Special Operations Forces Reference Manual: 4th Edition 2015

This fourth edition of the Special Operations Forces Operations Reference Manual was redesigned to support Joint Special Operations University's academic mission. It provides general information on U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force Special Operations Forces (SOF). More specifically, this document is designed to accomplish three broad purposes:1. Provide a primary source of reference material on all SOF components2.Provide an overview of special operations and SOF to facilitate a broader understanding of SOF capabilities to academic institutions and personnel who may not routinely use this data 3.Provide standard SOF reference data to SOF faculty members at professional military education institutions for use in their instruction The target audience for this manual spans from special operations staff officers and enlisted personnel at United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), its component and subordinate commands, the theater special operations commands, conventional force/unifed commands and their staffs that may employ SOF in their areas of responsibility to partner-nation staffs, and both civilian and military educational institutions. This reference manual is doctrinally based, drawing information and data from joint, USSOCOM, and service publications. This reference manual is approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. Content for this fourth edition of the SOF Reference Manual was current as of 28 February 2015.