Special Forces

US Army Special Forces, sometimes known as 'the Green Berets' are a versatile military 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 - 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.
  - 1 Operational Detachment-Bravo (ODB)
    A SF Company usually contains one ODB, of around 12 men, which provides support to the SF Company. OBCs provide support in:
    - training
    - intelligence
    - counter-intelligence

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.
1990s - The Balkans
2001 - Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom
2003 - Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom

Special Forces Links & Resources

« American Special Ops