Originally Posted by
Dougdrvr
I'm always puzzled as to why the media can't understand that Special Forces, SEALs, DELTA, etc., are all components of Special Operations. Then again, when a senior White House Presidential Advisor confuses a uniformed General Officer for a waiter at a cocktail party, it's shouldn't be surprising.
SOCOM is effectively a fifth, and separate, military service with it's own funding. But the matter is confused since operators are selected, trained, administered, and career managed (including rank and uniforms) by their parent services. They are mostly career stove-pipped within the service they started in, although there is certainly healthy cross-pollination at staff and senior levels.
They also serve some tours which are parent-service support, and not under SOCOM auspices.