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The United States Special Operations Command ('''USSOCOM''' or '''USSOC''') is the Specified Command charged with overseeing the various '''Special Operations Commands''' ('''SOC''' or '''SOCOM''') of each branch of the U.S. Military . The command is part of the U.S. Department Of Defense . When Special Operations Forces (SOF) of different branches are used for the same operation, USSOCOM acts as the Joint Command Center (JCC) of all the forces used in the operation. USSOCOM is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida .SOCOM is a separate brand of the armed forces, with 44,000 special operations commandos from the Army, Air Force and Navy. HISTORY The idea of a unified special operations command had its origins in the aftermath of Operation Eagle Claw , the disastrous attempted rescue of hostages at the American embassy in Iran . The ensuing investigation, chaired by Adm. James L. Holloway III , the retired Chief Of Naval Operations , cited Command And Control and inter-service coordination as significant factors in the failure of the mission. Further problems in Grenada in '' Operation Urgent Fury '' involving communications problems, training coordination, and equipment commonalities increased the visibility of the problems of inter-service standardization. A significant part of the problem was identified as related to attempts to use standard-force-issue equipment (radios, helicopters, aircraft, surface craft) for the more demanding Special Operations , and the lack of support from the various services for developing and equipping their special operations forces with equipment suitable to the missions. The Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 would eventually lead to the birth of USSOCOM on April 16, 1987. LIST OF USSOCOM COMMANDERS COMPONENT COMMANDS (INCOMPLETE) Each Special Operations Command is unique and capable of running their own operations, but when the different Special Operations Forces need to work together for an operation, USSOCOM becomes the joint component command of the operation, instead of a SOC of a specific branch. Joint Special Operations Command is under the command of USSOCOM. Air Force The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) headquartered at Hurlburt Field , Florida is in charge of the Special Operations Forces of the U.S. Air Force . The command currently oversees: Active-duty
Reserves & National Guard
Army The U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) is in charge of the Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the U.S. Army . The command currently oversees:
Navy The U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command (NAVSPECWARCOM or NAVSOC) is in charge of the Special Operations Forces of the U.S. Navy , particularly the different SEAL Teams. The command currently oversees:
Navy-Marines-USCG Special Missions Training Center Marine Corps
Other Marine Corps Forces not from MARSOC
The MSOAG, formerly the FMTU, has been operating since 2005, before MARSOC formally existed. MARSOC was formally activated during a February 24th ceremony at Camp Lejeune, N.C., where MARSOC is now headquartered. Fox Company, 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, was the first of the Marine Special Operations Battalions' companies to activate in the Spring of 2006. Drawing its manpower from the core of 2nd Force Reconnaissance Co., Fox Company's creation came at the expense of 2nd Force Reconnaissance Co., which stood down upon the transfer of its platoons to both MARSOC's 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, and a new company (Delta) of 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion. The Joint Special Operations Command The Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is the USSOCOM branch working on counter terrorism. It controls the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D, Delta Force), which is administratively under U.S Army command; the DEVGRU (Navy Special Warfare Development Group, formerly SEAL Team 6); parts of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) , notably the the 1st Battalion, which flies several versions of the AH/MH-6 "Little Bird" helicopter; the USAF's 24th Special Tactics Squadron and several squadrons of the 16th Special Operations Wing; the unit previously known as Intelligence Support Activity , a covert unit that often changes its name and carries out special missions in support of other JSOC units, and several other Special Missions Units . Portions of JSOC units have made up the constantly changing counter-terror strikeforce variously known as Task Force 121 , Task Force 6-26 , and Task Force 145 since the September 11, 2001 attacks. EXTERNAL LINKS Official sites
Other useful links
REFERENCES #USDOD. U.S. DOD Dictionary of Military Terms . United States of America: ''U.S. Department of Defense''. June 5, 2003. #USDOD. U.S. DOD Dictionary of Military Terms: Joint Acronyms and Abbreviations . United States of America: ''U.S. Department of Defense''. June 5, 2003. |
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