Fuerzas especiales del ejército de los Estados Unidos

Las Fuerzas Especiales del Ejército de los Estados Unidos , conocidas coloquialmente como los " Boinas Verdes " debido a su distintivo tocado de servicio, son una fuerza de operaciones especiales del Ejército de los Estados Unidos que están diseñadas para desplegar y ejecutar nueve misiones doctrinales: guerra no convencional , defensa interna extranjera , acción directa , contrainsurgencia , reconocimiento especial , contraterrorismo , operaciones de información , contraproliferación de armas de destrucción masiva y asistencia de las fuerzas de seguridad. Las dos primeras misiones, la guerra no convencional y las defensas internas extranjeras, enfatizan las habilidades lingüísticas, culturales y de entrenamiento para trabajar con tropas extranjeras. Otras misiones de las Fuerzas Especiales, conocidas como misiones secundarias, incluyen: búsqueda y rescate de combate (CSAR), lucha contra las drogas , rescate de rehenes , asistencia humanitaria , desminado humanitario , operaciones de información , mantenimiento de la paz y persecuciones . Otros componentes del Comando de Operaciones Especiales de los Estados Unidos (USSOCOM) u otras actividades del gobierno de los Estados Unidos también pueden especializarse en estas misiones secundarias. [7] Las Fuerzas Especiales llevan a cabo estas misiones a través de siete grupos enfocados geográficamente. [8] Muchas de sus técnicas operativas están clasificadas , pero se encuentran disponibles algunas obras de no ficción [9] y manuales doctrinales. [10] [11] [12]

Fuerzas especiales del ejército de EE. UU.
USA - Insignia de la rama de las fuerzas especiales.png
Insignia de la rama de las Fuerzas Especiales
Fundado9 de abril de 1987 [1] [2]
País Estados Unidos
Rama Armada de Estados Unidos
TipoFuerza de operaciones especiales
PapelTareas principales:
  • Guerra no convencional (UW)
  • Defensa Interna Extranjera (FID)
  • Acción directa (DA)
  • Contrainsurgencia (COIN)
  • Reconocimiento especial (SR)
  • Contraterrorismo (CT)
  • Operaciones de información (IO)
  • Contraproliferación de ADM (CP)
  • Asistencia de la fuerza de seguridad (SFA)
Parte deSpecialForces Badge.svg 1er Comando de Fuerzas Especiales Comando de Operaciones Especiales del Ejército de los Estados Unidos Comando de Operaciones Especiales de los Estados Unidos
Comando de Operaciones Especiales del Ejército de los Estados Unidos DUI.png
Mando de Operaciones Especiales de los Estados Unidos Insignia.svg
SedeFort Bragg , Carolina del Norte
Apodo (s)Boinas Verdes, Profesionales Silenciosos, [3] Soldados-Diplomáticos, Come serpientes, Bastardos barbudos [4]
Lema (s)De Oppresso Liber
Color de la boina  Rifle verde
marchaBalada de la boina verde
Compromisos
  • Segunda Guerra Mundial
  • guerra coreana
  • Guerra Fría
  • Guerra civil de Laos
  • Guerra civil dominicana
  • guerra de Vietnam
  • Guerra civil salvadoreña
  • Operación Furia Urgente
  • Operación Causa Justa
  • guerra del Golfo
  • Guerra civil somalí
     • Operación Restaurar la Esperanza
  • Operación Defender la Democracia
  • Guerra de Bosnia
  • Guerra de kosovo
  • Crisis de Timor Oriental de 1999
  • Guerra contra el terrorismo
     • Operación Libertad Duradera
  •  • Operación Libertad Duradera - Cuerno de África
  •  • Guerra de Irak
  •  • Guerra en el noroeste de Pakistán
  •  • Operación Juniper Shield
  •  • Operación Inherente Resolución
  •  • Centinela de la Operación Libertad
  • Insurgencia del Ejército de Resistencia del Señor [5]
  • Operación Atlantic Resolve [6]
Sitio webwww .soc .mil / USASFC / HQ .html

Como unidades de operaciones especiales, las Fuerzas Especiales no están necesariamente bajo la autoridad de mando de los comandantes terrestres en esos países. En cambio, mientras están en el teatro , las unidades SF pueden informar directamente a un comando de combate geográfico , USSOCOM u otras autoridades de comando. El altamente secreto Centro de Actividades Especiales de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia (CIA) (anteriormente conocido como la "División de Actividades Especiales") y más específicamente su Grupo de Operaciones Especiales (SOG) recluta de las Fuerzas Especiales del Ejército de los Estados Unidos. [13] Las operaciones conjuntas de las Fuerzas Especiales de la CIA y el Ejército se remontan a la rama MACV-SOG durante la Guerra de Vietnam . [14] La cooperación todavía existe hoy y se ve en la Guerra de Afganistán . [15] [16]

Soldados de las Fuerzas Especiales de Task Force Dagger y el Comandante Dostum a caballo en el valle de Dari-a-Souf, Afganistán, alrededor de octubre de 2001, que aparecen en la película 12 Strong and the Horse Soldier Statue

La misión principal de las Fuerzas Especiales del Ejército es entrenar y dirigir fuerzas de guerra no convencional (UW) o una fuerza guerrillera clandestina en una nación ocupada. [17] El 10º Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales fue la primera unidad SF desplegada, destinada a entrenar y dirigir a las fuerzas de la UW detrás de las líneas enemigas en caso de una invasión del Pacto de Varsovia a Europa Occidental. [ cita requerida ] A medida que EE. UU. se involucró en el sudeste asiático, se dio cuenta de que los especialistas capacitados para liderar guerrillas también podían ayudar a defenderse de guerrillas hostiles, por lo que SF adquirió la misión adicional de Defensa Interna Extranjera (FID), trabajando con Host Nation (HN ) fuerzas en un espectro de actividades contraguerrilleras desde el apoyo indirecto hasta el mando de combate. [18]

