U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Army Special Operation Command was established December 1, 1989. ARSOC is the Army component of U.S. Special Operations Command, a unified command. ARSOC trains, equips, deploys and sustains Army special-operations forces for worldwide special operations supporting regional combatant commanders and country ambassadors.
The Army's SOF currently consist of Special Forces, Ranger, Psychological Operations, Civil Affairs, Special Operations Aviation units, and Special Mission units. These units may be employed during peacetime as one element of a national response to a National Command Authority (NCA) tasking or, during wartime, in strategic, operational, and tactical roles. Most SOF are regionally oriented, capable of rapid deployment, and equipped for all-weather, all-terrain, worldwide deployment.
As the Army's component of USSOCOM, USASOC provides Special Forces, Ranger, Special Operations Aviation, Special Operations Support, Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs forces to USSOCOM for deployment as required to other combatant, unified commands around the world. They also provide logistics and signal support to those operations through the Special Operations Support Command (Airborne).
As a major Army command, USASOC reports directly to Department of the Army. USASOC commands both the active Army and Reserve component special operations forces. It also provides oversight of Army National Guard special operations forces readiness, organization, training and employment in coordination with the National Guard Bureau and State Adjutants General.
Inactivated in 1945 and then activated in 1950, rangers continued to distinguish themselves in combat but were again inactivated in 1951. The ranger flag didn't fly again until the late 1960s, when the unit was activated and eventually became the 75th Infantry Regiment.
The aviation arm of special operations was born in 1980, when assets were drawn from the 101st Abn. Div. and the 158th , 159th and 229th Aviation Bns. to form a task force that specialized in low-level, night operations. Designated the 160th Avn. Bn. on Oct. 16, 1981, the unit pioneered the tactics commonly used by today's aviation units and developed procedures that enabled it to place special-operations soldiers into demanding objectives. The "Night Stalkers" were designated as the 160th Special Operations Avn. Regt. in May 1990.
On December 1, 1989, the Department of the Army established the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) at Fort Bragg, N.C., as a major Army command to enhance the readiness of Army special operations forces. The change streamlined the command and control of U.S. Army Reserve special operations forces. Army support to the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) located at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., was also enhanced as a result of the new command and control structure. USSOCOM is the congressionally mandated, unified command responsible for all Department of Defense special operations forces -- Army, Navy and Air Force.
From October 1997 to May 1998, 21,326 USASOC soldiers deployed to 102 countries and conducted 3,151 missions including peacekeeping, humanitarian assistance, demining and mine awareness, and foreign internal defense. Army SOF includes special forces, rangers, civil affairs, psychological operations, special operations aviation, and signal and support.
The command is committed to continual improvement to provide special operations forces for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified commands to accomplish the following special operations activities: unconventional warfare, counterproliferation, direct action, psychological operations, special reconnaissance, civil affairs, combating terrorism, foreign internal defense, and information operations.
Until May 2006, ARSOC had approximately 25,600 active duty, Reserve, National Guard and civilian professionals. The breakdown was approximately 1,000 civilians, 13,500 active duty personnel; 3,400 National Guard, and 7,700 from the Army Reserve. Army special operations forces (ARSOF) included active, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve forces consisting of Special Forces, Rangers, special operations aviation, civil affairs (CA), psychological operations (PSYOP), and combat- and
service-support units. These units are assigned to USASOC located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
- Five active and two Army National Guard (ARNG) Special Forces groups totaling 15 active and six ARNG battalions
- One active Ranger regiment with three battalions
- An active special operations aviation regiment with one detachment in Puerto Rico
- One active special operations support command composed of one special operations signal battalion, one special operations support battalion, and six special operations theater support elements
- Two active and two reserve chemical reconnaissance detachments (CRD)
- The John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Centerand School
- Four reserve CA commands, seven reserve CA brigades, and one active and 24 reserve CA battalions (Operational command and control was tranferred to the U.S. Army Reserve in May 2006)
- One active and two reserve PSYOP groups totaling five active and eight reserve PSYOP battalions (Operational command and control was tranferred to the U.S. Army Reserve in May 2006)
USASOC's major subordinate commands include the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) and the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. USASOC also had as one of its major subordinate command the U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command (Airborne) until May 2006 when operational command and control was tranferred to the U.S. Army Reserve. USASOC still retained proponency for Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations -- including doctrine, combat development and institutional training with the the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Provisional) and the 4th Psychological Operations Group remaining assigned to USASOC.
Major subordinate units include the 75th Ranger Regiment, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), and the U.S. Army Special Operations Support Command (Airborne), which oversees the operations of the 528th Special Operations Support Battalion (Airborne) and the 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion (Airborne).
Rangers - Rangers Lead the Way. Providing a responsive strike force and fighting primarily at night, Army Rangers rely on elements of surprise, teamwork, and basic soldiering skills to plan and conduct special missions in support of U.S. policy and objectives. Having taken part in every major combat operation in which the U.S. has been involved since the end of the Vietnam War, they are capable of deploying rapidly by land, sea, or air to conduct direct-action operations.
Aviation - Night Stalkers. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment employs state-of-the-art equipment to provide extremely accurate heliborne lift and attack capabilities in a wide range of mission profiles, including force insertion and extraction, aerial security, armed attack, electronic warfare, and command and control support. These soldiers' ability and performance exemplify their motto "Night Stalkers Don't Quit."
Special Forces (SF) - De Oppresso Liber. Special Forces soldiers receive training in a variety of individual and special skills. These skills include operations, intelligence, communications, medical aid, engineering, and weapons. SF soldiers train, advise, and assist host-nation military or paramilitary forces in a variety of conventional and unconventional warfare techniques. SF soldiers are highly skilled operators, trainers, and teachers. Regionally oriented, these soldiers are specially trained in their respective area's native language and culture.
Civil Affairs (CA) - By Sword, Deed, and Word. Civil affairs units support the commander's relationship with civil authorities, and the civilian populace, by promoting mission legitimacy and thereby enhancing military effectiveness. U.S. Army Reservists, comprising 97 percent of the force, bring civilian job skills to support civil military operations and civil administration. Some of these specialized skills include: public safety, agriculture, finance, economy, and support of dislocated civilian operations.
Psychological Operations (PSYOP) - Persuade, Change, Influence. PSYOP units support operations across the operational continuum to induce or reinforce attitudes and behaviors favorable to U.S. national goals in selected foreign-target audiences. Intense cross-cultural and language training provide PSYOP personnel with an invaluable regional orientation.
Special Operations Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment (CRD). CRDs conduct chemical reconnaissance in permissive, semi-permissive, and denied areas for special operations force commanders and theater CINCs. These special detachments are the only CRDs with this mission within the U.S. Army.
Special Operations Support Command (SOSCOM) - Assured Support. SOSCOM provides combat service support, combat health support, and signal support to Army special operations forces. To support this complex and demanding mission, the command's subordinate units (the 528th Support Battalion and the 112th Special Operations Signal Battalion) provide the necessary connectivity to sustain and support ARSOF around the world.
The John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School - Truth and Liberty. The John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School - the Army's special operations university - is responsible for special operations training, leader development, doctrine, and personnel advocacy. The center and school's Training Group conducts the complete spectrum of special operations training.
