special operations forces » special forces

Special Forces insignia

motto:
De Oppresso Liber
"To free from oppression"

read the
Special Forces Creed

Special Forces

US Army Special Forces, sometimes known as 'the Green Berets', are a versatile army unit made up of 'quiet professionals'

Special Forces - Roles

unconventional warfare
foreign internal defense (FID)
special reconnaissance
direct action
counter-terrorism
counter-proliferation
information operations

Special Forces - Video

Officially-released footage of 3rd Special Forces Group soldiers in action in Afghanistan...

Special Forces - Organization

US Army Special Forces are organized into Special Forces Groups (SFG), each focused on a specific geographic area, or Area Of Responsibility (AOR). The regular Special Forces groups (Active Duty) are:

1st Special Forces Group
AOR - Pacific
3rd Special Forces Group
AOR - sub-Saharan Africa
5th Special Forces Group
AOR - Middle East, Persian Gulf, Central Asia & the Horn of Africa
7th Special Forces Group
AOR - Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean
10th Special Forces Group
AOR - Europe

The 2 Army National Guard (ANRG) Special Forces groups are:

19th Special Forces Group
AOR - South East Asia & Pacific
20th Special Forces Group
AOR - Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean

A soldier from the 3rd Special Forces Group
(view more Special Forces photos)

photo : US Army

Each Special Forces Group consists of :

3 Battalions, comprising:
- 1 Operational Detachment-Charlie (ODC)
  Battalion command and control, responsible for:
  - operations
  - training
  - signals
  - logistics
- 3 Companies
  - 6 Operational Detachment-Alpha (ODA).
    ODAs are usually 12-men units, lead by a captain.. The ODA is the primary fighting force of the Special Forces. Each SF Company usually contains 6 ODAs.
    more info : Special Forces ODAs
  - 1 Operational Detachment-Bravo (ODB)
    A SF Company usually contains one ODB, of around 12 men, which provides support and command and control to the SF Company's ODAs. ODBs provide support in:
    - training
    - intelligence
    - counter-intelligence
    more info : Special Forces ODBs

Special Forces - Selection & Training

Soldiers wishing to become a Green Beret must pass the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) course before undergoing the Special Forces Qualification Course.
more info : Special Forces Selection

Special Forces - Operations

The Cold War
The 10th Special Forces group prepared for a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. In such a scenario, the Green Berets were to carry out guerilla operations.
1961 - South East Asia
Special Forces acted as advisors to indigenous forces, first in Laos, then in Vietnam. Throughout the Vietnam war, the Green Berets trained and fought with the South Vietnamese forces, usually operating from fire bases set up by themselves
1970 - Son Tay
Green Berets attempted to rescue American Prisoners of War (POWs) from a North Vietnamese camp
1980s - El Salvador
American Special Forces trained Salvadorians to fight against communists
Late 80s - Columbia
Special Forces carried out counter-drug and counter-terrorism operations.
1989 - Panama - Operation Just Cause
1990/1991 - Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm
Special Forces help train coalition forces as part of the defence of Saudi Arabia (Desert Shield). During the offensive stage of operations (Desert Storm), small 3-man ODAs carried out tactical reconnaissance operations in Kuwait and Iraq, watching Iraqi troop movements. Green Berets also provided troops for Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations.
2001 - Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom
Special Forces ODAs were among the first US military units to enter Afghanistan, October 2001. Worling closely with CIA teams, the Northern Alliance and the 160th SOAR, they formed Task Force Dagger.
more info : Special Forces - Task Force Dagger
2003 - Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom
During the US-led invasion of Iraq, Special Forces units, working with Kurdish militia, carried out operations in the North of the country.