SOT-A

A SOT-A (Support Operations Team Alpha) is an element of the United States Army Special Forces. SOT-A teams conduct signals intelligence–electronic warfare operations in support of United States Army Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command missions.

Capabilities

SOT-As detect, monitor, and exploit threat communications through communications transmission intercept and direction finding. SOT-As also can deploy with SFODs to provide ER, FP, or MTT support. These functions may require SOT-As to:

• Deploy with an SFOD.
• Deploy independently and then infiltrate to join a deployed SFOD.
• Operate independently or with other SOT-As.

Insertion/Extraction Techniques

• Patrolling
• Helicopter Touchdown,
• Helocast
  • Personnel
  • Small Boat (Hard Duck, Soft Duck, Rolled Duck, Limp Duck)
• Rappel
• Fast Rope
• Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction (SPIE)
• Parachute
  • Static-Line
  • HALO/HAHO

SOT-A team members can operate in remote, denied areas much like SFODA members. In addition to their linguistic, international Morse code (IMC) and SIGINT skills, SOT-As are trained in tactical and fieldcraft techniques and are certified in the same basic skills as SFODAs. However, SOT-As are rarely certified in advanced SOF skills such as underwater operations (UWO) or military free-fall (MFF).

SIGINT (Signals Intelligence)

• Foreign languages
  • Arabic
  • Russian
  • Korean
  • French
  • Spanish
  • Persian Farsi
  • Chinese
  • Verbal Binary Code
• Morse Code intercept (>20 GPM)
• Analysis and reporting

Advanced training

Advanced training may include:

• Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Course
• Survival Evasion Resistance Escape
• Ranger School
• Mountain Survival Course/Mountain Leader Course
• Jumpmaster
• Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course
• Pathfinder Course
• Military Freefall/Military Freefall Jumpmaster

Organization

Currently there are three SOT-A sections per battalion of every Special Forces Group. A SOT-A team generally consists of four members.