Joint Publication Special Operations

Special operations (SO) differ from conventionaloperations in degree of physical and political risk,operational techniques, modes of employment, anddependence on detailed operational intelligence and indigenous assets. SO are conducted in allenvironments, but are particularly well suited for denied and politically sensitive environments. SO can be tailored to achieve not only military objectives through application of special operations forces (SOF) capabilities for which there are no broad conventional force requirements, but also to support the applicationof the diplomatic, informational, and economicinstruments of national power.SOF are those forces identified in Title 10, UnitedStates Code (USC), Section 167 or those units or forces that have since been designated as SOF by Secretary of Defense (SecDef). Generally, SOF are under the combatant Command (command authority) (COCOM) of the Commander, United States Special Operations Command (CDRUSSOCOM), or the respective geographic combatant commander (GCC) to which theyare assigned. SOF are those Active Component andReserve Component forces of the Services specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support SO.