El personal de las Fuerzas Especiales está calificado tanto en habilidades militares avanzadas como en los idiomas y culturas regionales de determinadas partes del mundo. Si bien son más conocidos por sus capacidades de guerra no convencionales, también emprenden otras misiones que incluyen redadas de acción directa, operaciones de paz, contraproliferación, funciones de asesoramiento antidrogas y otras misiones estratégicas. [19] Como recursos estratégicos, informan al USSOCOM o al Comando Combatiente Unificado regional . Para mejorar su capacidad DA, se crearon unidades específicas con un enfoque en el lado de acción directa de las operaciones especiales. Primero conocidas como Commander's In-extremis Force (CIF), luego Crisis Response Forces (CRF), ahora son suplantadas por compañías Hard-Target Defeat (HTD). [20] [21] [22]

Los miembros del equipo SF trabajan en estrecha colaboración y dependen unos de otros en circunstancias aisladas durante largos períodos de tiempo, tanto durante despliegues prolongados como en guarniciones. Debido a esto, desarrollan relaciones de clan y lazos personales duraderos. [ cita requerida ] Los suboficiales (NCO) de SF a menudo pasan toda su carrera en las Fuerzas Especiales, rotando entre asignaciones a destacamentos, alojamientos de personal superior, puestos de enlace y deberes de instructor en el Centro y Escuela Especial de Guerra John F. Kennedy del Ejército de EE. UU . (USAJFKSWCS). Luego se les exige que pasen a puestos de estado mayor o a escalones de mando superiores. [ cita requerida ] Con la creación de USSOCOM, los comandantes de SF se han elevado a los rangos más altos del comando del Ejército de los EE. UU., Incluido el mando del USSOCOM , el Jefe de Estado Mayor del Ejército y el Jefe del Estado Mayor Conjunto . [23]

Descripción general de operaciones especiales, alrededor de 1984
"> Reproducir medios
Fotografía del equipo ODA 525 tomada poco antes de la infiltración en Irak , febrero de 1991

Las Fuerzas Especiales tienen sus raíces como el principal defensor de la guerra no convencional del Ejército a partir de unidades de operaciones especiales formadas a propósito como los Alamo Scouts , las guerrillas filipinas , la Primera Fuerza de Servicio Especial y los Grupos Operativos (OG) de la Oficina de Servicios Estratégicos (OSS). Aunque la OSS no era una organización del Ejército, muchos miembros del personal del Ejército fueron asignados a la OSS y luego utilizaron sus experiencias para influir en la formación de Fuerzas Especiales.

Durante la Guerra de Corea , personas como los ex comandantes guerrilleros filipinos, el coronel Wendell Fertig y el teniente coronel Russell W. Volckmann, utilizaron su experiencia en tiempos de guerra para formular la doctrina de la guerra no convencional que se convirtió en la piedra angular de las Fuerzas Especiales. [24] [25]

En 1951, el general de división Robert A. McClure eligió al ex miembro de la OSS, el coronel Aaron Bank, como jefe de la rama de operaciones de la división de operaciones especiales del personal de guerra psicológica (OCPW) en el Pentágono. [26]

En junio de 1952, se formó el décimo Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales (Aerotransportado) bajo el mando del Coronel Aaron Bank, poco después del establecimiento de la Escuela de Guerra Psicológica, que finalmente se convirtió en el Centro y Escuela Especial de Guerra John F. Kennedy . [ cita requerida ] El 10º Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales (Aerotransportado) se dividió, con el cuadro que mantuvo la designación 10º SFG desplegado en Bad Tölz, Alemania, en septiembre de 1953. El cuadro restante en Fort Bragg formó el 77º Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales, que en Mayo de 1960 fue reorganizado y designado como el 7º Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales de hoy. [27]

Desde su establecimiento en 1952, los soldados de las Fuerzas Especiales han operado en Vietnam , Camboya, Laos, Vietnam del Norte, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador , Colombia , Panamá , Haití, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Primera Guerra del Golfo , Afganistán , Irak , Filipinas. , Siria , Yemen , Níger y, en un papel de la FID, África Oriental .

La rama de Fuerzas Especiales fue establecida como rama básica del Ejército de los Estados Unidos el 9 de abril de 1987 mediante la Orden General No. 35 del Departamento del Ejército [28].

US Army 1st Special Forces Command Flash.png1er Comando de Fuerzas Especiales (Aerotransportado)
US Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) Organization.png

Grupos de Fuerzas Especiales

Soldados de cada uno de los siete Grupos de Fuerzas Especiales del Ejército (tenga en cuenta los siete colores diferentes de parches de boina) en la tumba del presidente John F. Kennedy en noviembre de 2011.
Un MH-60L de 160th SOAR despliega un ODA de 7th SFG (A) a bordo de un submarino estadounidense para un ejercicio conjunto

En 1957, a los dos grupos originales de fuerzas especiales (10º y 77º) se les unió el 1º, estacionado en el Lejano Oriente. Se formaron grupos adicionales en 1961 y 1962 después de que el presidente John F. Kennedy visitara las Fuerzas Especiales en Fort Bragg en 1961. Se organizaron nueve grupos para los componentes de la reserva en 1961. [29] Entre ellos se encontraban los Grupos de Fuerzas Especiales 16 y 17. Sin embargo, el 17 ° Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales , una formación de la Guardia Nacional con elementos en Washington, se disolvió el 31 de enero de 1966.

A principios del siglo XXI, las Fuerzas Especiales se dividen en cinco grupos de Fuerzas Especiales en servicio activo (AD) y dos de la Guardia Nacional del Ejército (ARNG). Cada Grupo de Fuerzas Especiales (SFG) tiene un enfoque regional específico. Los soldados de las Fuerzas Especiales asignados a estos grupos reciben una formación lingüística y cultural intensiva para los países dentro de su área regional de responsabilidad (AOR). [30] Debido a la creciente necesidad de soldados de las Fuerzas Especiales en la Guerra contra el Terrorismo , todos los grupos, incluidos los de la Guardia Nacional (19 y 20 SFG), se han desplegado fuera de sus áreas de operación (AO), particularmente en Irak. y Afganistán . Un informe publicado recientemente mostró a las Fuerzas Especiales como quizás las SOF más desplegadas bajo USSOCOM, con muchos soldados, independientemente del grupo, sirviendo hasta el 75% de sus carreras en el extranjero, casi todos en Irak y Afganistán.

