This course has a Distance Learning component and a Residence Learning component. The Distance Learning component, four weeks in duration, is conducted asynchronously with 4 modules that introduces students to the course content. The Resident Learning component of 40 hours, one week in duration at JSOU, allows students to take a deep dive into the course content in an interactive graduate seminar format. Students will complete a research paper on a topic coordinated with the instructor. This advanced course will challenge students to explore the place of spirituality in a holistic continuum of care and its fundamental role in contributing to the resiliency by challenging students to contextualize their theological world view within a pluralistic environment to evaluate the elements of spiritual readiness to create a holistic model of well-being with a particular focus to mitigate suicidality, PTSD, moral injury and other SOF peculiar stress related conditions encountered by U.S. Special Operations Command service members, and their families while creating a holistic, spiritual model of well-being for the SOF warrior. *Note: Students MUST provide BOTH a personal email address AND either a .gov or .mil email address in order to be registered for the course.

This virtual course is conducted synchronously over a five-day period via ZoomGov and will focus on enhancing and reinforcing baseline Joint logistics knowledge and skills through instruction on Special Operations Forces (SOF) unique and Service Component Operational-Level/Theater-specific logistics capabilities and resources to enable and support global SOF operations.

This course prepares CJSOTF, TSOC or GCC – level staff members to conceptualize, plan, and coordinate support-to-resistance operations, focusing on unconventional warfare for planning, management, and oversight of SOF activities at the operational and strategic levels.

The course examines current U.S. policy and the capabilities of key agencies to disrupt, deter, and defeat terrorist networks. Seminar sessions follow four themes: understanding terrorist networks; relevant national security policies, strategies, and plans; components of a comprehensive approach to countering terrorism; and methods to enhance the national security system to combat terrorism.

This course provides information about grey zone activities of five belligerents, as spelled out in the 2022 National Defense Strategy, include: (a) China, (b) Russia, (c) Iran, (d) North Korea, and (3) violent extremist organizations. Students will receive a higher appreciation for the historical factors, cultural and religious beliefs, and ambitions of these actors. Broken up into five one-day increments, this module consists of Russia’s actions in the grey zone (particularly in Ukraine); Chinese aggression in the South China Sea and its periphery; Iranian activities to sponsor proxies worldwide; North Korea’s illicit activities and intimidation; and the persistent and expanding threat of violent extremist organizations as they cause destabilization in nations vulnerable to internal security threats. This information will serve later, as students learn about integrated deterrence, allies, and partnerships in countering these five threats. Students will complete readings, listen to podcasts, watch media, and participate in collaborative discussion boards in preparation for each class.

Course is held in person over an one week (5 day) period, and held throughout USSOCOM, allied, and partner locations. Course provides foundational military design education for students interested in organizational change, innovation, creativity and disruptive thinking for SOF applications in complex emergent contexts. Students learn how to operate in design teams, use a wide range of multi-disciplinary design concepts in a flexible, adaptive methodology for fostering reflective practitioners and change agents across the SOCOM enterprise. Total time commitment: approx. 8.0 hours per day x 5 days for a total of 40 hours. Students are expected to complete 3 to 4 hours of pre course work prior to first day of class

This course is designed for USSOCOM, TSOC, and component staff members who are new to the countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) problem set. The CWMD-F course provides an overview of USSOCOM’s roles in CWMD and recent Unified Command Plan (UCP) change; an understanding of weapons of mass destruction proliferation, nonproliferation, and counter proliferation; a review of DoD CWMD strategy and programs, and a discussion on CWMD and the interagency. These fundamentals enable students to align policies across the CWMD spectrum to USSOCOM capabilities in managing its Coordinating Authority position and what USSOCOM is currently doing to address CWMD operations.

The Special Operations Planning Course (SOPC) instructs students on operational-level, Special Operations Forces (SOF)-centric, operational design and planning. Each day students will be challenged to exercise critical thinking and problem-solving skills during multiple different learning activities. These activities include readings, analysis of prepared PowerPoint and other materials, completing homework assignments, and synthesizing information from online resources such as audio and video files. Collaborative interaction occurs through seminar discussions with a small group mentor, group-level practical application exercises, and briefings and presentations. Students will gain an understanding of the relationship between Joint doctrine, SOF operational approaches, national and Theater strategy, and operational-level planning. SOPC prepares students to participate in Joint Planning Groups within a Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC), special operations component, special operations command, or Joint Force Headquarters. For both the virtual and resident course iterations, students should plan for full days, nightly & weekend homework, and participation in group practical exercises. SOPC is Joint-certified annually by the Joint Staff J7, and officers completing the course earn 1.5 credits toward Joint Officer Qualification (JQO) status. Registration will open 60 days before the course’s start date.

