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USASOC Headquarters Fact Sheet
About the U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Since Sept. 11, 2001, few elements of the U.S. military have been more involved in the Global War on Terrorism than the Soldiers of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, or USASOC.
In Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and numerous other hotspots around the world, USASOC Soldiers have been amongst the first forces to deploy in support of U.S. and coalition force objectives.
Many of these Soldiers, most of them having served in numerous combat rotations, remain deployed to those locations along with conventional forces and multinational partners to help ensure the success of all GWOT operations, whether in a frontline combat role or a humanitarian assistance function.
HISTORY & RESPONSIBILITIES
On Dec. 1, 1989, the Department of the Army established USASOC at Fort Bragg , N.C. , as a major Army command to enhance the readiness of Army special operations forces.
In addition to reporting to the Department of the Army, USASOC also functions as the Army component of the U.S. Special Operations Command, or USSOCOM, located at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. USSOCOM is the congressionally mandated, unified combatant command responsible for all Department of Defense special operations forces within the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
STRUCTURE
With an allocated strength of approximately 23,000 Soldiers, USASOC commands both active-duty and Army Reserve special operations forces. The command 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.
USASOC controls seven major subordinate elements, which in turn train and maintain forces for deployment by USSOCOM to combatant command theaters worldwide.
USASOC has four major subordinate commands that include the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (Provisional), U. S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School and U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, all located at Fort Bragg, N.C. Located elsewhere is the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga.
The 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (Provisional), Fort Bragg, N.C., controls five active Special Forces groups and has training oversight for two groups in the Army National Guard. The Green Berets are uniquely selected, trained and equipped for deployment around the world during peacetime, conflict and war. Regionally and culturally oriented, Special Forces Soldiers are experts in unconventional warfare, direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense and combating terrorism. The command also includes the 4th and 8th Military Information Support Groups (Airborne), the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) and the 528th Sustainment Brigade (Airborne).
The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS) at Fort Bragg, N.C., is one of the Army’s premier education institutions, managing and resourcing professional growth for Soldiers in the Army’s three distinct special-operations branches: Special Forces, Civil Affairs and Military Information Support.
The 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning , Ga. , is the Army's premier light infantry force. The Rangers are flexible, highly-trained and rapidly deployable Soldiers with specialized skills who can be employed against a variety of targets. The regiment's three battalions plan and conduct direct action missions in support of U.S. policy objectives.
The U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command organizes, mans, trains, resources and equips ARSOAC units to provide responsive, special operations aviation support to Special Operations Forces and is the USASOC Aviation staff proponent