Until recently an SF group has consisted of three battalions, but since the Department of Defense has authorized the 1st Special Forces Command to increase its authorized strength by one third, a fourth battalion was activated in each active component group by 2012.[citation needed]

  • Current structure of the 1st SFG (A)

  • Current structure of the 3rd SFG (A)

  • Current structure of the 5th SFG (A)

  • Current structure of the 7th SFG (A)

  • Current structure of the 10th SFG (A)

  • Current structure of the 20th SFG (A) (ARNG)

A Special Forces group is historically assigned to a Unified Combatant Command or a theater of operations. The Special Forces Operational Detachment C or C-detachment (SFODC) is responsible for a theater or a major subcomponent, which can provide command and control of up to 18 SFODAs, three SFODB, or a mixture of the two. Subordinate to it is the Special Forces Operational Detachment Bs or B-detachments (SFODB), which can provide command and control for six SFODAs. Further subordinate, the SFODAs typically raise company- to battalion-sized units when on unconventional warfare missions. They can form 6-man "split A" detachments that are often used for special reconnaissance.

Beret FlashGroup
1sfg.png
1st Special Forces Group – Headquartered at Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Washington along with its 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Battalions, its 1st Battalion is forward deployed at Torii Station, Okinawa. The 1SFGA is oriented towards the Pacific region, and is often tasked by PACOM. Currently, 1SFGA and two of its battalions spend roughly six months out of every twelve deployed on a rotational basis to either Iraq as Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula, to Afghanistan as Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan, or to the Philippines as Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines.
3sfg.svg
3rd Special Forces Group – Headquartered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The 3SFGA is theoretically oriented towards all of Sub-Saharan Africa with the exception of the Eastern Horn of Africa, i.e. AFRICOM. In practice, 3SFGA and two of its battalions spend roughly six months out of every twelve deployed to Afghanistan as Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan.
5th SFG Beret Flash.png
5th Special Forces Group – Headquartered at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 5SFGA is oriented towards the Middle East, Persian Gulf, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa (HOA), and is frequently tasked by CENTCOM. Currently, 5SFGA and two of its battalions spend roughly six months out of every twelve deployed to Iraq as Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula.
7th Special Forces Group.svg
7th Special Forces Group – Headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 7SFG(A) is oriented towards the western hemisphere: the land mass of Latin America south of Mexico, the waters adjacent to Central America and South America, the Caribbean Sea—with its 13 island nations, European and U.S. territories—the Gulf of Mexico, and a portion of the Atlantic Ocean (i.e. the USSOUTHCOM AOR and a little more). Although not aligned, the 7SFG(A) has also supported USNORTHCOM activities within the western hemisphere. In practice, 7SFG(A) and two of its battalions spend roughly six months out of every twelve deployed to Afghanistan as Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan. In 2011, 7SFG(A) relocated from Fort Bragg, North Carolina to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round.
USA - 10th Special Forces Flash.svg
10th Special Forces Group – Headquartered at Fort Carson, Colorado along with its 2nd, 3rd and newly added 4th Battalions, its 1st Battalion is forward deployed in the Panzer Kaserne (Panzer Barracks) in Böblingen near Stuttgart, Germany. The 10SFGA is theoretically oriented towards Europe, mainly Central and Eastern Europe, the Balkans, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon and Northern Africa, i.e. EUCOM. In practice, 10SFGA and two of its battalions spend roughly six months out of every twelve deployed to Iraq as Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula.
19sfg.png
19th Special Forces Group – One of two National Guard Special Forces Groups. Headquartered in Draper, Utah, with companies in Washington, West Virginia, Ohio, Rhode Island, Colorado, California, and Texas, the 19SFGA is oriented towards Southwest Asia (shared with 5SFGA), Europe (shared with 10SFGA), as well as Southeast Asia (shared with 1SFGA).
20th Special Forces Group flash.png
20th Special Forces Group – One of two National Guard Special Forces Groups. Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, with battalions in Alabama (1st Battalion), Mississippi (2nd Battalion), and Florida (3rd Battalion), with assigned Companies and Detachments in North Carolina ; Chicago; Louisville, Kentucky; Western Massachusetts; and Baltimore. The 20SFGA has an area of responsibility (AOR) covering 32 countries, including Latin America south of Mexico, the waters, territories, and nations in the Caribbean sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Orientation towards the region is shared with 7SFGA.
Inactive Groups
6sfg.png
6th Special Forces Group – Active from 1963 to 1971. Based at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Assigned to Southwest Asia (Iraq, Iran, etc.) and Southeast Asia. Many of the 103 original Son tay raider volunteers were from 6SFGA.
US Army 8th SFG beret flash.svg
8th Special Forces Group – Active from 1963 to 1972. Responsible for training armies of Latin America in counterinsurgency tactics.
11thSFG Flash.png
11th Special Forces Group (U.S. Army Reserve) – Active from 1961 to 1994.
12SFG beret flash.svg
12th Special Forces Group (U.S. Army Reserve) – Active from 1961 to 1994.

