Specialties
Chain of Command
Navy SEALs serve two masters. They primarily operate jointly as part of USSOCOM’s Army/Navy/Air Force SOF. When needed, they work directly for the Navy battle staffs embarked on Amphibious Readiness Groups (fleet ships) and Aircraft Carriers. Either way, they support the overall strategy of the highest military Combatant Commander in one of the four geographic areas of the world:
CENTCOM (Middle East)
SOUTHCOM (Central and South America)
PACOM (Pacific and Korea)
EUCOM (Europe)
Primary or “Core Missions”
Whether working “afloat” solely for the Navy on a case-by-case basis, or “jointly” on land for USSOCOM, SEALs train and execute a wide range of SOF missions. Their primary or “Core” missions are:
Direct Action (DA)
Counterterrorism (CT)
Foreign Internal Defense (FID)
Unconventional Warfare (UW)
Special Reconnaissance (SR)
Psychological Operations (PSYOP)
Civil Affairs Operations (CAO)
Information Operations (IO)
Counterproliferation (CP) of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
Direct Action (DA) refers to small-unit, short-duration strike operations to destroy, seize, capture, recover, or inflict damage on facilities or personnel in denied areas overseas. This may take place on land, or at sea against targets such as oil platforms or ships. DA operations include raids, ambush, sabotage, and direct assault. They may be accomplished with explosives or hand-held weapons. SEALs also conduct standoff attacks from the ground, ships or aircraft, and hand-held laser guidance for aircraft or precision weapons strikes. Targets are always of strategic or operational importance, and may be struck in advance of the start of declared hostilities.