This courses is presented in lecture format and is five days long. Topics addressed include security cooperation management, security cooperation organizations and responsibilities, the FMS process, finance, logistics, and training management.

This course educates new Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) personnel on how a TSOC plans for and employs U.S. special operations capabilities in an era of Strategic Competition. Participants explore Special Operations Forces (SOF) core activities and how SOF uses their employment/funding authorities to achieve TSOC and Geographic Combatant Command’s operational and strategic theater goals while tying them to their priorities in support of national and defense security strategy in a Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental and Multinational (JIIM) environment. The Theater Special Operations Command Staff Preparation Course-Mobile (TSPC-M) is a five-day in-residence educational event taught at the sponsoring TSOC Headquarters.

*Note: Students will be enrolled between 45 days and NLT 30 days prior to the course start date. Those not selected will be rejected or placed on a standby list for the first available seat. The Course Manager will provide a welcome email to students prior to the course start date. This course is designed to prepare Intelligence personnel for duty on Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC), Combined/Joint Special Operations Task Forces (CJSOTF), and/or Special Operations Joint Task Force (SOJTF) Intelligence staffs. It examines SOCOM missions, Intelligence Community (IC) support to SOF, SOCOM J2 staff, SOF intelligence systems capabilities, intelligence support to Irregular Warfare (IW), evolution of intelligence and International Relations concepts.

This course prepares CJSOTF, TSOC or GCC – level staff members to conceptualize, plan, and coordinate support-to-resistance operations, focusing on unconventional warfare for planning, management, and oversight of SOF activities at the operational and strategic levels.

The course prepares newly designated SOF leaders for command by providing a common understanding of the USSOCOM Commander’s priorities, command philosophy, and the responsibilities of joint SOF leaders. It also provides a venue for discussion of the current challenges and issues facing USSOCOM, TSOCs, and USSOCOM components.

This course exposes students to varying theories and concepts regarding deterrence strategies. This is a 16-hour module consisting of three (3) lessons. First, the coursework introduces the general and classical idea of deterrence. Classical deterrence theory argues that the threat of repercussion can negate aggression from other state opponents. The module then discusses modern deterrence in the post-World War II era. Modern deterrence theory argues that nuclear weapons and the likelihood of mutually assured destruction decreases the likelihood of total war. Finally, the emerging concept of integrated deterrence is examined, as well as SOF’s role in that national strategy. Integrated deterrence is a framework for working across warfighting domains, theaters and the spectrum of conflict, in collaboration with all instruments of national power, as well as with U.S. allies and our partners.

The course provides an overview of SOF religious support (RS) programs and issues in each SOF components and commands, as well as SOF-specific supportive care and counseling skills education. The curriculum also covers best practices, unique funding issues and role on the interdisciplinary team, and the Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) team. The course is executed through a Resident Learning component of 40 hours, one week in duration at JSOU, allows students to take the course content in an interactive in-Person format.

This 6-module semi-synchronous and live-facilitated online course examines, explores, and curates to gain new knowledge and applications in Design lexicon, methods, models, and tools. During the 6-weeks, students are provided a weekly module consisting of 3-3.5- hrs. of self-paced and group learning and must attend a 1 – 1.5-hour live faculty facilitated discussion. (Total 4-5 hrs. per week)

This fully-online, semi-synchronous, faculty-guided course is designed to provide students with an orientation to the fundamentals of creativity and innovation, as well as an introduction to a 4-stage, deliberate creative problem-solving methodology for application in SOF-peculiar contexts. Students are provided a weekly module consisting of approx. 4-5 hrs of self-paced educational content (assigned articles, chapters, case-studies, videos, podcasts) and are expected to complete weekly check-on-learning assessments including, but not limited to: a) quizzes; b) writing assignments / discussion board posts; c) creative product development challenges; and d) .ppt / concept briefings. Important: this class format is designed for students who are working their day job but who also have an ability to participate in a weekly Zoom Gov meeting with faculty to review material and receive feedback on their work. Total time commitment: approx. 5 hrs per week

The blended course teaches student to collaborate as part of a complex array of actors and environments involving IA national security efforts. Topics include synchronization of countering trans regional terrorist organizations (CTTO) and CVE efforts, key doctrine and policies, law enforcement and intelligence communities, organizational and cultural differences, and the developmental community.

The course prepares newly designated SOF leaders for command by providing a common understanding of the USSOCOM Commander’s priorities, command philosophy, and the responsibilities of joint SOF leaders. It also provides a venue for discussion of the current challenges and issues facing USSOCOM, TSOCs, and USSOCOM components. This course is conducted over six weeks with asynchronous self-study and online collaboration that includes six two-hour synchronous sessions with a SOF subject matter expert.