Battalion Headquarters Element – SF Operational Detachment-C (SFODC) composition

The SFODC, or "C-Team", is the headquarters element of a Special Forces battalion. As such, it is a command and control unit with operations, training, signals, and logistic support responsibilities to its three subordinate line companies. A lieutenant colonel commands the battalion as well as the C-Team, and the Battalion Command Sergeant Major is the senior NCO of the battalion and the C-Team. There are an additional 20–30 SF personnel who fill key positions in operations, logistics, intelligence, communications, and medical. A Special Forces battalion usually consists of four companies: "A", "B", "C", and Headquarters/Support.[citation needed]

Company Headquarters Element – SF Operational Detachment-B (SFODB) composition

A SF company commander in Universal Camouflage Pattern meets with elders and members of the 209th ANA Corps in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, circa 2007
A soldier from A Co, 1st Bn, 7th SFG(A) gives an Afghan boy a coloring book in Kandahar Province during a meeting with local leaders, circa 2008

The ODB, or "B-Team", is the headquarters element of a Special Forces company, and it is usually composed of 11–13 soldiers. While the A-team typically conducts direct operations, the purpose of the B-Team is to support the company's A-Teams both in garrison and in the field. When deployed, in line with their support role, B-Teams are usually found in more secure rear areas. However, under some circumstances a B-Team will deploy into a hostile area, usually to coordinate the activities of multiple A-Teams.[citation needed]

The ODB is led by an 18A, usually a major, who is the company commander (CO). The CO is assisted by his company executive officer (XO), another 18A, usually a captain.[31] The XO is himself assisted by a company technician, a 180A, generally, a chief warrant officer three, who assists in the direction of the organization, training, intelligence, counter-intelligence, and operations for the company and its detachments. The company commander is assisted by a senior non-commissioned officer, an 18Z, usually a Sergeant Major. A second 18Z acts as the operations sergeant, usually a Master Sergeant, who assists the XO and technician in their operational duties. He has an 18F assistant operations sergeant, who is usually a Sergeant First Class. The company's support comes from an 18D medical sergeant, usually a Sergeant First Class, and two 18E communications sergeants, usually a Sergeant First Class and a Staff Sergeant.[citation needed]

The following jobs are outside of the Special Forces 18-series career management field (CMF), but hold positions on a Special Forces B-Team. Soldiers in these positions are not "Special Forces qualified", as they have not completed the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC or "Q" Course); however, they do have the potential to be awarded the Special Qualification Identifier (SQI) "S" (Special Operations / Special Operations Support) once they complete the appropriate unit-level training, 24 months with their Special Forces unit, and Basic Airborne School:

  • The supply NCO, usually a Staff Sergeant, the commander's principal logistical planner, works with the battalion S-4 to supply the company.
  • The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN defense) NCO, usually a Sergeant, maintains and operates the company's NBC detection and decontamination equipment, and assists in administering NBC defensive measures.[32]
  • Other jobs can also exist depending on the B-Team structure. Specialist team members can include I.T. (S-6) personnel, and Military Intelligence Soldiers, including Intelligence Analysts (35F), Human Intelligence Collectors (35M), Signals Intelligence (35 N/P - also known as SOT-A and SOT-B as related to their positions on SFODA and SFODB teams), Intelligence Officers (35 D/E/F), and Counterintelligence Special Agents (35L/351L).

Basic Element – SF Operational Detachment-A (SFODA) composition

A Special Forces company normally consists of six Operational Detachments-A (ODA or "A-Teams").[33][34] Each ODA specializes in an infiltration skill or a particular mission-set (e.g. Military Freefall (HALO), combat diving, mountain warfare, maritime operations, etc.). An ODA is identified by its group, battalion, company, and the team itself. For example, ODA 1234 would be the fourth team in the third company of the second battalion of 1st Special Forces Group.

An ODA consists of 12 soldiers, each of whom has a specific function (MOS or Military Occupational Specialty) on the team, however all members of an ODA conduct cross-training. The ODA is led by an 18A (Detachment Commander), a Captain, and a 180A (Assistant Detachment Commander) who is their second in command, usually a Warrant Officer One or Chief Warrant Officer Two. The team also includes the following enlisted soldiers: one 18Z (Operations Sergeant) (known as the "Team Sergeant"), usually a Master Sergeant, one 18F (Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant), usually a Sergeant First Class, and two each, 18Bs (Weapons Sergeant), 18Cs (Engineer Sergeant), 18Ds (Medical Sergeant), and 18Es (Communications Sergeant), usually Sergeants First Class, Staff Sergeants or Sergeants. This organization facilitates 6-man "split team" operations, redundancy, and mentoring between a senior NCO and their junior assistant.[citation needed]

A Special Forces candidate conducts a pre-mission rehearsal with Army ROTC cadets role-playing guerrilla fighters during ROBIN SAGE.
Soldiers from 1st Special Forces Group conduct high-altitude low-opening (HALO) jump over Yakima training center, c. 2014
20th Special Forces Group soldiers conduct dive operations

The basic eligibility requirements to be considered for entry into the Special Forces are:

  • Be age 20–36.[35]
  • Be a U.S. citizen.
  • Be a high school graduate.
  • Score a General Technical score of 110 or higher or a combat operation score of 110 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.
  • Airborne qualified or volunteer for Airborne training
  • Must pass the Physical Fitness Assessment with at least 49 push-ups, 59 sit-ups, 6 pull-ups, and run two miles in a maximum of 15 minutes and 12 seconds.
  • Meet medical fitness standards as outlined in SF Physical IAW AR 40-501
  • Must successfully complete the Pre-Basic Task list.
  • Eligible for a secret security clearance
  • Swim 50 m wearing boots and ACUs prior to SFQC
  • Must have 20/20 or corrected to 20/20 in both near and distant vision in both eyes.
  • One year of college is preferred, but it is not mandatory for enlistment.

