User:Soceurpao/Special Operations Command Europe



Special Operations Command Europe (known as SOCEUR) is a subordinate unified command of US European Command exercising operational control of theater Army, Navy, and Air Force Special Operation Forces (SOF).

SOCEUR is responsible to CDRUSEUCOM/SACEUR for SOF readiness, targeting, exercises, plans, joint and combined training, NATO/partnership activities, and execution of counterterrorism, peacetime and contingency operations.

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia


Description: A straight shield 3 inches in height by 2 ½ inches in width

Symbolism: The insignia was approved on 8 December 1993. The shield represents strength and defense; its three sides emphasize the command's many capabilities -- on land, in the water, or in the air. The indented border implies the hazardous conditions under which the Special Operations Command, Europe operates. Red symbolizes action, sacrifice, and courage; white denotes integrity. The black dagger, raised to represent military preparedness, is adapted from the special forces insignia and reflects the command's heritage and association. Black and white alludes to twenty-four hour vigilance in total combat readiness.

Worn from: 8 November 1993 - Current.

Distinctive Unit Insignia


Description: A silver color metal and enamel badge, 1 3/6 inches (3.02 cm) in width overall consisting of a silver pair of wings superimposed by a red and silver stylized spearhead enclosed at top by a black scroll passing beneath the wing tips and inscribed “SEMPER PREPARATE” [“Always Prepared”]  in silver, over two black crossed daggers.

Symbolism: The stylized arrowhead is adapted from the Special Operations Command insignia; red denotes action, zeal, and sacrifice. The silver wings highlight the organization’s airborne capabilities, while the crossed daggers symbolize total readiness. Black and silver underscore night and day operations as well as suggesting both covert and overt actions.

History
Special Operations Command Europe traces its lineage to January 22, 1955 with the establishment of Support Operations Command Europe in Paris, France. This headquarters provided peacetime planning and operational control of special operations forces during unconventional warfare in the USEUCOM area of responsibility.

The headquarters was reorganized as a joint task force within USEUCOM on May 4, 1955 and redesignated as Support Operations Task Force Europe. SOTFE headquarters transferred from Paris to Panzer Kaserne near Stuttgart, Germany on 9 January 1967.

To clarify SOTFE’s role with other agencies, Support Operations Task Force Europe was redesignated Special Operations Task Force Europe effective 1 September 1978 and assigned to HQ USEUCOM.

SOTFE was redesignated Special Operations Command Europe on 1 November 1983 and established as a subordinate unified command of USEUCOM on 30 May 1986. SOCEUR also functioned as the Special Operations Division of the USEUCOM Operations Directorate. SOCEUR is now organized as a joint staff with a command group and seven functional directorates. SOCEUR exercises control of one Army Special Forces battalion (1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)), one Air Force Special Operations Group (352nd Special Operations Group) and one Naval Special Warfare Unit (Naval Special Warfare Unit 2).

SOCEUR’s highest priority is maintaining readiness to respond to crises, as reflected by its motto – Semper Preparate (Always Prepared). SOCEUR sustains its unique war fighting capabilities to successfully respond to the full spectrum of crises – from trans-national threats, through the myriad forms of smaller-scale contingencies to major theater war.

Components
1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is the Army component of SOCEUR forward deployed to Panzer Kaserne, Germany. The battalion trains for and specializes in unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, direct action, and foreign internal defense missions. It also conducts numerous missions in support of conventional forces to include humanitarian, civic action and operational liaison missions. 10th Group is the oldest Special Forces Group in the Army. Its establishment, on June 19th, 1952, was also the establishment of Army Special Forces as we know it today.

Naval Special Warfare Unit - Two

Naval Special Warfare Unit Two, SOCEUR’s maritime component, is based at Panzer Kaserne, Germany. NSWU-2 provides operational support to forward deployed platoons and conducts theater planning for contingencies and exercises for Naval Special Warfare forces in the EUCOM Theater of operations. NSWU-2 is capable of forming the nucleus of a Naval Special Warfare Task Group.

352nd Special Operations Group

The 352nd SOG, the Air Force component of SOCEUR is based at Royal Air Force station Mildenhall, England and is the Air Force component for Special Operations Command Europe. Its forces are prepared to conduct a variety of high priority, low-visibility missions supporting U.S., allied and partner nation special operations forces throughout the European theater during peacetime, joint operations exercises and combat operations. It has a maintenance squadron, an operational support squadron, and a special tactics squadron as well as two flying squadrons.

SOCEUR Signal Detachment

The SOCEUR Signal Detachment (SSD), based at Patch Barracks, Germany is responsible for ensuring rapid-response, deployable command and control communications so that the SOCEUR commander can exercise operational control of Special Operations Forces within the European Theater. Specializing in advanced communications, the SOCEUR Signal Detachment has multiple capabilities and missions for support of the TSOC. Soldiers assigned to this unit are airborne qualified and are taught to operate and maintain a vast array of specialized equipment not normally used by their conventional counterparts.