The Intelligence and Technology Course is designed to familiarize intelligence and SOF personnel with macro levels trends in technology, their potential impacts to the field of intelligence, and the challenges and opportunities for U.S. intelligence and special operations communities in adapting to those changes. It also examines the concept of a revolution in military affairs and posits whether the current changes amount to a revolution in intelligence affairs. Key factors in institutional adaptability are addressed and case studies of failures and successes will be considered.

SOF-IAII Pilot is the advanced-applied course for the JSOU Strategic Influence and Information Advantage (SIIA) Integrated Program of Study (IPOS) nested within the JSOU Learning Pathways in Action (LPIA) program. Designed primarily for personnel who are assigned to Special Operations Command Components and Theater Commands in operations and planning billets. It applies the application of theory, strategy and doctrine, of national Strategic Influence methods and Operational Information Capability planning gained in the basic course to gain information advantage and intelligence integration intelligence (IAII). Combining the theories and history of strategic influence, terms and applying the concepts of joint information advantage procedures will provide the learner with the skills required to integrate information and intelligence to create the influence effects to achieve mission success. The SOF-IAII pilot is available through a combination of virtual and in-person learning with JSOU. This pilot course requires the prerequisite basic course of the SOF-IOIE. The virtual portion of the course is two-week and the in-person course is 4 days long. There are four modules within the resident course that include; Information Advantage Intelligence Integration, Human Aspects of the Information Environment, IAII Disciplines, and a practicum. There are daily practical exercises and activities that facilitate the production of deliverable products required during the practicum that are due on Thursday during class. The student must obtain a passing assessment to complete the course. Completion of this advanced course is required to continue on to the elective courses in the SIIA IPOS.

This course has a Distance Learning component and a Residence Learning component. The Distance Learning component, four weeks in duration, is conducted asynchronously with 4 modules that introduces students to the course content. The Resident Learning component of 40 hours, one week in duration at JSOU, allows students to take a deep dive into the course content in an interactive graduate seminar format. This advanced course is aimed at the advanced development and implementation joint SOF-specific the psycho/social, theological, and existential issues of crisis and care. Students will complete a research paper on a topic coordinated with the instructor. This course challenges students to develop a framework that will enhance their ability to respond to a variety of SOF peculiar situations and issues encountered by U.S. Special Operations Command service members and their families with special emphasis on prevention, intervention, treatment, & post-intervention. The course expands on the theology of suffering, the crisis trauma continuum, and integrated religious crisis treatments for special operations warriors’ issues. *Note: Students MUST provide BOTH a personal email address AND either a .gov or .mil email address in order to be registered for the course.

***NOTE: Students should be nominated by SOF AT&L before registering for this course. This course has two components, Distance and Residence Learning. Students complete pre residence distance learning requirements over a period of four weeks then complete 36 hours resident course over a five-days. This course focuses on the Special Operations (SO)-unique Program Agile Acquisition Cycle with emphasis on: special operations (SO) acquisition principles; SO acquisition process, methods, events, and products; and developing an acquisition strategy. Students receive foundational knowledge about USSOCOM Directive & Policy 70-1 and culminate their learning experience by presenting an Acquisition Strategy Brief to a Milestone Decision Authority.

Students in this course will consider the approach taken by interagency and allied partners in addressing similar security risks. Understanding and analysis of interagency and potential partners provides students the ability to consider opportunities for future collaboration, or even leveraging existing capabilities and influence. This 24-hour module consists of three (3) lessons. Lesson one discusses current U.S. doctrine and academic concepts adopted or in consideration by the United States to address belligerents. This includes the introduction of conflict paradigms concerning irregular warfare, competition, and deterrence. Lesson two provides students an opportunity to understand, analyze, and evaluate the approaches taken by interagency partners in addressing sources of instability and competition. Lesson three introduces how allies and partners address security threats and their historical and emergent relationships with the United States and special operations. Students will complete readings, listen to podcasts, watch media, and participate in collaborative discussion boards in preparation for each class.

The course prepares newly designated SOF leaders for command by providing a common understanding of the USSOCOM Commander’s priorities, command philosophy, and the responsibilities of joint SOF leaders. It also provides a venue for discussion of the current challenges and issues facing USSOCOM, TSOCs, and USSOCOM components.

This virtual course is conducted synchronously over a five-day period via ZoomGov and will focus on enhancing and reinforcing baseline Joint logistics knowledge and skills through instruction on Special Operations Forces (SOF) unique and Service Component Operational-Level/Theater-specific logistics capabilities and resources to enable and support global SOF operations.

This courses is presented in lecture format and is five days long. Topics addressed include security cooperation management, security cooperation organizations and responsibilities, the FMS process, finance, logistics, and training management.