The Special Forces soldier trains on a regular basis over the course of their entire career. The initial formal training program for entry into Special Forces is divided into four phases collectively known as the Special Forces Qualification Course or, informally, the "Q Course". The length of the Q Course changes depending on the applicant's primary job field within Special Forces and their assigned foreign language capability, but will usually last between 55 and 95 weeks. After successfully completing the Special Forces Qualification Course, Special Forces soldiers are then eligible for many advanced skills courses. These include, but are not limited to, the Military Free Fall Parachutist Course (MFF), the Combat Diver Qualification Course, Special Operations Combat Medic and the Special Forces Sniper Course (SFSC).[citation needed]

  • 18A – Special Forces Officer[36]
  • 180A – Special Forces Warrant Officer[37]
  • 18B – Special Forces Weapons Sergeant[38]
  • 18C – Special Forces Engineer Sergeant[39]
  • 18D – Special Forces Medical Sergeant[40]
  • 18E – Special Forces Communications Sergeant[41]
  • 18F – Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant[42]
  • 18X – Special Forces Candidate (Active Duty and National Guard Enlistment Option)[43]
  • 18Z – Special Forces Operations Sergeant

Green beret

Special Forces soldiers prepare for a combat diving training operation on a US Naval ship near Okinawa, Japan in 1956, wearing their green berets
Special Forces soldiers participate in the graduation ceremony in Tegucigalpa, Honduras in 2014, wearing their green berets

U.S. Army Special Forces adopted the green beret unofficially in 1954 after searching for headgear that would set them visually apart. Members of the 77th SFG began searching through their accumulated berets and settled on the rifle green color from Captain Miguel de la Peña's collection. Captain Frank Dallas had the new beret designed and produced in small numbers for the members of the 10th & 77th Special Forces Groups.[44]

Their new headdress was first worn at a retirement parade at Fort Bragg on 12 June 1955 for Lieutenant General Joseph P. Cleland, the now-former commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps. Onlookers thought that the operators were a foreign delegation from NATO. In 1956 General Paul D. Adams, the post commander at Fort Bragg, banned the wearing of the distinctive headdress,[45] (although members of the Special Forces continued to wear it surreptitiously[46]). This was reversed on 25 September 1961 by Department of the Army Message 578636, which designated the green beret as the exclusive headdress of the Army Special Forces.[47]

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy authorized them for use exclusively by the U.S. Special Forces. Preparing for a 12 October visit to the Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the president sent word to the center's commander, Colonel William P. Yarborough, for all Special Forces soldiers to wear green berets as part of the event. The president felt that since they had a special mission, Special Forces should have something to set them apart from the rest. In 1962, he called the green beret "a symbol of excellence, a badge of courage, a mark of distinction in the fight for freedom."[44]

Forrest Lindley, a writer for the newspaper Stars and Stripes who served with Special Forces in Vietnam said of Kennedy's authorization: "It was President Kennedy who was responsible for the rebuilding of the Special Forces and giving us back our Green Beret. People were sneaking around wearing [them] when conventional forces weren't in the area and it was sort of a cat and mouse game. Then Kennedy authorized the Green Beret as a mark of distinction, everybody had to scramble around to find berets that were really green. We were bringing them down from Canada. Some were handmade, with the dye coming out in the rain."[48]

Kennedy's actions created a special bond with the Special Forces, with specific traditions carried out since his funeral when a sergeant in charge of a detail of Special Forces soldiers guarding the grave placed his beret on the coffin.[48] The moment was repeated at a commemoration of the 25th anniversary of JFK's death – General Michael D. Healy (ret.), the last commander of Special Forces in Vietnam and later a commander of the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, spoke at Arlington National Cemetery, after which a wreath in the form of a green beret was placed on Kennedy's grave.[48]

Distinctive unit insignia

Special Forces distinctive unit insignia

A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height consisting of a pair of silver arrows in saltire, points up and surmounted at their junction by the V-42 stiletto silver dagger with black handle point up; all over and between a black motto scroll arcing to the base and inscribed "DE OPPRESSO LIBER" in silver letters.[49]

The insignia is the crossed arrow collar insignia (insignia of the branch) of the First Special Force, World War II combined with the fighting knife which is of a distinctive shape and pattern only issued to the First Special Service Force. The motto is translated as "From Oppression We Will Liberate Them."[49]

The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 8 July 1960. The insignia of the 1st Special Forces was authorized to be worn by personnel of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) and its subordinate units on 7 March 1991. The wear of the insignia by the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) and its subordinate units was canceled and it was authorized to be worn by personnel of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) and their subordinate units not authorized a distinctive unit insignia in their own right and amended to change the symbolism on 27 October 2016.[49]

Shoulder sleeve insignia

1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) SSI, established 1955 and worn by all of its special forces groups, past and present

The US Army's 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) is worn by all those assigned to the command and its subordinate units that have not been authorized their own SSI, such as the Special Forces Groups. According to the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, the shape and items depicted in the SSI have special meaning: "The arrowhead alludes to the American Indian's basic skills in which Special Forces personnel are trained to a high degree. The dagger represents the unconventional nature of Special Forces operations, and the three lightning flashes, their ability to strike rapidly by Sea, Air or Land." Army Special Forces were the first Special Operations unit to employ the "sea, air, land" concept nearly a decade before units like the Navy SEALs were created.[50]

Prior to the establishment of the 1st Special Forces Command SSI, the special forces groups that stood up between 1952 and 1955 wore the Airborne Command SSI. According to the U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry, the Airborne Command SSI was reinstated on 10 April 1952—after being disbanded in 1947—and authorized for wear by certain classified units[51]—such as the newly formed 10th and 77th Special Forces Groups—until the establishment of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) SSI on 22 August 1955.[50]

Special Forces Tab

Special Forces Qualification Tab

Introduced in June 1983, the Special Forces Tab is a service school qualification tab awarded to soldiers who complete one of the Special Forces Qualification Courses. Unlike the Green Beret, soldiers who are awarded the Special Forces Tab are authorized to wear it for the remainder of their military careers, even when not serving with Special Operations units. The cloth tab is an olive drab arc tab 3 1/4 inches (8.26  cm) in length and 11/16-inch (1.75  cm) in height overall, the designation "SPECIAL FORCES" in black letters 5/16-inch (.79  cm) in height and is worn on the left sleeve of utility uniforms above a unit's Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and below the President's Hundred Tab (if so awarded). The metal Special Forces Tab replica comes in two sizes, full and dress miniature. The full size version measures 5/8-inch (1.59 cm) in height and 1 9/16 inches (3.97 cm) in width. The miniature version measures 1/4-inch (.64 cm) in height and 1 inch (2.54 cm) in width. Both are teal blue with yellow border trim and letters and are worn above or below ribbons or medals on the Army Service Uniform.[52][53][54]

