The unit's missions primarily involve anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, counterinsurgency, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, HUMINT, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, providing security in areas at risk of attack or terrorism in Odisha, special reconnaissance in difficult to access and dangerous areas, support crowd control and riot control, and special operations.

The SOG has been very successful [citation needed] in counterinsurgency in the form of jungle and mountain warfare in controlling violence by armed guerillas of the Left Wing extremist groups, more popularly called 'Naxalites' in India.

The SOG was formed in August 2004 in the pattern of Greyhound of Andhra Pradesh with the main objective of neutralising the Naxalites and operating in difficult to access terrain.

Each unit is self-reliant and can operate combat patrol deep inside jungle and mountain for days in search of armed extremists.

The basic course conducted by SOG is considered one of the toughest Commando training programme in India.