The members of the 75th Ranger Regiment -- a U.S. special operations force -- were training at Joint Base Lewis-McChord when they jumped from a plane and got entangled in towering evergreen trees that canvass the sprawling military installation between Tacoma and Olympia.

CNN: Army Rangers caught high and dry while parachuting

Miller distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of heroism while serving as the weapons sergeant in Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312, Special Operations Task Force 33, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, on January 25th, 2008.

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The UK special operations task force, which is generally employed away from Helmand, still mounts some raids.

BBC: UK combat operations in Afghanistan effectively cease

The entire operation was part of Air Force Special Operations Command, but recently moved under the umbrella of Air Combat Command.

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This scenario was well on its way to becoming a reality when some intelligent people at NextGov gave a wakeup call to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

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France, Djibouti's former colonial ruler, still maintains a base in the territory, and America is now in the process of installing a force of 800 special-operations troops.

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There are 46, 000 troops in Special Operations Command, which is based at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida.

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The UN Security Council has approved the creation of a special combat force to carry out "targeted offensive operations" against armed groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

BBC: UN combat force to target DR Congo rebels

Force Recon should not be confused with the newly established (circa. 2007) Marine Special Operations Command (MARSOC).

FORBES: Where Does Marine Force Recon Fit In The World Of Special Operations?