Award eligibility:[52][53]

  • 1) Basic Eligibility Criteria. Any person meeting one of the criteria below may be awarded the Special Forces (SF) tab:
    • 1.1) Successful completion of U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) approved Active Army (AA) institutional training leading to SF qualification.
    • 1.2) Successful completion of a USAJFKSWCS approved Reserve Component (RC) SF qualification program.
    • 1.3) Successful completion of an authorized unit administered SF qualification program.
  • 2) Active Component institutional training. The SF Tab may be awarded to all personnel who meet the following:
    • 2.1) For successful completion of the Special Forces Qualification Course or Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course (previously known as the Special Forces Officer Course). These courses are/were conducted by the USAJFKSWC (previously known as the U.S. Army Institute for Military Assistance).
    • 2.2) Prior to 1 January 1988, for successful completion of the then approved program of instruction for Special Forces qualification in a Special Forces Group, who were subsequently awarded, by competent authority, SQI "S" in Career Management Field 18 (enlisted), or SQI "3" in Functional Area 18 (officer).
  • 3) Reserve Component (RC) SF qualification programs. The SF Tab may be awarded to all personnel who successfully complete an RC SF qualification program according to TRADOC Regulation 135–5, dated 1 June 1988 or its predecessors and who were subsequently awarded, by competent authority, SQI "S" or "3" in MOS 11B, 11C, 12B, 05B, 91B, or ASI "5G" or "3." The USAJFKSWCS will determine individual entitlement for an award of the SF Tab based on historical review of Army, Continental Army Command (CONARC), and TRADOC regulations prescribing SF qualification requirements in effect at the time the individual began an RC SF qualification program.
  • 4) Unit administered SF qualification programs. The SF Tab may be awarded to all personnel who successfully completed unit administered SF qualification programs as authorized by regulation. The USAJFKSWCS will determine individual entitlement to an award of the SF Tab based upon a historical review of regulations prescribing SF qualification requirements in effect at the time the individual began a unit administered SF qualification program.
  • 5) Former wartime service. The Special Forces Tab may be awarded retroactively to all personnel who performed the following wartime service:
    • 5.1) 1942 through 1973. Served with a Special Forces unit during wartime and were either unable to or not required to attend a formal program of instruction but were awarded SQI "S", "3", "5G" by the competent authority.
    • 5.2) Prior to 1954. Service for at least 120 consecutive days in one of the following organizations:
      • 5.2.1) 1st Special Service Force, August 1942 to December 1944.
      • 5.2.2) OSS Detachment 101, April 1942 to September 1945.
      • 5.2.3) OSS Jedburgh Detachments, May 1944 to May 1945.
      • 5.2.4) OSS Operational Groups, May 1944 to May 1945.
      • 5.2.5) OSS Maritime Unit, April 1942 to September 1945.
      • 5.2.6) 6th Army Special Reconnaissance Unit (Alamo Scouts), February 1944 to September 1945.
      • 5.2.7) 8240th Army Unit, June 1950 to July 1953.
      • 5.2.8) 1954 through 1975. Any company grade officer or enlisted member awarded the CIB or CMB while serving for at least 120 consecutive days in one of the following type organizations:
        • 5.2.8a) SF Operational Detachment-A (A-Team).
        • 5.2.8b) Mobile Strike Force.
        • 5.2.8c) SF Reconnaissance Team.
        • 5.2.8d) SF Special Project Unit.

Camouflage pattern

During the Vietnam War, the Green Berets of the 5th Special Forces Group wanted the Tigerstripe camouflage clothing be made. So they contracted with Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian producers to make fatigues and other items such as boonie hats using tigerstripe fabric. When Tigerstripes make a comeback in the 21st century, they are used by Green Berets for OPFOR drills.

From 1981 to the mid-2000s, they had worn the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU).

Since the War on Terror, they had been wearing MultiCam and Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) uniforms during different missions. They did wear the ones in Universal Camouflage Pattern but were getting rid by MultiCam and OCP.

Yarborough knife

This knife was designed and built by Bill Harsey in collaboration with Chris Reeve Knives. Starting in 2002, all graduates of the qualification course were awarded a Yarborough knife, designed by Bill Harsey Jr. and named after Lt. Gen. William Yarborough, considered the father of the modern Special Forces. All knives awarded are individually serial-numbered and all awardees' names are recorded in a special logbook.[citation needed]

A GMV-S equipped with a Mk 19 grenade launcher in Afghanistan (2003)

During the Green Berets' missions in other nations, they would use Ground Mobility Vehicle (GMV)-S Humvees for different uses or technicals for patrol of the rugged terrain and for their clandestine operations as the nature of their missions are classified. In recent years they also drive the M1288 GMV 1.1 variant of the Army Ground Mobility Vehicle made by General Dynamics as well, that can have new add-on armor kits manufactured by TenCate Advanced Armor for better protection.[citation needed] As well as the Oshkosh M-ATV Special Forces variant MRAPs.

For aircraft other than the ones used by the US military and its special forces/special operations forces units, they extensively used the CIA-operated Mi-17s military helicopters in Afghanistan during the initial stages of Operation Enduring Freedom.

U.S. Special Forces in Raqqa

The Green Berets are trained to use a variety of weapon types dated back from WW1 to recent conflicts. This is so the operators can be familiar with some specific enemy weapons during different missions, easily use such weapons in any nation without problem, and train different factions using those weapons to fight with them.

