SOT-A

A SOT-A (Special Operations Team-Alpha) is a signals intelligence–electronic warfare (SIGINT-EW) element of the United States Army Special Forces.

They are low-level SIGINT collection teams that intercept and report operational and technical information derived from tactical threat communications through prescribed communications paths. The mission of a SOT-A is to conduct SIGINT/EW in support of information operations (unilaterally or in conjunction with other Special Operations Forces (SOF) elements) to support existing and emerging SOF missions worldwide.

SOT-A's are the direct descendants of the Army Security Agency's Special Operations Detachments (USASASODs).

Capabilities
SOT-A team members can operate in remote, denied areas much like SFODA members. In addition to their linguistic, international Morse code (IMC) and SIGINT skills, SOT-As are trained in tactical and fieldcraft techniques and are certified in the same basic skills as SFODAs. However, SOT-As are rarely certified in advanced SOF skills such as underwater operations (UWO) or military free-fall (MFF).

SOT-As can detect, monitor, and exploit threat communications through communications transmission intercept and direction finding. SOT-As also can deploy with Special Forces Operational Detachments-A (SFODAs or A-teams) to provide SIGINT support for contingency, direct action, force protection, MTT support, or unconventional warfare. These functions may require SOT-As to:
 * Deploy with a SFODA.
 * Deploy independently and then join a deployed SFODA.
 * Operate independently or with other SOT-As.
 * Operate and train on advanced collection equipment provided by national intelligence agencies.

Insertion/Extraction Techniques

 * Patrolling
 * Helicopter Touchdown,
 * Helocast
 * Personnel
 * Small Boat
 * Rappel
 * Fast Rope
 * Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction (SPIE)
 * Parachute
 * Static-Line

SOT-A team members can operate in remote and denied areas. In addition to their linguistic and SIGINT skills, SOT-As are trained in tactical and fieldcraft techniques.

SIGINT (Signals Intelligence)

 * Foreign languages
 * Arabic
 * Chinese
 * Farsi
 * French
 * Indonesian
 * Korean
 * Russian
 * Spanish
 * Thai
 * Tagalog
 * Morse Code intercept (>20 GPM)
 * Analysis and reporting

Advanced training
Advanced training may include:
 * Survival Evasion Resistance Escape
 * Ranger School
 * Mountain Survival Course/Mountain Leader Course
 * Jumpmaster
 * Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course
 * Army Combat Diver Qualification Course
 * Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course

Organization
According to a 2001 field manual, there is one SIGINT section with six SOT-A per each Special Forces Group. A SOT-A team consists of four members.