U.S. Special Operations Forces |
The United States Special Operations Forces —commonly called U.S. special
forces— is the official category where the U.S. Department of Defense lists the U.S.
military units that have a training specialization in unconventional warfare and special
operations.
The Department refers to such units as Special
Operations Forces (SOF); both friendly and hostile. They also use the term in reference to analogous foreign
organizations.
General Information
During peacetime SOF units are usually under the operational command of their assigned branch of the military. Upon direction
of the Secretary of Defense,
however, Special Operations Forces (including all of the below, as well as United States Navy SEAL units, selected units of the
United States Air Force, and other units) are placed
under the direct control of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), usually in time of active
hostilities. Special Operations Command consults with the Theater Commander to ascertain the best mix of SOF units, and how best
to utilize them. All Army SOF forces are supported by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR, Night Stalkers).
Special Operations Forces of the United States has the same basic role in contemporary warfare as the Special Forces of most other countries. Small, elite units which operate far
behind enemy lines in sabotage, reconnaissance, counter-insurgency and etc. Most of the units have extensive airborne training.
Rangers on patrol
Rangers were formerly identified by black berets, but they now wear a khaki beret as
their distinctive headgear. The Rangers are primarily utilized in reconnaissance, the gathering of intelligence data (including
the capture of selected opposing force individuals), and long-range patrolling. To become Ranger qualified, soldiers must
volunteer for the eight week Ranger training program, which is one of the most demanding and intensive in the United States
Armed Forces.
Special Forces soldiers (who wear the distinctive green beret by which they are commonly known) are primarily utilized in
liaison and training roles to friendly governments involved in counterinsurgency operations (as in Vietnam), or as liaison and training advisors to members of insurgency forces (commonly referred to as guerrillas) which the United States Government wishes to support (as in Afghanistan). At the operational level, Special Forces are usually comprised of
twelve-man "A Teams," With 2 officers and 10 enlisted members: each of which is considered an expert in such Military
Occupational Specialties (MOS) as: small arms, demolitions, medical, communication, etc. Each member is also cross-trained in at least one other MOS so
that he may fill in for other members who are wounded or killed. In addition, each member is usually proficient in the language
of the host nation or insurgent group. All US Army Special Forces members are double volunteers, having volunteered first for
airborne training and then for Special Forces training. Special Forces training is mostly undertaken at Ft. Bragg, N.C. and is
referred to as the "Q" Course (Qualification). The course has 3 phases, with 1st phase being advanced military skills, second
phase is the advanced MOS training and third phase is small unit operations, where teams undertake a simulated mission to train
and organize indiginous forces.
Not much is known of "Delta Force", the US government being unwilling to publicize much information. The little facts there
are come from various public sources and not from the US government itself. Delta Force members (who have no distinctive items of
uniform wear) are utilized in hostage rescue roles, as well as in other special counter-terrorism actions, most of which are
classified. The organization and training of Delta
Force personnel is classified, but they are known to be among the best marksmen in the world. Delta snipers are reportedly
required to have 100% accuracy at 600 yards and 90% accuracy at 1,000 yards. Delta Force members are drawn from a variety of
sources, including other Special Operations Forces. Delta Force is usually referred to (when it is referred to at all) by the US
Government as either "the 1st Special Operations Detachment," or "the 1st Combat Applications Group." The group is small
(estimates generally run to less than 400 members), and operates in small teams deep inside hostile territory, often with orders
to terminate with stealth and impunity. The namesake of Delta Force is believed to have been "Project Delta," a special
operations unit commanded by US Army Colonel Charles Beckwith, now deceased, in Vietnam. Two Delta Force members were awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in Somalia while protecting the crew of a downed helicopter, and are the only soldiers to have been so honored while
serving as snipers.
List of U.S. Special Operations Forces (incomplete)
Active
Army
Air Force
Marine Corps
Navy
Defunct
External links
References
- USDOD (June 5, 2003). US DOD Dictionary of Military Terms . United States Department of Defense. United States of
America.
- USDOD (June 5, 2003). US DOD Dictionary of Military Terms: Joint Acronyms and Abbreviations
. United States Department of Defense. United
States of America.
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