United States Special Operations Command
Unified combatant command of the United States Armed Forces responsible for special operations / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM) is the unified combatant command charged with overseeing the various special operations component commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense and is the only unified combatant command created by an Act of Congress. USSOCOM is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
United States Special Operations Command | |
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Founded | April 16, 1987; 37 years ago (1987-04-16) (37 years ago)[1] |
Country | United States |
Type | Unified combatant command Special operations forces |
Role | Functional combatant command |
Size | Entire command: more than 70,000[2][3] Headquarters staff: 2,500[2] |
Part of | United States Department of Defense |
Headquarters | MacDill Air Force Base Florida, U.S. |
Nickname(s) | USSOCOM, SOCOM |
Engagements | Operation Earnest Will Invasion of Panama Gulf War Unified Task Force |
Website | www.socom.mil |
Commanders | |
Commander | General Bryan P. Fenton, USA[5] |
Deputy Commander | Lieutenant General Sean M. Farrell, USAF |
Vice Commander | Lieutenant General Francis L. Donovan, USMC[6] |
Senior Enlisted Leader | Command Sergeant Major Shane W. Shorter, USA[7] |
The idea of an American 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 in 1980. The ensuing investigation, chaired by Admiral James L. Holloway III, the retired Chief of Naval Operations, cited lack of command and control and inter-service coordination as significant factors in the failure of the mission.[8] Since its activation on 16 April 1987, U.S. Special Operations Command has participated in many operations, from the 1989 invasion of Panama to the War on Terror.[9][10]
USSOCOM is involved with clandestine activity, such as direct action, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, unconventional warfare, psychological warfare, civil affairs, and counter-narcotics operations. Each branch has a distinct Special Operations Command that is capable of running its 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.[11]