Special Forces - Organization
US Army Special Forces, sometimes known as 'the Green Berets', are a versatile army unit made up of 'quiet professionals'
The 1st Special Forces Regiment / U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) is a component of United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), which is itself part of United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The 1st Special Forces Regiment is organized into Special Forces Groups (SFG), each focused on a specific geographic area, or Area Of Responsibility (AOR).
Special Forces - Roles
- Unconventional warfare
- Foreign internal defense (FID)
- Special reconnaissance
- Direct action
- Counter-terrorism
- Counter-proliferation
- Information operations
Special Force Training
Special Forces soldiers interdict a vehicle during Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, and Exploitation Techniques Course.
Once assigned to a position within a Special Forces Group, Green Berets continue to train in order to sustain their specialized skills and aquire new skills. Some of the training that is carried out includes:
- Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC)
- Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC)
- Special Operations Terminal Attack Controller Course (SOTACC)
- Static Line Jumpmaster Course
- Advanced Special Operations Techniques (ASOT)
- Multipurspose Canine Handlers Course
- Intermediate Language Training
- Advanced Language Training
- Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course (SFCDQC)
- Special Forces Combat Diving Supervisor Course (CDSC)
- Special Forces Combat Diving Medical Technician (CDMT)
- Military Free-Fall Parachutist Course (MFFPC)
- Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Course (MFFJM)
- Military Free Fall Instructor Course (MFFIC)
- Military Free-Fall Advanced Tactical Infiltration Course (ATIC)
- Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant Course (SFISC)
- Advanced Special Operations Techniques (ASOT) course
- Advanced Special Operations Managers Course (ASOMC)
- Special Forces Technical Surveillance (SFTSC)
- Special Operations Analytics and Intelligence Course (build phase) (SOAIC)
- Special Forces Network Development Course (NDC)
- Unconventional Warfare Operational Design Course (UWODC)
- SOF Digital Targeting Training (STTE)
- SOF Sensitive Site Exploitation, Technical Exploitation Course (SOFSSE)
- SOF Sensitive Site Exploitation Operator Advanced Course (OAC)
- Special Forces Physical Surveillance Course (build phase)
- Special Forces Sniper Course (SFSC)(formerly SOITC)
- Special Forces Advanced Reconaissance Target Analysis Exploitation Techniques Course (SFARTAETC)
- Special Forces Senior Mountaineering Course
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. - 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. Since then, Special Forces have created, trained and operated alongside Iraqi special operations units in the fight against the insurgency.
Carbines / Assault Rifles
- M4a1 - 5.56mm x 45mm carbine
- MK 13 CQBR - 5.56mm x 45mm carbine.
- MK 16 SCAR-L - 5.56mm x 45mm carbine / rifle
- MK 17 SCAR-H - 7.61mm x 51mm carbine / rifle
Machine Guns
- MK46 Mod 0 / MK48 Mod 0 - special ops variants of the M249 SAW machine guns
- M240 - 7.62mmx51mm belt-fed machine gun
- M2 - .50 caliber machine gun tyipcally mounted on vehicles such as GMVs
Handguns
- M9 Beretta - 9mm pistol
Sniper Rifles
- MK 12 Mod 0 - 5.56mmx45mm sniper rifle
- M110 - 7.26x51mm medium sniper rifle
- M24 SWS - bolt action 7.62x51mm sniper rifle
- M107 - long range sniper rifle firing .50BMG rounds
Missile / Rocket Launchers
Source: www.americanspecialops.com
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