SOT-A

A SOT-A (Special Operations Team-Alpha) is a signals intelligence–electronic warfare (SIGINT-EW) element of the United States Army Special Forces.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

They are low-level SIGINT collection teams that intercept and report operational and technical information derived from tactical threat communications through prescribed communications paths. The mission of a SOT-A is to conduct SIGINT/EW in support of information operations (unilaterally or in conjunction with other Special Operations Forces (SOF) elements) to support existing and emerging SOF missions worldwide.^[1][3][5]

SOT-A's are the direct descendants of the Army Security Agency's Special Operations Detachments (USASASODs).^[1][5]

Capabilities

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).^[1][3][5]

SOT-As can detect, monitor, and exploit threat communications through communications transmission intercept and direction finding. SOT-As also can deploy with Special Forces Operational Detachments-A (SFODAs or A-teams) to provide SIGINT support for contingency, direct action, force protection, MTT support, or unconventional warfare. These functions may require SOT-As to:^[1][3][5]

• Deploy with a SFODA.
• Deploy independently and then join a deployed SFODA.
• Operate independently or with other SOT-As.
• Operate and train on advanced collection equipment provided by national intelligence agencies.

Insertion/Extraction Techniques

• Patrolling
• Helicopter Touchdown,
• Helocast
  • Personnel
  • Small Boat
• Rappel
• Fast Rope
• Special Patrol Insertion/Extraction (SPIE)
• Static-Line Parachuting

SOT-A team members can operate in remote and denied areas. In addition to their linguistic and SIGINT skills, SOT-As are trained in tactical and fieldcraft techniques.^[5]

SIGINT (Signals Intelligence)

• Foreign languages
  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • Farsi
  • French
  • Indonesian
  • Korean
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Thai
  • Tagalog
• Morse Code intercept (>20 GPM)
• Analysis and reporting

Advanced training

Advanced training may include:

• Survival Evasion Resistance Escape
• Ranger School
• Mountain Survival Course/Mountain Leader Course
• Jumpmaster
• Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course

Organization

According to a 2001 field manual, there is one SIGINT section with six SOT-A per each Special Forces Group. A SOT-A team consists of four members.^[1]