Army Doctrine Reference Publication ADRP 3-05 Special Operations August 2012

Army Doctrine Reference Publication ADRP 3-05, Special Operations, provides a broad understanding of Army special operations by describing how executing the two mutually supporting critical capabilities of special warfare and surgical strike contribute to unified land operations. ADRP 3-05 provides a foundation for how the Army meets the joint force commander’s needs by appropriate integration of Army special operations forces (ARSOF) and conventional forces.


The principal audience for ADRP 3-05 is all members of the profession of arms. Commanders and staffs of Army headquarters serving as joint task force or multinational headquarters should also refer to applicable joint or multinational doctrine concerning the range of military operations and joint or multinational forces. Trainers and educators throughout the Army will also use this publication.


Commanders, staffs, and subordinates ensure their decisions and actions comply with applicable U.S., international, and, in some cases, host nation laws and regulations. Commanders at all levels ensure their Soldiers operate in accordance with the law of war and the rules of engagement. (See Field Manual [FM] 27-10, The Law of Land Warfare.)


ADRP 3-05 uses joint terms where applicable. Selected joint and Army terms and definitions appear in both the glossary and the text. Terms for which ADRP 3-05 is the proponent publication (the authority) are marked with an asterisk (*) in the glossary. Definitions for which ADRP 3-05 is the proponent publication are boldfaced in the text. For other definitions shown in the text, the term is italicized and the number of the proponent publication follows the definition.


ADRP 3-05 applies to the Active Army, the Army National Guard (ARNG)/Army National Guard of the United States, and the United States Army Reserve (USAR) unless otherwise stated.



Army special operations forces are those Active and Reserve Component Army forces designated by the Secretary of Defense that are specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. The acronym ARSOF represents Civil Affairs (CA), Military Information Support operations (MISO), Rangers, Special Forces (SF), Special Mission Units, and Army special operations aviation forces assigned to the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)—all supported by the Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations) (Airborne) (SB[SO][A]).


The proponent of ADRP 3-05 is the Special Operations Center of Excellence. The preparing agency is the Joint and Army Doctrine Integration Division, Capabilities Development and Integration Directorate, United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS).