29 May 1998
Thanks to DS

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) operates out of building 501 at the sunny and beautiful MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida.

USSOCOM specializes in counter-paramilitary, counter-narcotics, guerilla, psychological warfare, civil education, and insurgency operations.

Only a mile away is the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) that coordinated the assault on Iraqi troops in Desert Storm. USCENTCOM commands the more traditional troops; tanks, infantry, etc.

USSOCOM was created in 1987 to serve as a unified command for the purposes of consolidating command and control of nearly 50,000 "special forces" troops. The Command-in-Chief of USSOCOM (four star) has operational control over U.S. Navy SEAL teams (San Diego, California), U.S. Air Force Special Operations Forces (pan-handle of Florida), and Army Special Operations Forces (mostly Fort Bragg, North Carolina).

The four-star of USSOCOM reports directly to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. However, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) coordinates budget activity within the Pentagon.