This graduate-level seminar course analyzes cyber policies and capabilities within the special operations forces (SOF) enterprise. Students examine the mechanics of cyber operations, question the applicability of cyber terms, and investigate SOF's role in the U.S. government's approach to cyber operations. Ultimately, students will question what SOF must do to expand its ability to operate in the cyberspace domain.

This course prepares CJSOTF, TSOC or GCC – level staff members to conceptualize, plan, and coordinate support-to-resistance operations, focusing on unconventional warfare for planning, management, and oversight of SOF activities at the operational and strategic levels.

Created by SOF, for SOF! This course is the first course in the Joint SOF Leadership & SOF Professional Ethic Integrated Program of Study with Cornell University. It offers foundational SOF professional development and a SOF-specific leadership education. It transforms a SOF professional’s mindset from that of an individual, small-unit leader to an organizational, large-unit leader focused on executive actions that lead to positive strategic effects.  There are five online modules designed to transform individual military leadership experiences into highly effective organizational and strategic leadership skills essential for members of the joint SOF profession. For student planning purposes, Modules 1-4 are designed to be completed in 2 weeks (5.5 - 6.5 contact hours/week). Module 5 is designed to be completed in 1 week (16 contact hours). Module 1 must be completed first. Modules 2-4 may be taken in any order; recommend taking them sequentially if possible. Module 5 is the course assessment module and must be completed last. The course will be open and available for the quarter for the convenience of the students.

This 6 Module course is designed to enable the learner to evaluate the informational and human aspects of the target information environment to gain an understanding of current, emerging, and future conditions. The curriculum introduces students to the application of research methods including qualitative and quantitative analysis in order to assess, measure, and evaluate changes because of joint SOF operations. Students will gain an overview of research intent and design, data collection, and statistical and interpretive analysis. The focus of the course is not on mastery of statistics, rather the ability to apply research methods to evaluate SOF Operations in the Information Environment to provide insights to the staff and further inform a commander’s decision cycle.

SOF professionals are persistently immersed in a stream of volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) compound security dilemmas which require the dynamic application of a flexible, creative thinking tool-set, skill-set and mind-set. Accordingly, this 5-day residential course is designed to provide students with an opportunity to apply the science of creative thinking via a 4-stage creative process methodology against a SOF-relevant problem set to gain experience translating theory into actionable outcomes. Furthermore, students will develop skills to facilitate team-based approaches to creative problem solving in the face of dynamic situations and SOF-peculiar scenarios that require the application of innovative thinking in order to create value in the form of novel strategies / concepts / effects, and/or to drive organizational adaptation and evolution. Total time commitment: 5-day residential course with pre-work (distance learning)

The blended course teaches student to collaborate as part of a complex array of actors and environments involving IA national security efforts. Topics include synchronization of countering trans regional terrorist organizations (CTTO) and CVE efforts, key doctrine and policies, law enforcement and intelligence communities, organizational and cultural differences, and the developmental community.

This courses is presented in lecture format and is five days long. Topics addressed include security cooperation management, security cooperation organizations and responsibilities, the FMS process, finance, logistics, and training management.

*Note: Students MUST provide BOTH a personal email address AND either their .gov or .mil email address in order to be registered for the course. This course educates enlisted students for entry-level leadership careers in SOF. Students, from a tactical and operational perspective, will develop skills in communications, creative thinking, and ethical decision-making. Students will also analyze the history, unique function, and organization of the USSOCOM from the headquarters down to the subcomponent commands.

*Note: Students MUST provide BOTH a personal email address AND either their .gov or .mil email address in order to be registered for the course. The course educates and prepares enlisted special operators for mid-level leadership roles in SOF. Using a transformative approach, students will enhance their skills in critical thinking, organizational leadership, and management. Students will analyze the implications of U.S. national strategy on the execution of USSOCOM operations and strategy.

This fully-online, semi-synchronous, faculty-guided course is designed to provide students with an orientation to the fundamentals of creativity and innovation, as well as an introduction to a 4-stage, deliberate creative problem-solving methodology for application in SOF-peculiar contexts. Students are provided a weekly module consisting of approx. 4-5 hrs of self-paced educational content (assigned articles, chapters, case-studies, videos, podcasts) and are expected to complete weekly check-on-learning assessments including, but not limited to: a) quizzes; b) writing assignments / discussion board posts; c) creative product development challenges; and d) .ppt / concept briefings. Important: this class format is designed for students who are working their day job but who also have an ability to participate in a weekly Zoom Gov meeting with faculty to review material and receive feedback on their work. Total time commitment: approx. 5 hrs per week

This blended course consists of five days of asynchronous instruction delivered online via Blackboard, followed by five days of resident instruction. During the online portion of the course students will learn the various staff officer responsibilities unique to the USSOCOM enterprise. At the conclusion of this module, students will be required to submit a written assignment prior to progression to the resident module. During the resident portion of the course, students will learn the functions, responsibilities, and requirements of USSOCOM personnel from select USSOCOM leaders, such as CoS, CSEL, and J-directorates. The resident module culminates with an additional writing assignment and the successful completion of a written exam.

