Special Operations Command Korea
Encyclopedia
Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR) is a United States military organization in South Korea
that provides special operations forces to United States Forces Korea
, the United Nations Command
, and the Combined Forces Command. During wartime, SOCKOR combines with the Korean Special Warfare Command to form the Combined Unconventional Warfare Task Force (CUWTF).
SOCKOR, located at Camp Kim
in Yongsan, Korea, is the theater Special Operations
Command (SOC) responsible for special operations on the Korean peninsula and, when established, the Korean Theater of Operations (KTO).
through a complex web of command relationships involving three military elements with different but complementary missions, all commanded by a single commander in chief (CINC). The KTO is unique because the CINC in Korea is not a U.S. unified commander
.
The overall military commander in South Korea has three roles:
During armistice, SOCKOR is responsible to CINCUNC/CFC and COMUSKOREA for SOF war planning, targeting, training, and participation in exercises and contingency operations on the Korean peninsula. Special Operations Command, Pacific
supports SOCKOR in these responsibilities. During armistice, contingencies, and hostilities, SOCKOR exercises operational control of the U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment, Korea (SFD-K), which is the longest continuously serving Special Forces unit in Asia. The SF liaison NCOs of SFD-K live, train, and work with the ROK Special Forces Brigades, and thus play a role in the shaping of ROK and U.S. SOF operations to support CINCUNC/CFC.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
that provides special operations forces to United States Forces Korea
United States Forces Korea
United States Forces Korea refers to the ground, air and naval divisions of the United States armed forces stationed in South Korea....
, the United Nations Command
United Nations Command (Korea)
The United Nations Command is the unified command structure for the multinational military forces supporting the Republic of Korea during and after the Korean War...
, and the Combined Forces Command. During wartime, SOCKOR combines with the Korean Special Warfare Command to form the Combined Unconventional Warfare Task Force (CUWTF).
SOCKOR, located at Camp Kim
Camp Kim
Camp Kim is located adjacent to Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, South Korea. Camp Kim is home to a USO facility, an Army and Air Force Exchange Service distribution and storage facility, an AAFES vehicle repair facility, and the Yongsan Garrison office for vehicle registration and decals.The USO...
in Yongsan, Korea, is the theater Special Operations
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
Command (SOC) responsible for special operations on the Korean peninsula and, when established, the Korean Theater of Operations (KTO).
Command relationships
The CUWTF achieves unity of effortPrinciples of War
The Principles of War were tenets originally proposed by Carl von Clausewitz in his essay Principles of War, and later enlarged in his book, On War. Additionally, Napoléon Bonaparte had pioneered the "Principles of War," and "The armies of today are based on the organization created by Napoleon...
through a complex web of command relationships involving three military elements with different but complementary missions, all commanded by a single commander in chief (CINC). The KTO is unique because the CINC in Korea is not a U.S. unified commander
Unified Combatant Command
A Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...
.
The overall military commander in South Korea has three roles:
- As the Commander in Chief, United Nations CommandUnited Nations Command (Korea)The United Nations Command is the unified command structure for the multinational military forces supporting the Republic of Korea during and after the Korean War...
(CINCUNC), he is the international commander responsible for maintaining the armistice that has existed in Korea since 1953. - As the Commander in Chief, Republic of Korea (ROK)/U.S. Combined Forces Command (CINCCFC), he is a bi-national commander who supports CINCUNC by deterring North Korean aggression and, if necessary, defeating a North Korean attack.
- As the commander of U.S. Forces, Korea (COMUSKOREA), he is the subordinate unified commander of USPACOM responsible for providing U.S. forces to CINCUNC/CFC.
SOCKOR support
Because of the unique command relationships in Korea, SOCKOR is the only theater SOC that is not a subordinate unified command. Established in 1988 as a functional component command of U.S. Forces, Korea (USFK), SOCKOR is the principal organization responsible for the integration of U.S. SOF in Korea.During armistice, SOCKOR is responsible to CINCUNC/CFC and COMUSKOREA for SOF war planning, targeting, training, and participation in exercises and contingency operations on the Korean peninsula. Special Operations Command, Pacific
Special Operations Command, Pacific
The Special Operations Command, Pacific, known as SOCPAC, is a command center of the military of the United States for special forces in the Pacific area.-History:...
supports SOCKOR in these responsibilities. During armistice, contingencies, and hostilities, SOCKOR exercises operational control of the U.S. Army Special Forces Detachment, Korea (SFD-K), which is the longest continuously serving Special Forces unit in Asia. The SF liaison NCOs of SFD-K live, train, and work with the ROK Special Forces Brigades, and thus play a role in the shaping of ROK and U.S. SOF operations to support CINCUNC/CFC.
External links
- Official site
- Official photos
- SOCKOR at GlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...