U.S. Special Operations Command
| United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) |
|
|---|---|
United States Special Operations Command Emblem
|
|
| Founded | April 16, 1987 |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Type |
Functional Combatant Command Special operations |
| Role | Provide fully capable special operations forces to defend the United States and its interests and plan and synchronize operations against terrorist networks |
| Size | Entire command: 69,000 Headquarters staff: 2,500 |
| Part of |
 Department of Defense
|
| Headquarters | MacDill AFB, Florida, U.S. |
| Nickname(s) | USSOCOM, SOCOM |
| Engagements |
Operation Earnest Will |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
General Raymond A. Thomas, USA |
Operation Earnest Will
Invasion of Panama
Persian Gulf War
Unified Task Force
Operation Gothic Serpent
Operation Uphold Democracy
Global War on Terrorism
The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM) is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Component Commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense and is the only Unified Combatant Command legislated into being by the U.S. Congress. USSOCOM is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
The idea of a unified special operations command had its origins in the aftermath of Operation Eagle Claw, the disastrous attempted rescue of hostages at the American embassy in Iran in 1980. The ensuing investigation, chaired by Admiral James L. Holloway III, the retired Chief of Naval Operations, cited lack of command and control and inter-service coordination as significant factors in the failure of the mission. Since its activation on 16 April 1987, U.S. Special Operations Command has participated in many operations, from the 1989 invasion of Panama to the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
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Wikipedia