Many types of special forces exist - all with specific roles involving land-, sea- and air-based operations. It is these units that pave the way for larger numbers of conventional forces to follow.

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General Information

Army
Army 'Special Operations Soldiers' promote peace, deter aggression, educate foreign soldiers in military skills and values, provide humanitarian assistance, and when necessary, conduct combat operations. The Army’s Special Operations missions fall to the Special Forces, Army Rangers, Special Operations Aviation (the Night Stalkers), and Delta Force.

Special Forces "Green Berets"
75th Ranger Regiment
160th Spec. Ops. Aviation Regiment

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Navy
Naval Special Warfare Command was commissioned April 16, 1987, at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in San Diego, Calif. The major operational components of Naval Special Warfare Command includes Naval Special Warfare Group ONE and Special Boat Squadron ONE in San Diego, CA, and Naval Special Warfare Group TWO and Special Boat Squadron TWO in Norfolk, VA.
These components deploy SEAL Teams, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Teams and Special Boat Units worldwide to meet the training, exercise, contingency and wartime requirements of theater commanders. The command includes approximately 5,000 total active-duty personnel--including 2,200 SEALs and 600 Special Warfare Combat Crewmembers (SWCC).

SEALs

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Air Force
Air Force Special Operations Command was established May 22, 1990. AFSOC is the Air Force component of U.S. Special Operations Command, a unified command.
The command is committed the following special operations activities: unconventional warfare, counter proliferation, direct action, psychological operations, special reconnaissance, civil affairs, combating terrorism, foreign internal defense, and information operations.
AFSOC has approximately 12,500 active duty, Reserve, Air National Guard and civilian professionals, with over 20 percent stationed overseas. The command has more than 160 fixed and rotary wing aircraft assigned.

Air Force Special Operations

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Sources: U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force

Other Specialists U.S. Special Forces: • Delta Force (Army) • Force Recon (USMC) British Special Forces: • SAS - Special Air Service (Army) • SBS - Special Boat Squadron (Navy/Royal Marines)

More Information • Army Insider • Navy Insider • Air Force Insider • Marines Insider • NATO Insider • Intelligence Agencies Insider • MacDill AFB Report

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