Handguns

  • M1911
  • M9 (Have been used since the mid '80s, ready to be replaced by the SIG Sauer M17s and M18s)
  • Glock 19 (Designated as Mk 27 Mod 0, recently standard issue in 2015 as Gen. 4 models, while the Gen. 3 models have been first issued since late 2006)
  • SIG M17/M18 (replacement for M9)

Submachine guns

  • Uzi (Used between 1968–73 after CIA bought 3,000 Uzis for use in Southeast Asia by special operations forces)
  • Heckler & Koch MP5 (Some variants were used by them from the Vietnam War in 1975 to the 21st century for night operations, close quarters, hostage rescue and escort)
  • HK UMP (Small number of them in .45 ACP were purchased by the 5th Special Forces Group and saw some limited action in the early years of the Iraqi insurgency)

Assault rifles/assault carbines

  • M4A1 and MK18 SOPMOD Block I & II & URG-I Program
  • FN SCAR-H

Machine guns

  • M240
  • M249 SAW
  • Mk 48
  • GAU-17/A
  • M2HB
  • GAU-19

Shotguns

  • Ithaca 37 (generally used during the Vietnam War)
  • M870
  • Mossberg 500 (They procured Military Enhancement Kits to provide a standardized shotgun configuration based on the Mossberg 500 in 2009. The kits included a collapsible stock, "shotgun retention system", 1913 receiver rail, fore end rail system and breaching barrels. A total of 1301 shotguns were converted with the first unit being equipped in July 2009. The majority of the kits convert the standard issue shotgun to a 14" compact model with a 16" accessory breaching barrel, H92239-09-P-0113.)
  • M1014

Sniper Weapon Systems and Precision Rifles

  • M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS)
  • Mk 13
  • M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR) (Used by 3rd and 7th Special Forces Group)
  • Mk 12 Mod 0
  • Mk 11 Mod 0
  • Mk 14 Mod 0/Mod 1 EBR
  • M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS)
  • M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle
  • Mk 22 Advanced Sniper Rifle
  • Dragunov sniper rifle

Launchers

  • M79
  • M203
  • China Lake grenade launcher (Used by 5th Special Forces Group)
  • M320
  • M32 Multi-shot Grenade Launcher (Mk 14 Mod 0 model)
  • Mk 19
  • Mk 47 Striker
  • M72 Light Anti-Tank Weapon (LAW)
  • M136 AT4
  • M3 Multi-role Anti-armor Anti-tank Weapon System (MAAWS)
  • FGM-148 Javelin
  • FIM-92 Stinger
  • RPG-7

Others

  • M67 grenade
  • M84 stun grenade
  • C-4 (explosive)
  • M18A1 Claymore Mine

In countries other than the U.S., the term "special forces" or "special operations forces" (SOF) is often used generically to refer to any units with elite training and special mission sets. In the U.S. military, "Special Forces" is a proper (capitalized) noun referring exclusively to U.S. Army Special Forces (a.k.a. "The Green Berets").[55] The media and popular culture frequently misapply the term to Navy SEALs and other members of the U.S. Special Operations Forces.[56]

"Code of the Special Forces Operator", c. 1959. This example pre-dates "Delta" among others.

The term "Operator" pre-dates American Special Operations and can be found in books referring to French Special Operations as far back as WWII. Examples include A Savage War of Peace by Alistair Horne and The Centurions by Jean Larteguy.

The origin of the term operator in American special operations comes from the U.S. Army Special Forces (referred to by many civilians as "Green Berets"). The Army Special Forces were established in 1952, ten years before the Navy SEALs, and 25 years before Delta Force. Every other modern U.S. special operations unit in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines was established after 1977. In Veritas: Journal of Army Special Operations History, Charles H. Briscoe states that the Army "Special Forces did not misappropriate the appellation. Unbeknownst to most members of the Army Special Operations Force (ARSOF) community, that moniker was adopted by the Special Forces in the mid-1950s." He goes on to state that all qualified enlisted and officers in Special Forces had to "voluntarily subscribe to the provisions of the 'Code of the Special Forces Operator' and pledge themselves to its tenets by witnessed signature." This pre-dates every other special operations unit that currently uses the term/title operator.[57]

Inside the United States Special Operations community, an operator is a Delta Force member who has completed selection and has graduated OTC (Operators Training Course). Operator was used by Delta Force to distinguish between operational and non-operational personnel assigned to the unit.[58] Other special operations forces use specific names for their jobs, such as Army Rangers and Air Force Pararescuemen. The Navy uses the acronym SEAL for both their special warfare teams and their individual members, who are also known as Special Operators. In 2006 the Navy created "Special Warfare Operator" (SO) as a rating specific to Naval Special Warfare enlisted personnel, grades E-4 to E-9. (See Navy special warfare ratings). Operator is the specific term for operational personnel, and has become a colloquial term for almost all special operations forces in the U.S. military, as well as around the world.

  • 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force)
  • Alamo Scouts
  • Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Center
  • Defense Intelligence Agency
  • Devil's Brigade
  • Blue Light
  • Green Light Teams
  • Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group
  • Roger Mobley
  • Operation Jedburgh
  • Phoenix Program
  • United States Army Counterintelligence (CI, or USAI)

