The term Special Missions Unit ( SMU ), at one time referred to as a "Tier 1" unit, is used in the United States to categorize the nation's most highly secretive and elite military special operations forces . The term "special missions unit" is also used in Australia to describe the Special Air Service Regiment . Special mission units have been involved in high-profile military operations, such as the killing of Osama bin Laden and the attempted hostage rescue of Kayla Mueller .
10-644: The United States military definition in the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms comes from Joint Publication 3-05.1 – Joint Special Operations Task Force Operations (JP 3-05.1). JP 3-05.1 defines a "special mission unit" as "a generic term to represent a group of operations and support personnel from designated organizations that is task-organized to perform highly classified activities." The U.S. government does not acknowledge which units specifically are designated as special missions units, only that they have special mission units within
20-598: A briefing to the Senate Armed Services Committee : "We have designated special mission units that are specifically manned, equipped and trained to deal with a wide variety of transnational threats" and "These units, assigned to or under the operational control of the U.S. Special Operations Command, are focused primarily on those special operations and supporting functions that combat terrorism and actively counter terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). These units are on alert every day of
30-628: A whole. These military and associated terms, together with their definitions, constitute approved DOD terminology for general use by all components of the Department of Defense. The Secretary of Defense , by DOD Directive 5025.12, 23 August 1989, Standardization of Military and Associated Terminology, has directed its use throughout the Department of Defense to ensure standardization of military and associated terminology. This publication supplements standard English-language dictionaries with standard terminology for military and associated use. However, it
40-611: Is a compendium of terminology used by the United States Department of Defense (DOD). The print version consists of 574 pages of terms and 140 pages of acronyms . It sets forth standard US military and associated terminology to encompass the joint activity of the Armed Forces of the United States in both US joint and allied joint operations, as well as to encompass the Department of Defense (DOD) as
50-688: Is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the joint force commander (JFC) from organizing the force and executing the mission in a manner the JFC deems most appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of the overall mission. Unity of effort Unity of effort is the state of harmonizing efforts among multiple organizations working towards a similar objective. This prevents organizations from working at cross purposes and it reduces duplication of effort . Multiple organizations can achieve unity of effort through shared common objectives. In military operations, unity of effort
60-451: Is similar to unity of command except it usually relates to coordinating organizations not in the same command, such as in interagency operations. In this case, unity of effort is often achieved through campaign plans or coordinating committees instead of through a unified commander. In emergency management , unity of effort describes the integrated approach by different levels of government and multiple civilian organizations in response to
70-587: The Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), which is part of U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). In the early 1990s then–Commander in Chief of SOCOM, General Carl Stiner , identified both Delta Force and SEAL Team Six as permanently assigned special mission units in congressional testimony and public statements. In 1998, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Walter B. Slocombe publicly referred to special mission units during
80-525: The event. The National Response Framework as part of the National Strategy for Homeland Security includes unity of effort through unified command as one of its five key principles. Unity of effort is effectively implemented under NRF by requiring emergency responses to be coordinated under National Incident Management System and Incident Command System standards as part of comprehensive emergency management by objectives. The Office of
90-618: The two roles performed by the Regiment; one squadron conducts the counter terrorism /special recovery (CT/SR) role, and the remaining squadrons conduct the warfighting/ reconnaissance role, while 4 Squadron is responsible for collecting intelligence and also supports the Australian Secret Intelligence Service . Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms The Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
100-833: The year and have worked extensively with their interagency counterparts." As of 2023, the U.S. military publicly acknowledges five units as Special Mission Units: Former Special Mission Units: The Australian Army 's elite Special Air Service Regiment are described as being "special missions units with unique capabilities within the Australian Defence Force". The Regiments are components of Australia's Special Operations Command (SOCOMD), and are tasked with conducting "sensitive strategic operations, special recovery operations, training assistance, special reconnaissance and precision strike and direct action ". The SASR currently has four sabre squadrons , known as 1, 2, 3 and 4 Squadron. The first two squadrons rotate through
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