Reply #1: A Glimpse of Army Special Operations Forces

[Jcrowley]

A Glimpse of Army Special Operations Forces

The role of special operations forces in the U.S. military is steadily increasing but relatively little is publicly known about the activities and performance of these specialized units.

A new U.S. Army manual (pdf) fills in some of the gaps in the public record with a description of the structure, capabilities and missions of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF). The manual has not been approved for public release, but a copy was obtained by Secrecy News.

"ARSOF are specially organized, trained, and equipped military forces," it explains. "They conduct SO to achieve military, political, economic, or informational objectives by generally unconventional means in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive areas."

According to the Army, special operations forces can leap tall buildings in a single bound.

http://www.fas.org/blog/secrecy/2006/11/a_glimpse_of_army_special_oper.html