*Note: Students will be enrolled between 45 days and NLT 30 days prior to the course start date. Those not selected will be rejected or placed on a standby list for the first available seat. The Course Manager will provide a welcome email to students prior to the course start date. This course is designed to prepare Intelligence personnel for duty on Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC), Combined/Joint Special Operations Task Forces (CJSOTF), and/or Special Operations Joint Task Force (SOJTF) Intelligence staffs. It examines SOCOM missions, Intelligence Community (IC) support to SOF, SOCOM J2 staff, SOF intelligence systems capabilities, intelligence support to Irregular Warfare (IW), evolution of intelligence and International Relations concepts.

The Special Operations Planning Course (SOPC) instructs students on operational-level, Special Operations Forces (SOF)-centric, operational design and planning. Each day students will be challenged to exercise critical thinking and problem-solving skills during multiple different learning activities. These activities include readings, analysis of prepared PowerPoint and other materials, completing homework assignments, and synthesizing information from online resources such as audio and video files. Collaborative interaction occurs through seminar discussions with a small group mentor, group-level practical application exercises, and briefings and presentations. Students will gain an understanding of the relationship between Joint doctrine, SOF operational approaches, national and Theater strategy, and operational-level planning. SOPC prepares students to participate in Joint Planning Groups within a Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC), special operations component, special operations command, or Joint Force Headquarters. For both the virtual and resident course iterations, students should plan for full days, nightly & weekend homework, and participation in group practical exercises. SOPC is Joint-certified annually by the Joint Staff J7, and officers completing the course earn 1.5 credits toward Joint Officer Qualification (JQO) status. Registration will open 60 days before the course’s start date.

This course provides information about these three themes: (a) the characteristics of the international system and the modern nation-state, (b) state fragility and institutional resiliency (c) state-sponsored resilience and resistance strategies. Students will receive an appreciation for the policies and practices utilized by governments and SOF. Instruction is structured within five (5) lessons across 24-hours of instruction. The first lesson will discuss the histories of Ukraine and Georgia as partially occupied states. The second lesson will explore the foundations of democracy and the 3rd wave of democratization. Lesson three in enlighten the students on Westphalia and the modern nation-state. In lesson four the students will discuss the models of state fragility. Concluding the instruction will be lesson five where the focus will be understanding institutional resilience. Students will complete readings, listen to podcasts, watch media, and participate in collaborative discussion boards in preparation for each class.

SOF-IOIE is the foundational course for the Strategic Influence and Information Advantage (SIIA) Integrated Program of Study (IPOS) nested within JSOU’s Learning Pathways in Action (LPIA) program. Designed primarily for personnel who are assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command, Service Components and Theater Special Operations Commands in operations and planning billets, this course provides the latest theory, strategy, and doctrine, for Theater-Strategic Influence methods and Operational Information Capability planning to gain Information Advantage (IA). The familiarization with theories and history of strategic influence coupled with terms and concepts of joint information advantage will provide the learner with the knowledge and ability to integrate into the process for creating the influence effects required to achieve mission success. The SOF-OIE pilot is available through a combination of virtual and in-person learning with JSOU. This pilot course requires no prerequisite learning. The virtual portion of the course is one-month long and the in-person resident sessions are 5-days. The course is comprised of ten modules that include strategic influence, fundamentals of information, joint force use of information, unity of effort, operational design and planning for theater-strategic effects, execution, operational assessment planning, operations in the information environment, SOF in the OIE, and a practicum.

This course is designed for USSOCOM, TSOC, and component staff members who are new to the countering weapons of mass destruction (CWMD) problem set. The CWMD-F course provides an overview of USSOCOM’s roles in CWMD and recent Unified Command Plan (UCP) change; an understanding of weapons of mass destruction proliferation, nonproliferation, and counter proliferation; a review of DoD CWMD strategy and programs, and a discussion on CWMD and the interagency. These fundamentals enable students to align policies across the CWMD spectrum to USSOCOM capabilities in managing its Coordinating Authority position and what USSOCOM is currently doing to address CWMD operations.

This course is composed of a five-day synchronous session (32 hours) that will be conducted in residence. The course provides a comprehension level overview of the fiscal laws, rules, and processes for Service-common base operating support, home station, and deployment area administrative and logistical support using Major Force Program 11 funds (MFP-11).

