United States Special Operations Command Annual Posture Statement

Key Chapter Title List

1. Medal of Honor Recipients
2. United States Special Operations Command Headquarters
3. United States Special Operations Command Mission and Priorities
4. United States Army Special Operations Command
5. Naval Special Warfare Command
6. Air Force Special Operations Command
7. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command
8. Joint Special Operations Command
9. Theater Special Operations Commands (Africa, Central, Europe, Korea, Northern, Pacific, Southern)
10. Aviation Equipment (Fixed-Wing, Rotary-Wing, Unmanned Systems)
11. Maritime Equipment (Surface, Subsurface)
12. Ground Equipment and Special Operations Truths

Document Introduction

This report is compiled and organized based on the official annual "Posture Statement" (2025 edition) released by the United States Special Operations Command. It is an authoritative and systematic assessment document concerning the current structure and capability configuration of U.S. special operations forces. The report aims to provide a comprehensive and precise reference benchmark for researchers, policy analysts, and geopolitical observers in the fields of defense and security. Its content is entirely based on the original document's data and statements, without any subjective speculation or extended analysis.

The report begins with a list of special operations personnel who have received the highest military honor—the Medal of Honor—in various wars, emphasizing the core importance of personnel in this field. The main body systematically outlines the organizational structure of the United States Special Operations Command. Its headquarters is located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, commanded by General Bryan P. Fenton, and includes the special operations commands of the four military services—Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps—as well as the highly classified Joint Special Operations Command. The report clarifies its core mission: to develop and employ the world's premier special operations forces to conduct special operations and activities globally in support of and to advance U.S. policies and objectives. Its three priorities (People, Win, Transform) and five core values (Honor, Courage, Excellence, Creativity, Respect) form the foundation of its operational philosophy.

The report provides a detailed analysis of the global deployment posture of U.S. special operations forces, introducing the seven Theater Special Operations Commands covering key regions such as Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. homeland, the Indo-Pacific, and South America. The mission, command relationships, area of responsibility, and primary exercises/training activities of each command are clearly defined, outlining the network of the global presence and operations of U.S. special operations forces. For example, European Command focuses on addressing sovereignty and alliance challenges, Pacific Command concentrates on contingency response and partner cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, while Northern Command is dedicated to homeland defense and Arctic operations.

The equipment systems chapter is another focal point of the report. It categorically presents the dedicated platforms under the purview of the United States Special Operations Command. Aviation equipment encompasses everything from AC-130J gunships and CV-22B tiltrotor aircraft to various modified Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters, as well as unmanned aerial systems. Maritime equipment includes high-speed assault craft, riverine special operations craft, and next-generation dry combat submersibles and SEAL delivery vehicles. Ground equipment consists of various highly mobile all-terrain vehicles adapted for harsh environments. This equipment data and parameters provide concrete evidence for understanding the tactical mobility, infiltration/exfiltration capabilities, and fire support modes of special operations.

The report concludes by reiterating the five core truths of special operations, once again emphasizing fundamental principles such as "Humans are more important than hardware" and "Quality is better than quantity." The report's appendix provides a detailed glossary of professional acronyms for readers' reference. Overall, as a compilation of first-hand official source material, this document offers invaluable original textual evidence for a deep understanding of the organizational logic, global layout, core missions, and material foundation of U.S. special operations capabilities, holding significant reference and analytical value.