​THEATER SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND - SOCNORTH

COMMANDER - U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Christopher M. Burns

SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISOR - Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffery D. Stigall

MISSION

SOCNORTH, in partnership with the interagency and regional SOF, synchronize operations against terrorist networks and their acquisition or use of weapons of mass destruction, and when directed, employs fully capable SOF to defend the homeland in depth and respond to crisis.

COMMAND VISION

SOCNORTH will be responsive, capable, and postured to provide USNORTHCOM with scalable SOF options to contribute to the defense of the homeland with emphasis on counterterrorism, counter weapons of mass destruction-terrorism, and counter transnational organized crime in Mexico. Critical to our success is the expanding and strengthening of our posture across the area of responsibility to achieve a tailored and discrete presence with our mission partners. This includes DoD, partner-nation SOF, and the U.S. interagency. As a node with the Network, we will develop, exercise, and advocate for SOF capabilities required by commander of USNORTHCOM. Success is defined by achieving mutual trust and confidence with our critical mission partners that result in gaining and maintaining all domain awareness allowing timely response throughout the AOR by trained, organized and ready SOF.

AREA OF FOCUS

SOCNORTH’s area of responsibility mirrors that of USNORTHCOM and includes air, land, and sea approaches and encompasses the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and the surrounding water out to approximately 500 nautical miles. It also includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Straits of Florida, and portions of the Caribbean region to include the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The commander of SOCNORTH is responsible for maintaining existing relationships with regional SOF organizations in Canada, Mexico, and the Bahamas and facilitates their contributions to the cooperative defense of North America.

MAJOR ENGAGEMENT

Vital Archer is a yearly exercise focused on the USNORTHCOM counterterrorism mission. It is a comman post exercise as well as a field training exercise. Field training includes response to chemical, biological, and nuclear incidents. SOCNORTH also executes several exercises annually that rehearse SOF specific support to lead U.S. government agencies for resolution of threats to the homeland.