Established in the summer of 2012 and completely operational the following July, the Special Operations Joint Task Force – Afghanistan (SOJTF-A) is an umbrella organization designed to coordinate the efforts of U.S., NATO, and Afghan Special Operations forces to ensure the stability of the Afghan government and prevent insurgent activities from crippling its efforts to unite the nation.
In early press releases announcing plans for the creation of SOJTF-A, it was assumed that Afghanistan Special Operators would under the command of either U.S. or NATO leadership. But this misperception was quickly cleared up by emphatic statements from the Task Force’s first commander, Major General Tony Thomas, who said that neither he nor any other American Special Operations officer would “have command authority over Afghan special operations forces” under the new organizational structure. Nonetheless, the establishment of official coordination among the varying Special Operations teams in Afghanistan was and is better than the previous system, a reality reflected in the Task Force's motto of FORTIOR SIMUL QUAM SEORSUM, Latin for "Stronger Together Than Apart."
The SOJTF-A is a two-star command with a one-year assignment that is part of a dual-hat command system: its commander is simultaneously the commander of the NATO Special Operations Component Command – Afghanistan (NSOCC-A). Major General Thomas was replaced in 2013 by Major General Scott Miller, who handed the reins to Major General Ed Reeder the next year. Major General Sean P. Swindell assumed command in 2015. On 1 March 2018, Air Force Major General Albert M. Elton II was tapped to assume command of SOJTF – A and NSOCC-A.
Related ItemsU.S. Army Element, Special Operations Joint Task Force Afghanistan Patch (SSI)