Wondering about Special Ops in each branch of military

Hello, I'm a rising junior and wondering about the Special Ops roles in each military branch after I graduate. Could anyone tell me what differentiates each branch's Special Ops, and possibly shed some light on the kinds of missions they go on? Thanks!

Sure, I can provide a broad overview of Special Operations Forces (SOF) in various branches of the U.S. Military. These elite units handle various high-stakes tasks and their roles differ for each branch.

1. Army Special Forces (Green Berets): The Green Berets specialize in unconventional warfare, such as guerrilla warfare and sabotage. They’re also involved in direct action operations, counter-terrorism, and special reconnaissance. Often, you’ll find Green Beret teams embedding within local communities abroad, training foreign counterparts, and developing relationships with local leaders.

2. Navy SEALs (Sea, Air, and Land): The Navy SEAL teams are perhaps most known for direct action warfare, maritime operations (often from submarines), and special reconnaissance. SEAL teams tend to focus on smaller-scale, high-precision actions. The Navy also includes the Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) who specialize in using small, high-speed boats to insert and extract SOF teams.

3. Air Force Special Operations: The Air Force's SOF roles are quite diverse, including specialized pilots, navigators, air traffic control, pararescue (often known as PJs), and combat control teams. They provide support like dropping SOF teams and supplies into enemy territory, aerial refueling, precision airstrike support, and direct ground combat.

4. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC): MARSOC units carry out direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, irregular warfare - pretty much the gamut of SOF missions.

5. U.S. Coast Guard: While not traditionally included in the list of Special Operations Forces, the Coast Guard does have Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF). These teams are usually counter-terrorism and law enforcement, often related to maritime activities.

6. U.S. Space Force: As it stands, the Space Force does not have a Special Operations component. However, it's relatively new (officially established at the end of 2019), and its roles are evolving.

Keep in mind the communities and high-stress missions these forces deal with often require rigorous training and high physical and mental qualifications. Furthermore, SOF missions are often classified, so a lot of specifics remain undisclosed to the public. If you're considering this course, I'd suggest speaking to active or retired SOF servicemen and recruiters—they can offer a wealth of personal insight. Hope this helps!