This course prepares CJSOTF, TSOC or GCC – level staff members to conceptualize, plan, and coordinate support-to-resistance operations, focusing on unconventional warfare for planning, management, and oversight of SOF activities at the operational and strategic levels.

SOF-IAII Pilot is the advanced-applied course for the JSOU Strategic Influence and Information Advantage (SIIA) Integrated Program of Study (IPOS) nested within the JSOU Learning Pathways in Action (LPIA) program. Designed primarily for personnel who are assigned to Special Operations Command Components and Theater Commands in operations and planning billets. It applies the application of theory, strategy and doctrine, of national Strategic Influence methods and Operational Information Capability planning gained in the basic course to gain information advantage and intelligence integration intelligence (IAII). Combining the theories and history of strategic influence, terms and applying the concepts of joint information advantage procedures will provide the learner with the skills required to integrate information and intelligence to create the influence effects to achieve mission success. The SOF-IAII pilot is available through a combination of virtual and in-person learning with JSOU. This pilot course requires the prerequisite basic course of the SOF-IOIE. The virtual portion of the course is two-week and the in-person course is 4 days long. There are four modules within the resident course that include; Information Advantage Intelligence Integration, Human Aspects of the Information Environment, IAII Disciplines, and a practicum. There are daily practical exercises and activities that facilitate the production of deliverable products required during the practicum that are due on Thursday during class. The student must obtain a passing assessment to complete the course. Completion of this advanced course is required to continue on to the elective courses in the SIIA IPOS.

The course prepares newly designated SOF leaders for command by providing a common understanding of the USSOCOM Commander’s priorities, command philosophy, and the responsibilities of joint SOF leaders. It also provides a venue for discussion of the current challenges and issues facing USSOCOM, TSOCs, and USSOCOM components.

This course prepares staff officers for planning, management, and oversight of cyber-related activities at the Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) level. The course examines the organizations, processes, and procedures involved in planning and conducting operations in the cyber domain in-support-of deployed forces and the TSOC staff. During the course, students will conduct two planning evolutions simulating the actions required to employ cyber effects.

The Special Operations Planning Course (SOPC) instructs students on operational-level, Special Operations Forces (SOF)-centric, operational design and planning. Each day students will be challenged to exercise critical thinking and problem-solving skills during multiple different learning activities. These activities include readings, analysis of prepared PowerPoint and other materials, completing homework assignments, and synthesizing information from online resources such as audio and video files. Collaborative interaction occurs through seminar discussions with a small group mentor, group-level practical application exercises, and briefings and presentations. Students will gain an understanding of the relationship between Joint doctrine, SOF operational approaches, national and Theater strategy, and operational-level planning. SOPC prepares students to participate in Joint Planning Groups within a Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC), special operations component, special operations command, or Joint Force Headquarters. For both the virtual and resident course iterations, students should plan for full days, nightly & weekend homework, and participation in group practical exercises. SOPC is Joint-certified annually by the Joint Staff J7, and officers completing the course earn 1.5 credits toward Joint Officer Qualification (JQO) status. Registration will open 60 days before the course’s start date.

This course educates new Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) personnel on how a TSOC plans for and employs U.S. special operations capabilities in an era of Strategic Competition. Participants explore Special Operations Forces (SOF) core activities and how SOF uses their employment/funding authorities to achieve TSOC and Geographic Combatant Command’s operational and strategic theater goals while tying them to their priorities in support of national and defense security strategy in a Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental and Multinational (JIIM) environment. The Theater Special Operations Command Staff Preparation Course-Mobile (TSPC-M) is a five-day in-residence educational event taught at the sponsoring TSOC Headquarters.

The course examines current U.S. policy and the capabilities of key agencies to disrupt, deter, and defeat terrorist networks. Seminar sessions follow four themes: understanding terrorist networks; relevant national security policies, strategies, and plans; components of a comprehensive approach to countering terrorism; and methods to enhance the national security system to combat terrorism.

Created by SOF, for SOF! This course is the second course in the Joint SOF Leadership & SOF Professional Ethic Integrated Program of Study with Cornell University. It builds on the foundational principles of leadership from the SOF Leadership Foundations Course. This course delivers a SOF-specific educational theory of partner-force leadership (PFL) oriented toward relational, cross-cultural, and indirect leadership styles that enhance the critical thinking and ethical decision-making of SOF formations deployed in developing countries where SOF forces are perpetually engaged in global operations. The course leverages non-traditional leadership theories that include relational, cross-cultural, and indirect leadership styles for building connectedness in highly complex and hazardous SOF environments where leading partner forces and associated populations is critical for strategic success in the compounded security environment. For student planning purposes, the course is nine weeks long. Students will convene via Zoom once a week for two hours each class session. The one week between classroom sessions gives students time to read, reflect, and complete assigned tasks per lesson.

