Which of the following is included as Army Special Operations Forces?

• A. Civil Affairs, Military Information Support Operations, Rangers, Special Forces, Special Mission Units, and Army Special Operations Aviation Forces assigned to USASOC
• B. Infantry battalions
• C. Field artillery brigades
• D. Military police companies

Answer: (A)

Army Special Operations Forces are the specialized units that operate under USASOC and perform diverse, high-impact missions across unconventional warfare, direct action, foreign internal defense, and related tasks. The included elements cover a broad spectrum: Civil Affairs teams that engage with local populations and governance; Military Information Support Operations that influence foreign audiences; Rangers who perform rapid, high-intensity assaults; Special Forces that conduct unconventional warfare and foreign internal defense; Special Mission Units that execute highly specialized tasks; and Army Special Operations Aviation Forces that provide unique aviation support for SOF operations. Together, these components define ARSOF and set it apart from conventional Army forces.

Infantry battalions, field artillery brigades, and military police companies are conventional Army units focused on standard combat arms roles, large-scale operations, or law-and-order functions, rather than the specialized, cross-functional missions characteristic of Army Special Operations Forces.