8,000 US Special forces in 80 countries worldwide 10805171

Defense & Security News - United States
 
More than 8,000 U.S. Special Forces are deployed in more than 80 nations.
U.S. Special Operations Command forces are elite personnel deployed globally at the forefront of national security efforts, SOCOM's commander said Thursday, May 4, 2017, in a congressional hearing. More than 8,000 U.S. special operations forces are deployed in more than 80 nations.
     
U.S. Special Operations Command forces are elite personnel deployed globally at the forefront of national security efforts, SOCOM's commander said Thursday, May 4, 2017, in a congressional hearing. More than 8,000 U.S. special operations forces are deployed in more than 80 nations.
A U.S. Special Operations flight crew pilot a MC-130J Commando II, April 11, 2017 over Karlsborg, Sweden during Exercise MARAP. Exercise MARAP allowed U.S. SOF the opportunity to integrate and train with partner nations in a unique and realistic training environment. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Henry Gundacker, U.S. Special Operations Command Europe-Public Affairs)

     
Since its inception three decades ago, SOCOM (United States Special Operations Command ) has consistently provided the world's best special operations forces to the geographic combatant commanders, Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas III told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The United States Special Operations Command 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.

U.S. SOCOM is a unique Defense Department organization, Thomas pointed out. It is responsible for manning, training and equipping the special operations forces, as well as a globally focused functional combatant command, he said. The national security threats have evolved in the 30 years since the command was created, and the force has evolved to meet the threat, he added.

Today's missions include defeating violent extremism, countering Russian aggression, preparing for contingencies in Korea and various security operations to defend the homeland, the general explained.


Thomas and Whelan thanked the congressional leaders for their support of the command, noting that SOCOM is relevant to all the current and enduring threats facing the nation. The spending caps under the Budget Control Act have posed a consistent challenge to the command, Thomas said.