This 6 Module course is designed to enable the learner to evaluate the informational and human aspects of the target information environment to gain an understanding of current, emerging, and future conditions. The curriculum introduces students to the application of research methods including qualitative and quantitative analysis in order to assess, measure, and evaluate changes because of joint SOF operations. Students will gain an overview of research intent and design, data collection, and statistical and interpretive analysis. The focus of the course is not on mastery of statistics, rather the ability to apply research methods to evaluate SOF Operations in the Information Environment to provide insights to the staff and further inform a commander’s decision cycle.

This course prepares CJSOTF, TSOC or GCC – level staff members to conceptualize, plan, and coordinate support-to-resistance operations, focusing on unconventional warfare for planning, management, and oversight of SOF activities at the operational and strategic levels.

This course educates new Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) personnel on how a TSOC plans for and employs U.S. special operations capabilities in an era of Strategic Competition. Participants explore Special Operations Forces (SOF) core activities and how SOF uses their employment/funding authorities to achieve TSOC and Geographic Combatant Command’s operational and strategic theater goals while tying them to their priorities in support of national and defense security strategy in a Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental and Multinational (JIIM) environment. The Theater Special Operations Command Staff Preparation Course-Mobile (TSPC-M) is a five-day in-residence educational event taught at the sponsoring TSOC Headquarters.

This 6-module semi-synchronous and live-facilitated online course examines, explores, and curates to gain new knowledge and applications in Design lexicon, methods, models, and tools. During the 6-weeks, students are provided a weekly module consisting of 3-3.5- hrs. of self-paced and group learning and must attend a 1 – 1.5-hour live faculty facilitated discussion. (Total 4-5 hrs. per week)

This fully-online, semi-synchronous, faculty-guided course is designed to provide students with an orientation to the fundamentals of creativity and innovation, as well as an introduction to a 4-stage, deliberate creative problem-solving methodology for application in SOF-peculiar contexts. Students are provided a weekly module consisting of approx. 4-5 hrs of self-paced educational content (assigned articles, chapters, case-studies, videos, podcasts) and are expected to complete weekly check-on-learning assessments including, but not limited to: a) quizzes; b) writing assignments / discussion board posts; c) creative product development challenges; and d) .ppt / concept briefings. Important: this class format is designed for students who are working their day job but who also have an ability to participate in a weekly Zoom Gov meeting with faculty to review material and receive feedback on their work. Total time commitment: approx. 5 hrs per week

This course is composed of a five-day synchronous session (30 hours) conducted in residence at JSOU. This interactive course explains the SOF medical operations concepts and fundamentals of the USSOCOM mission, roles, and capabilities, with a focus on medical operations in a joint setting. The students will also examine operations/plans, current lessons learned, medical intelligence, medical force protection, operational risk assessment, health surveillance, and SOF-relevant clinical subjects.

This virtual course is conducted synchronously over a five-day period via ZoomGov and will focus on enhancing and reinforcing baseline Joint logistics knowledge and skills through instruction on Special Operations Forces (SOF) unique and Service Component Operational-Level/Theater-specific logistics capabilities and resources to enable and support global SOF operations.

This course provides information as a historical survey of SOF support to resistance and resilience across the four ages of SOF. Students will receive an understanding of irregular warfare and the origination of Special Operations. The first lesson will be an introduction to irregular warfare. The second lesson will explore the conception and emergence of Special Operations. Lesson three in enlighten the students on the promotion and expansion of Special Operations. In lesson four the students will discuss the regeneration and validation of Special Operations. Concluding the instruction will be lesson five where the focus will be rebalancing the renewal of Special Operations. Students will complete readings, listen to podcasts, watch media, and participate in collaborative discussion boards in preparation for each class.

This blended course consists of five days of asynchronous instruction delivered online via Blackboard, followed by five days of resident instruction. During the online portion of the course students will learn the various staff officer responsibilities unique to the USSOCOM enterprise. At the conclusion of this module, students will be required to submit a written assignment prior to progression to the resident module. During the resident portion of the course, students will learn the functions, responsibilities, and requirements of USSOCOM personnel from select USSOCOM leaders, such as CoS, CSEL, and J-directorates. The resident module culminates with an additional writing assignment and the successful completion of a written exam.

Topics in Intelligence (TII) is an Advanced course consisting of five modules: 1) Intelligence in Irregular Warfare (IW); 2) Understanding Allied & Partner Intelligence; 3) Understanding Adversary Intelligence; 4) Ethics and Intelligence; and 5) The Future of Intelligence. The focus of the course is for students to gain a greater appreciation of how intelligence influences/affects the strategic environment and to forecast/anticipate how current and future strategic environments will affect intelligence. The course will conclude with a practicum/group project where students will forecast a future security environment and recommend how intelligence should adapt based on their analysis.

