UNCLASSIFIED

USSOCOM Command Surgeon

SOF Medicine Overview

UNCLASSIFIED
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• History
• Mission
• The SOF Team
• SOF Truths
• SOF Medicine
• Questions

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“It was risky and we knew it, but it had a good chance of success
and America had the courage to try.” (Holloway Report). Eight
Airmen and Marines died, eight aircraft were lost and American
Hostages spent an additional 244 days in captivity.

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National Defense Authorization Act of 1986

Secretary
Of Defense

U.S. Special
Under Secretary
Operations
of Defense (POLICY)
Command

Assistant Secretary
of Defense
(Special Operations
Low-Intensity Conflict)

Established the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations Low
Intensity Conflict and Interdependent Capabilities ASD (SOLIC-IC)
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Unified Commands
SECRETARY OF
DEFENSE
CJCS

SERVICE CHIEFS

U.S. U.S. U.S. U.S. Special

STRATEGIC CYBER TRANSPORTATION Operations
COMMAND COMMAND COMMAND Command

U.S. U.S. U.S. U.S. U.S. U.S.

PACIFIC NORTHERN SOUTHERN EUROPEAN CENTRAL AFRICA
COMMAND COMMAND COMMAND COMMAND COMMAND COMMAND

FUNCTIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
COMMAND COMMAND
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A Unique Command

…with legislated Military

A Combatant Command Department-like authorities
• Command of all SOF • Organize, train, equip SOF
• Synchronize planning for global • Develop SOF strategy,
operations against terrorist networks doctrine, and tactics
• Deploy SOF to support GCCs • Program and budget for SOF
• As directed, conduct • RDT&E / Procure SOF-peculiar
operations globally equipment
• Plan & execute pre-crisis activities • Monitor management of
SOF personnel
• Ensure interoperability
• Conduct internal audits

6
SOF Mission and Vision

7
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SOF Core Activities & Operations

• Counter-proliferation of WMD • Civil Affairs Operations

• Counterterrorism • Information Operations
• Special Reconnaissance • Psychological Operations
• Direct Action • Security Force Assistance
• Unconventional Warfare • Counterinsurgency Operations
• Foreign Internal Defense • Activities Specified by the
President or SECDEF

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The SOF Team

U.S. Special
Operations
Command

United States Army Air Force Marine Corps

Naval Special Joint Special
Special Operations Special Operations Special Operations
Warfare Command Operations
Command Command Command
(NAVSPECWARCOM) Command (JSOC)
(USASOC) (AFSOC) (MARSOC)

FT BRAGG, NC NAB CORONADO, HURLBURT AFB, FL CAMP LEJEUNE, NC FT BRAGG, NC

CA JOINT STANDING
SPECIAL FORCES AVIATION - FIXED MARINE SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT,
RANGERS SEAL TEAMS WING OPERATIONS TRAINING
& VERTICAL LIFT COMPANIES AND EXERCISES
AVIATION SPECIAL BOAT SPECIAL TACTICS
TEAMS AVIATION FID MARINE SPECIAL
MISO ISR/PED OPERATIONS
SEAL DELIVERY ADVISORY GROUP
CIVIL AFFAIRS VEHICLE TEAMS AIR FORCE SPECIAL
OPERATIONS MARINE SPECIAL
JFK SPECIAL NAVAL SPECIAL SCHOOL OPERATIONS
WARFARE WARFARE CENTER SUPPORT GROUP
CENTER
MARINE SPECIAL
OPERATIONS
SCHOOL
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Theater Special Operations Commands

(TSOCs)

USEUCOM

SOCNORTH NATO SOF HQ SOCEUR

Peterson AFB, CO Chievres, BE Stuttgart, GE SOCKOR
Camp Kim, ROK
USNORTHCOM
USCENTCOM
USPACOM

USAFRICOM

USSOUTHCOM

USSOCOM
MacDill AFB, FL

SOCPAC
Camp Smith, HI

SOCCENT
MacDill AFB, FL
SOCSOUTH SOCAFRICA SOJTF-AFG
Homestead AFRB, FL Stuttgart, GE Kabul, AFG 10
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SOF Truths

• Humans are more important than

hardware
• Quality is better than quantity
• Special Operations Forces cannot be
mass produced
• Competent Special Operations Forces
cannot be created after emergencies
occur
• Most SOF operations require non-SOF
support

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SOF Priorities

Ensure SOF Readiness

“The right people, skills, and capabilities…now and in the future”

Help Our Nation Win

“Addressing today’s challenges and keeping the Nation Safe”

Continue to Build Relationships

“Global Understanding and awareness that creates options”

Prepare for the Future

“SOF ready to win in an increasing complex world”

Preserve Our Force and Families

“Short and long-term well-being of our SOF Warriors and their Families

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The SOF Operator

HQ SOCOM,
1207, 2%

AFSOC,
16331, 29%
USASOC,
27489, 49%
NSWC,
8681, 15%
MARSOC,
2967, 5%

56,675 total military assigned to

SOCOM Enterprise

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POTFF Lines of Effort

Strength and Conditioning

Advanced Rehabilitation

Sleep Hygiene

Cognitive processing
Human Psychological
Performance Performance Assessment & Selection
Post-deployment and periodic
assessment

Immediate, proximate care/consultation

Integration of family into all aspects of

care
Social Spiritual
Performance SOF unique family programs
Performance
Specialized pastoral teams

Responsive and knowledgeable staff

Predictability

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 U.S. Special Operations Command UNCLASSIFIED
J33 Global Operations Brief (U) Mr. Don Cox DDIR C2
7245 SOF deployed to 89 countries,
10/30/2015
2 territories and 3 locations afloat.
CENTCOM
NORTHCOM 4016 personnel deployed EUCOM
48 personnel deployed Missions - 17 795 personnel deployed
Missions - 3 Locations - 12 Missions - 9
Locations - 4 Locations - 27
Operation Resolute
Operation Support
Atlantic Resolve

Operation PACOM
Inherent Resolve 851 personnel deployed
Missions - 17
Locations - 19

Counter Transnational
Organized Crime (C-TOC)
Operations
Juniper Shield
Deter/Disrupt Operation
Violent Extremist Organizations Octave Shield
(VEOs) Operation
Observant Compass

SOUTHCOM
AFRICOM
369 personnel deployed
1166 personnel deployed
Missions - 27
Missions - 27
Locations - 12
Locations - 22

UNCLASSIFIED Report Date: 10/24/2015 to 10/30/2015

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Command Surgeon

Mission:
Advocate and synchronize Joint Health Service Support
and innovation through persistent engagement.

Vision:
Global SOF Network that provides World Class Health
Services.

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Command Surgeon Organization

Command Surgeon

SEMA CMD Psychologist

FMD/POTFF
Deputy SG
& MED J-1 / 8
Manpower / RM

MED J-2 MED J-3 / 5 MED J-4

CMD Veterinarian Clinical Ops
FHP / Med Intel Operations Logistics / RDT&E

Joint Reserve
AF
Army Navy
MED J-3 / 5 MED Log Intern SOCOM Clinic

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SOF Medical Planning Considerations

• Isolated, austere environments; immature theaters; distributed

operations; extended LOCs
• Quick strike or protracted missions
• Missions may be sensitive & highly classified
• Limited organic medical assets (beyond Role 1 care)
• Evacuation requirements (Military & Contract)
• Host Nation Hospital use (HN vs US standard of care)
• Forward surgical capability (right-sized and responsive)
• Blood support
• Force Health Protection and biosurveillance
• Medical logistics challenges
• Veterinary support

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USSOCOM Medical Enterprise

Challenges
• Reliance on Service medical structure not optimized to support SOF
operations
• Extreme distances and austere environments
• Application of the “golden hour” standard
• Full mission profile medical simulation (MEDSIM) limitations
• SOF lacks the ability to perform real-time environmental analysis
• Embedded Health Service Support-Needs Standardized Service
Acceptance
• Service Specific Readiness, Credentialing, and Training
Requirements. No Joint Standard.

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USSOCOM Medical Enterprise

Opportunities
• SOF peculiar research focused on TCCC and Prolonged Field Care
• Advanced Tactical Paramedic Certification Program of Record
• Global Biosurveillance Portal (G-BSP); integration and expansion
• MEDSIM and training.
• Expand Freeze Dried Plasma availability
• DVBIC Collaboration-USSOCOM DVBIC/Intrepid Initiative.
• MRT Study: POTFF collaboration now active research protocol for
PTS and awaiting final IRB approval for TBI.
• Broad Collaboration with DHA, OSD-HA, USUHS, DVBIC, VA,
Academia to tackle SOF Specific data collection, surveillance, and
data storage.
• DARPA collaboration
• CNRM/SOF Brain Tissue Repository
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Global SOF Medical Network

Intra-Agency International Partnering
Policy

BOCS

JMEAC

PIAC

JPC-1 JPC-2

SOF
JPC-5 JPC-6
JPC-7 Medicine

SORDAC

BRAG

CEB

Research & Development Civilian Medicine

UNCLASSIFIED
Academia 21
Questions?

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