SOUTHCOM Component Commands & Units

SOUTHCOM missions are carried out by its component commands. There are four representing ‎each military service and one specializing in Special Operations missions:

 

Located at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, ARSOUTH forces include aviation, intelligence, communication, and logistics units.  ARSOUTH supports regional disaster relief and counterdrug efforts. ARSOUTH  also exercises oversight, planning, and logistical support for humanitarian and civic assistance projects throughout the region in support of the USSOUTHCOM Theater Security Cooperation Strategy.  ARSOUTH provides Title X and Executive Agent responsibilities throughout the Latin American and Caribbean region.

 


12th Air Force logo 12 Air Force (Air Forces Southern)

Located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, AFSOUTH consists of a staff; an Air and Space Operations Center for command and control of air activity in the USSOUTHCOM area and an Air Force operations group responsible for Air Force forces in the area.

AFSOUTH serves as the executive agent for forward operating locations; provides joint/combined radar surveillance architecture oversight; provides intra-theater airlift; and supports USSOUTHCOM’s Theater Security Cooperation Strategy through regional disaster relief exercises and counter-drug operations. AFSOUTH also provides oversight, planning, execution, and logistical support for humanitarian and civic assistance projects and hosts a number of Airmen-to-Airmen conferences.

 


Marine Corps Forces South logo U.S. Marine Corps Forces, South 

Located in Miami, Florida, USMARFORSOUTH commands all United States Marine Corps Forces (MARFORs) assigned to USSOUTHCOM; advises USSOUTHCOM on the proper employment and support of MARFORs; conducts deployment/redeployment planning and execution of assigned/attached MARFORs; and accomplishes other operational missions as assigned.
 

 


4th Fleet logoU.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / 4th Fleet

Located at Mayport Naval Station, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. Fourth Fleet (USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT) employs maritime forces in cooperative maritime security operations in order to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build enduring partnerships that foster regional security in the U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility (USSOUTHCOM AOR).  
 
USNAVSO/FOURTHFLT Lines of Operation:
 

1. Security Cooperation Activities

 

2. Maritime Security Operations

 

3. Contingency Operations

 

Special Operations Command South logo Special Operations Command South

Located at Homestead Air Reserve Base near Miami, Florida, SOCSOUTH provides the primary theater contingency response force and plans, prepares for, and conducts special operations in support of USSOUTHCOM. SOCSOUTH controls all Special Operations Forces in the region and is capable of establishing and operating a Joint Special Operations Task Force when directed.


  

There are also three task forces with specific missions in the region that report to U.S. Southern Command:

Located at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, JTF-Bravo operates a forward, all-weather day/night C-5-capable airbase. JTF-Bravo organizes multilateral exercises and supports, in cooperation with our partner nations, humanitarian and civic assistance, counterdrug, contingency and disaster relief operations in Central America.

Joint Task Force Guantanamo is responsible for the safe, humane, legal care and custody of law of armed conflict detainees; collection and dissemination of intelligence; and supporting Military Commissions, Periodic Review Boards, and Habeas review.

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Attorney Access to Detainees (PDF)


Joint Interagency Task Force South logo Joint Interagency Task Force South

Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) South, in conjunction with Partner Nations, leverages all-domain capabilities to target, detect and monitor illicit drug trafficking in the air and maritime domains, within the Joint Operating Area (JOA), facilitating interdiction and apprehension to reduce the flow of drugs and degrade & dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs).

 

COMMANDER'S PRIORITIES