The Special Operations Planning Course (SOPC) instructs students on operational-level, Special Operations Forces (SOF)-centric, operational design and planning. Each day students will be challenged to exercise critical thinking and problem-solving skills during multiple different learning activities. These activities include readings, analysis of prepared PowerPoint and other materials, completing homework assignments, and synthesizing information from online resources such as audio and video files. Collaborative interaction occurs through seminar discussions with a small group mentor, group-level practical application exercises, and briefings and presentations. Students will gain an understanding of the relationship between Joint doctrine, SOF operational approaches, national and Theater strategy, and operational-level planning. SOPC prepares students to participate in Joint Planning Groups within a Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC), special operations component, special operations command, or Joint Force Headquarters. For both the virtual and resident course iterations, students should plan for full days, nightly & weekend homework, and participation in group practical exercises. SOPC is Joint-certified annually by the Joint Staff J7, and officers completing the course earn 1.5 credits toward Joint Officer Qualification (JQO) status. Registration will open 60 days before the course’s start date.

This courses is presented in lecture format and is five days long. Topics addressed include security cooperation management, security cooperation organizations and responsibilities, the FMS process, finance, logistics, and training management.

*Note: Students MUST provide BOTH a personal email address AND either their .gov or .mil email address in order to be registered for the course. This course educates enlisted students for entry-level leadership careers in SOF. Students, from a tactical and operational perspective, will develop skills in communications, creative thinking, and ethical decision-making. Students will also analyze the history, unique function, and organization of the USSOCOM from the headquarters down to the subcomponent commands.

*Note: Students MUST provide BOTH a personal email address AND either their .gov or .mil email address in order to be registered for the course. The course educates and prepares enlisted special operators for mid-level leadership roles in SOF. Using a transformative approach, students will enhance their skills in critical thinking, organizational leadership, and management. Students will analyze the implications of U.S. national strategy on the execution of USSOCOM operations and strategy.

The course educates students for nominative-level leadership roles in SOF. Students will learn mission-oriented leadership and strategic thinking skills to prepare them to effectively advise, lead, and mentor at the strategic leader level. Students will also analyze and evaluate the impact strategic thinking, U.S. national policy, and global security has on USSOCOM.

The course educates students for nominative-level leadership roles in SOF. Students will learn mission-oriented leadership and strategic thinking skills to prepare them to effectively advise, lead, and mentor at the strategic leader level. Students will also analyze and evaluate the impact strategic thinking, U.S. national policy, and global security has on USSOCOM.

The course prepares newly designated SOF leaders for command by providing a common understanding of the USSOCOM Commander’s priorities, command philosophy, and the responsibilities of joint SOF leaders. It also provides a venue for discussion of the current challenges and issues facing USSOCOM, TSOCs, and USSOCOM components. This course is conducted over six weeks with asynchronous self-study and online collaboration that includes six two-hour synchronous sessions with a SOF subject matter expert.

JSOFSEA enhances the critical thinking of senior enlisted leaders (SEL) as they grow their knowledge base in the strategic and operational realm. Students gain valuable knowledge and experience to successfully lead in the joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational (JIIM) environment. This course develops students for operational and strategic level positions across a broad range of joint and special operations assignments.

*Note: Students MUST provide BOTH a personal email address AND either their .gov or .mil email address in order to be registered for the course. The course educates and prepares enlisted special operators for mid-level leadership roles in SOF. Using a transformative approach, students will enhance their skills in critical thinking, organizational leadership, and management. Students will analyze the implications of U.S. national strategy on the execution of USSOCOM operations and strategy.

JSOFSEA enhances the critical thinking of senior enlisted leaders (SEL) as they grow their knowledge base in the strategic and operational realm. Students gain valuable knowledge and experience to successfully lead in the joint, interagency, intergovernmental, and multinational (JIIM) environment. This course develops students for operational and strategic level positions across a broad range of joint and special operations assignments.

*Note: Students MUST provide BOTH a personal email address AND either their .gov or .mil email address in order to be registered for the course. This course educates enlisted students for entry-level leadership careers in SOF. Students, from a tactical and operational perspective, will develop skills in communications, creative thinking, and ethical decision-making. Students will also analyze the history, unique function, and organization of the USSOCOM from the headquarters down to the subcomponent commands.

The course educates students for nominative-level leadership roles in SOF. Students will learn mission-oriented leadership and strategic thinking skills to prepare them to effectively advise, lead, and mentor at the strategic leader level. Students will also analyze and evaluate the impact strategic thinking, U.S. national policy, and global security has on USSOCOM.