Joint Special Operations Command
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Joint Special Operations Command | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the Joint Special Operations Command |
|
| Active | December 15, 1980 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | USSOCOM |
| Type | Counter-terrorism |
| Nickname | JSOC |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
LTG Stanley McChrystal |
The Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) is a component command of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and is charged to study special operations requirements and techniques to ensure interoperability and equipment standardization, plans and conducts special operations exercises, and training; and develops Joint Special Operations Tactics. It was established on December 15, 1980, in the aftermath of the failure of Operation Eagle Claw, the unsuccessful attempt to rescue the 53 hostages from the American embassy in Tehran, Iran[1]. It is located at Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg in North Carolina, USA.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The JSOC is the "joint headquarters designed to study special operations requirements and techniques; ensure interoperability and equipment standardization; plan and conduct joint special operations exercises and training; and develop joint special operations tactics"[2]. For this task, the Joint Communications Unit (JCU) is tasked to ensure compatibility of communications systems and standard operating procedures of the different special operations units.
In January 2005, a small group of commandos deployed to support security at the Presidential inauguration. They were allegedly, deployed under a secret counterterrorism program named Power Geyser.
[edit] List of JSOC commanders
| Name and Affiliation | Start of Term | End of Term |
|---|---|---|
| MG Richard A. Scholtes | December 1980 | August 1984 |
| MG Carl Stiner | 1984 | January 1987 |
| MG Gary E. Luck | 1989 | 1990 |
| BG William F. Garrison | 1992 | 1994 |
| MG Wayne A. Downing | September 1997 | November 1997 |
| MG Peter J. Schoomaker | 1995 | 1996 |
| BG Michael A. Canavan | 1997 | 1997 |
| LTG Dell Dailey | 2001 | March 2003 |
| LTG Stanley McChrystal | September 2003 | present |
[edit] See also
[edit] Bibliography
- Steven Emerson, Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era, G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1988. ISBN 0-399-13360-7
- Michael Smith, Killer Elite: The Inside Story of America's Most Secret Special Operations Team, Cassell, London, 2006. ISBN 0-3043-6727-3
[edit] References
- ^ Steven Emerson, Secret Warriors, p.26 (see Bibliography for complete references of the books)
- ^ GlobalSecurity.org
