Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces

Abstract

Special Operations Forces (SOF) are those active duty and reserve component forces of the military services designated by the Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and specifically selected, organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. Special operations frequently require unique modes of employment, tactics, techniques, procedures, and equipment. They are often conducted in hostile, politically, and/or diplomatically sensitive environments, and are characterized by one or more of the following: time-sensitivity, clandestine or covert nature, low visibility, work with or through indigenous forces, greater requirements for regional orientation and cultural expertise, and a high degree of risk.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 11, 2020
Accession Number
AD1169984

Entities

People

  • Andrew Feickert
  • Barbara Salazar Torreon

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Command And Control
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Employment
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • Special Operations Forces
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • United States
  • United States Africa Command
  • United States Central Command
  • United States European Command
  • United States Northern Command
  • United States Pacific Command
  • United States Special Operations Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.