USSOCOM

“At 3% of the force for less than 2% of the budget, SOF is able to look transregionally and have conversations with all the other Combatant Commands to understand where the threats meet, and provide the best SOF across the planet.” - U.S. SOCOM Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Sean Farrell Feb. 20, 2025, during NDIA Special Operations Symposium Panel “Strategic Environment and SOF.”

Check 1, 2 ?? MC-130J maintainers ready the aircraft between flights in Arizona during last month's Emerald Warrior exercise. The mission doesn't get off the ground without our maintainers. They understand success depends perfecting the details, even if they must adapt to new environments or circumstances. Our Air Commandos do not simply train; they prepare for all situations. #AirCommandos | #AFSOC | #SpecialOperations

Today, our combined SOF personnel completed routine training under the #FreedomShield25 banner toward maintaining a more lethal force in support of our nations’ mutual defense priorities. The full scope of the exercise included more than two weeks of training in combined, Joint operations across all domains and concluded in a multiday capstone field training exercise at various locations, which included a ROK training site east of Seoul, a military freefall drop zone south of Camp Humphreys, and an air assault location on Paengnyong-Do (Baengyeong-Do). This training demonstrated our combined lethality to advance peace through strength. U.S. and ROK elements conducted field-based training that honed direct action, special reconnaissance, countering weapons of mass destruction, and other special operations forces’ skills-based, core activities. With the 75th anniversary of the Korean War approaching in June of this year, these training sessions continue a decades’ long investment between both nations’ SOF personnel. They especially remind us of the history associated with special operations, guerilla, and partisan forces that used PY-Do as a base of operations during the Korean War (more details linked in the comments section). Full article on training and high-quality images located here: https://lnkd.in/gU3N4e6x

“This is a very difficult environment to perform surgery in, with many challenges that must be critically assessed and overcome if we are to own this battle space in the future,” said US Army Lt. Col. Maxwell Sirkin, a trauma surgeon and the trauma medical director at Womack Army Medical Center in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. More than 100 Special Operations Forces personnel, 30 organizations, and two partner nations came together for Special Operations Forces Arctic Medic 2025. #HomelandDefense #ArcticMedic, hosted by SOCNORTH and U.S. Northern Command, allowed operators from Naval Special Warfare Command - Navy SEAL & SWCC Teams, combat medics and surgical teams to adapt and innovate in the challenging climate, enhancing SOF’s warfighting capabilities and lethality when operating in the Arctic. Army National Guard “The sub-freezing and Arctic environment is just as violent to a casualty as enemy fire,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Wayne Papalski, the NSW tactical medicine senior enlisted leader. “Equally, the environment is always working against you as a provider; from your gear, treatment, performance, as well as your own health.” Photos by Alejandro Pe?a and MC1 Trey Hutcheson Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eWGJBd5M

The four-legged warriors who work with the US Army Special Forces endure the same hardships as their human teammates. On #K9VeteransDay, learn more about how they’re chosen for this elite task, how they’re integrated into the team and how their retirement is as dignified as a human’s.

Precision, power, and partnership in action! ?????????? During an intense bilateral training exercise with Finnish Utti Jaeger Regiment, the 352d Special Operations Wing shows how we are not only sharpening our skills but also underscoring the unparalleled lethality of our Air Commandos. By showcasing our capabilities alongside our Finnish Allies, we reaffirm America’s military strength as a formidable deterrent against any adversaries. Ready, reliable, and always watching—our commitment to global security remains unwavering.

Recently, we hosted Ms. Tesa Lanoy, the USSOCOM Chief Financial Officer/Comptroller, and her team to discuss the importance, regional return on investment, and higher headquarters oversight and accountability of U.S. Special Operations resourcing on the Korean Peninsula. During Ms. Lanoy’s visit, our team outlined budget priorities that enable a ready, efficient, and capable presence on the Peninsula as a means to deter belligerent actions in competition, degrade adversary capability in crisis, and defeat adversaries in conflict, if called upon. In an era where technological advancement is rapidly changing the character of war and threats are converging globally, a comparatively modest investment in U.S. SOF has an outsized impact, offering vital options to the Joint Force in campaigning, crisis, and conflict. Modernization and resourcing provide the capabilities allowing U.S. SOF to generate effects in support of the Joint Force.

The new Tip of the Spear magazine focuses on Warrior Ethos and SOF readiness, here in the United States of America and across the globe, through integrated joint force training and exercises. Read the latest issue here: https://lnkd.in/evY7BaWH

In terms of warfighting, there needs to be an equilibrium between readiness, modernization and operations, said Army Command Sgt. Maj. Shane Shorter, senior enlisted leader of U.S. Special Operations Command. There are roughly 6,000 SOF service members in 80 countries, building familiarity, relationships and influence. "That's deterrence," he said. If a high-end conflict arises, SOF is prepared to help the joint force, allies and partners to win. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ePftkHNE

March 4, 2002 #OTD Air Force Special Operations Air Commandos distinguished themselves during Operation ANACONDA and the Battle of Takur Ghar/Roberts Ridge – most notably, Master Sgt. John A. Chapman whose actions resulted in the Medal of Honor. A Combined Joint Task Force of about 1400 personnel from the U.S and six other nations took on the task of clearing the Shahi Kot valley in eastern Afghanistan of al-Qaeda and Taliban. Eight Americans (5 U.S. Army, 2 USAF and 1 U.S. Navy) died during Operation ANACONDA and 80 were wounded. Seven of those deaths occurred at Takur Gar during a helicopter insertion of a SEAL team and the subsequent attempt to rescue them. During insertion, the team's helicopter was ambushed causing a teammate to fall into an entrenched group of enemy combatants below. Chapman and the team voluntarily reinserted onto the snow-capped mountain, into the heart of a known enemy stronghold to rescue one of their own. It was then that Chapman displayed extraordinary heroism, sacrificing his life for the lives of his teammates. Chapman was one of many Special Tactics Air Commandos on the ground that day, supported by many more Air Commandos from above in AC-130s from the 4 SOS and 16 SOS. Special Tactics Airmen on Takur Ghar included: ??? MSgt John A Chapman (CCT) – Medal of Honor ???TSgt. Keary Miller (PJ) – AF Cross ???SSgt Gabe Brown (CCT) – Silver Star ???SSgt Kevin Vance (TACP) – Silver Star ???SrA Jason Cunningham (PJ) – AF Cross There were several notable sorties throughout the Operation including the AC-130H crew of GRIM 31 (16 SOS) providing close air support to the 10th Mountain Division and two HH-60 crews on 2 March 2002. The HH-60 crews went in to evacuate wounded Army personnel escorted by the gunship when they came under fire and the crew of GRIM-31 engaged enemy targets for nearly two hours. GRIM 31 would be awarded the 2003 Mackay Trophy for their efforts. Finally, then Captain Benjamin Maitre from the 15 SOS was the aircraft commander of an MC-130H whose mission was to airdrop nine re-supply bundles, packed with ammunition and rations to Special Forces. Beginning ten minutes prior to his time-over-target, Captain Maitre came under intense fire and he skillfully outmaneuvered each threat, keeping the aircraft clear of the terrain and barrage of enemy bullets. Captain Maitre then executed a perfect airdrop, evading enemy fire again on his departure from the area. For his actions that day, he was awarded the Silver Star. Some of these men still serve in AFSOC today – there are heroes among us. #AFSOC #AirCommandos #ChapmanLegacy