  1. ^ "General Orders No. 35" (PDF). Army Birthdays. 19 June 1987. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  2. ^ "Special Forces Branch". Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  3. ^ Stanton, Doug (24 June 2009). "The Quiet Professionals: The Untold Story of U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan". Huffington Post.
  4. ^ "Most Popular E-mail Newsletter". USA Today. 9 November 2011.
  5. ^ "Inside the Green Berets' Hunt for Wanted Warlord Joseph Kony". NBC News. 6 March 2017.
  6. ^ "Special Operations Troops From 15 Countries Conduct Allied Spirit VI". Department of Defence. 29 March 2017.
  7. ^ Joint Chiefs of Staff (17 December 2003). "Joint Publication 3-05: Doctrine for Joint Special Operations" (PDF). Retrieved 27 April 2008.
  8. ^ Army Special Operations Forces Fact Book 2018, USASOC official website, dated 2018, last accessed 28 July 2019
  9. ^ Waller, Douglas C. (1994). "The Commandos: The Inside Story of America's Secret Soldiers". Dell Publishing. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ "FM 3-05: Army Special Operations Forces" (PDF). U.S. Department of the Army. September 2006. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ "FM 3-05.102 Army Special Forces Intelligence" (PDF). July 2001.
  12. ^ Joint Chiefs of Staff (1993). "Joint Publication 3-05.5: Special Operations Targeting and Mission Planning Procedures" (PDF). Retrieved 13 November 2007.
  13. ^ Waller, Douglas (3 February 2003). "The CIA Secret Army". Time (subscription required)
  14. ^ SOG: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam by John L. Plaster
  15. ^ Haney, Eric L. (2002). Inside Delta Force. New York: Delacorte Press
  16. ^ Efran, Shawn (producer), "Army Officer Recalls Hunt For Bin Laden", 60 Minutes, CBS News, 5 October 2008.
  17. ^ "Primary Special Forces Missions". goarmy.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  18. ^ https://smallwarsjournal.com/index.php/jrnl/art/rethinking-army-special-operation-forces-department-state-partnership-europe
  19. ^ Maurer, Kevin (4 June 2013). Gentlemen Bastards: On the Ground in Afghanistan with America's Elite Special Forces. New York: Berkely Trade. p. 15.
  20. ^ Scarborough, Rowan (23 January 2013). "Africa's Fast-Reaction Force Ready to Go from Colorado". The Washington Times. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  21. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (13 February 2021). "The Army is training Specialized Companies of Green Berets to crack Hard Targets". TheDrive. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  22. ^ Atlamazoglou, Stavros (13 February 2021). "The Army 1st Special Forces Command disbands elite Crisis Response Forces". SOFREP. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  23. ^ "General Hugh Shelton - Without Hesitation". Hughshelton.com. Retrieved on 2014-05-24.
  24. ^ "U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) History". U S ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  25. ^ Department of the Army (COL Russell W. Volckmann), FM 31-21, Organization and Conduct of Guerrilla Warfare (Washington, DC: GPO, October 1951)
  26. ^ Officer Efficiency Report, Bank, Aaron, 11 May 1952, Aaron Bank Service Record, National Military Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, Missouri
  27. ^ "U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) History". U.S. ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  28. ^ "Army General Order No. 35" (PDF). 19 June 1987. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  29. ^ Tsouras, 1994, 91.
  30. ^ "United States Army Special Forces Command".
  31. ^ "About". 10th Special Forces Group. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  32. ^ "Structure". Fort Campbell. United States Army. Archived from the original on 22 March 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2007.
  33. ^ USASOC. 'Special Forces – Shooters and thinkers'. WWW.ARMY.MIL The official homepage of the United States army (26 October 2009). Retrieved on 5 January 2010
  34. ^ "Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha (SFOD A)".
  35. ^ "Qualifications". goarmysof.com. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  36. ^ "Special Forces Officer (18A)". goarmy.com.
  37. ^ U.S. Army Recruiting Command's Warrant Officer Recruiting Information Site Archived 26 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  38. ^ "Special Forces Weapons Sergeant (18B)". goarmy.com.
  39. ^ "Special Forces Engineer Sergeant (18C)". goarmy.com.
  40. ^ "Special Forces Medical Sergeant (18D)". goarmy.com.
  41. ^ "Special Forces Communications Sergeant (18E)". goarmy.com.
  42. ^ "Special Forces Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant (18F)". goarmy.com.
  43. ^ "Special Forces Candidate Jobs (18X)". goarmy.com.
  44. ^ a b "History: Special Forces Green Beret". Special Forces Search Engine. Archived from the original on 10 March 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2007.
  45. ^ Simpson III, Robert B.; Rheault (1983). "Inside the Green Berets: The First Thirty Years, a History of the U.S. Army Special Forces". Presidio Press: 31–32. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  46. ^ Brown, Jerold E., ed. (2001). "Green Beret". Historical Dictionary of the United States Army (illustrated ed.). Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 220. ISBN 9780313293221.
  47. ^ Military staff. "A Short History of the Use of Berets in the U.S. Army". Army Black Beret. Archived from the original on 1 October 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  48. ^ a b c Gamarekian, Barbara (22 November 1988). "Washington Talk: John F. Kennedy, 1917–1963; Hundreds Are in Capital For 25th Remembrance". The New York Times. p. 2.
  49. ^ a b c 1st Special Forces, Distinctive Unit Insignia, United States Army Institute of Heraldry, dated 27 October 2016, last accessed 8 March 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  50. ^ a b U.S. Army Special Forces Group (Airborne), Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, US Army Institute of Heraldry via WebArchive, dated 27 October 2016, last accessed 19 March 2019
  51. ^ Airborne Command Shoulder Sleeve Insignia, U.S. Army Institute of Heraldry via WebArchive, last accessed 19 March 2019
  52. ^ a b Special Forces Tab, The Institute of heraldry, last accessed 24 June 2014
  53. ^ a b U.S. Army Regulation 600–8–22: Personnel-General: Military Awards Archived 22 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Official Department of the Army Publications and Forms, dated 24 June 2013, last accessed 23 June 2014 (page 117-118)
  54. ^ U.S. Army Pamphlet 670-1: Uniform and Insignia, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia Archived 6 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Official Department of the Army Publications and Forms, dated 31 March 2014, last accessed 23 June 2014 (pp. 6, 201, 244–245, 252, 256, 258–260)
  55. ^ "Special Forces - Shooters and thinkers". Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  56. ^ "Green Berets vs Navy SEALs - Difference and Comparison | Diffen". Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  57. ^ Charles H. Briscoe. "The Special Forces Operator 1959". Veritas: Journal of Army Special Operations History (V14/N1), pp. 63–64.
  58. ^ Haney, Eric L. (2002). Inside Delta Force. New York: Delacorte Press. p. 325. ISBN 978-0-385-33603-1.

  • U.S. Army Special Forces Command website
  • U.S. Army Special Operations Command News
  • Special Forces Command website
  • Special Forces Recruiting at the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion website
  • United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School
  • Official website of the Special Forces Association
  • United States Special Operations Command
  • United States Army Special Forces Overview
  • Special Forces Medic talks about coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan
  • Army Enlisted Jobs: Field 18 Special Forces