USSOCOM is involved with clandestine activity, such as direct action, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, unconventional warfare, psychological warfare, civil affairs, and counter-narcotics operations. Special Operations Command has participated in many operations, from the 1989 invasion of Panama to the current War on Terror.

Since its activation on 16 April 1987, U.S. Holloway III, the retired Chief of Naval Operations, cited lack of command and control and inter-service coordination as significant factors in the failure of the mission. The ensuing investigation, chaired by Admiral James L. The idea of an American unified special operations command had its origins in the aftermath of Operation Eagle Claw, the disastrous attempted rescue of hostages at the American embassy in Iran in 1980. USSOCOM is headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. The command is part of the Department of Defense and is the only unified combatant command created by an Act of Congress. The United States Special Operations Command ( USSOCOM or SOCOM) 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.

Spec ops brand