USSOCOM Fact Book - United States Special Operations Command

Develop special operations strategy, doctrine andtactics Prepare and submit budget proposals for SOF Exercise authority, direction and control over specialoperations expenditures Train assigned forces Conduct specialized courses of instruction Validate requirements Establish requirement priorities Ensure interoperability of equipment and forces Formulate and submit intelligence supportrequirements Monitor Special Operations officers’ promotions,assignments, retention, training and professional militaryeducation Ensure Special Operations Forces’ combat readiness Monitor Special Operations Forces’ preparedness tocarry out assigned missions Develop and acquire special operations-peculiarequipment, materiel, supplies and services Command and control of United States based SpecialOperations Forces Provide Special Operations Forces to the geographiccombatant commanders Activities specified by the President or SECDEFDirect Action: Short-duration strikes and othersmall-scale offensive actions taken to seize, destroy,capture or recover in denied areas.Special Reconnaissance: Acquiring informationconcerning the capabilities, intentions and activities ofan enemy.Unconventional Warfare: Operations conductedby, through and with surrogate forces that are organized,trained, equipped, supported and directed by externalforces.Foreign Internal Defense: Providing training andother assistance to foreign governments and theirmilitaries to enable the foreign government to providefor its country’s national security.Civil Affairs Operations: Activities that establish,maintain or influence relations between U.S. forces andforeign civil authorities and civilian populations tofacilitate U.S. military operations.Counterterrorism: Measures taken to prevent,deter and respond to terrorism.Military Information Support Operations:Operations that provide truthful information to foreignaudiences that influence behavior in support of U.S.military operations.Information Operations: Operations designed toachieve information superiority by adversely affectingenemy information and systems while protecting U.S.information and systems.Counterproliferation of Weapons of MassDestruction: Actions taken to locate, seize, destroy orcapture, recover and render such weapons safe.Security Force Assistance: Unified action byjoint, interagency, intergovernmental andmultinational community to sustain and assisthost nation or regional security forces insupport of a legitimate authority.Counterinsurgency Operations: Thosemilitary, paramilitary, political, economic,psychological and civic actions taken by agovernment to defeat insurgency.Activities Specified by the President or SECDEFUSSOCOM Fact Book7