Internal Defense
Psychological Operations
Civil Affairs

21. Strengthen Alliances & Partnerships
DEFENSE STRATEGY &
Special Ops MISSIONS
Strengthen Alliances & Partnerships
Counterproliferation of WMD
Counterterrorism
Foreign Internal Defense
Psychological Operations
Civil Affairs
Information Operations
(Key enabler of all missions)
SOF’s counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, combating terrorism, foreign internal defense, psychological warfare, and civil affairs missions are particularly effective in discouraging potential adversaries from engaging in military competition with the United States.

22. VISION, AZIMUTH, POWER SETTING
STRATEGIC AGILITY
GLOBAL ACCESS
UMBIQUITOUS PRESENCE
INFORMATION DOMINANCE
SOF will focus on those capabilities not available elsewhere in the armed forces. SOF must be a multi-mission force— providing a comprehensive set of specialized capabilities.
(click) These capabilities provide the azimuth and power setting for developing the vision for the SOF Full Spectrum Force. Here we highlight four of our flagship capabilities: Strategic Agility, Global Access, Ubiquitous Presence, Information Dominance.
(click) These capabilities capture the four operational concepts of information dominance, dominant maneuver, precision engagement, and full-dimensional protection, outlined in Joint Vision 2020 and carry them forward to integrate SOF activities and capabilities with the Services and their larger conventional forces.