US Army Special Forces:

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US Army Special Forces
The Quiet Professionals
Presented by XXXXXXX
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Purpose The purpose of this presentation is
to inform a class of MS I cadets about various
aspects of the Special Forces branch of the
United States Army so that they may be more
educated about the subject and more prepared for
a career in the Military.
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OUTLINE
1.) Historical Development of the U.S. Armys
Special Forces from its origins to today
- Progressive formation of todays special
forces branch, historical involvement in U.S.
military campaigns, changing roles of SF through
history 2.) Special Forces Today - Jobs
performed by Special Forces today, present day
organization of SF 3.) How to become a member of
the Special Forces - Criteria to meet, training
procedure and career progression 4.)
Conclusion - Why is the SF so valuable to the
Army?
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History of the US Special Forces
9 April 1987 Special Forces Authorized by
Secretary of the Army
19 June 1987 General Order 35 officially makes
the makes SF a Combat Arms Branch in the US Army.
This makes SF the newest branch in the army.
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Origins
1st Special Service Force
and
World War II Office of Strategic Services (OSS)
Both dissolved by shortly after war
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June 1952 10th Special Forces Group is formed
under command of Colonel Aaron Bank at Fort
Bragg, NC. Subsequently, the Special Forces begin
to grow in size and strength
Rumsfeld at Fort Bragg, 21 November

• November 1953 half to Bad Tolz, Germany (10th),
  half remains in NC (77th)
• April 1956 14th Special Forces Operational
  Detachment to Hawaii and Far East
• June 1957 Segment of 77th to Okinawa to form
  1st SFG
• June 1960 1st Special Forces under the Combat
  Arms Regimental System to be head regiment
  of all SF groups

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President John F. Kennedy authorizes the Green
Beret as official Special Forces head gear.
Symbol of courage, a badge of distinction.
Kennedy is one of SFs largest supporters "to
infiltrate by land, sea or air, deep into
enemy-occupied territory and organize the
resistance/guerrilla potential to conduct Special
Forces operations, with emphasis on guerrilla
warfare. - officially main goal "symbolic of
one of the highest levels of courage and
achievement of the United States military" -
Kennedy
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Green Beret in Vietnam
1962 1964 5th SFG moves into Vietnam Tasks
include counterinsurgency, strike operations,
civic action programs, training tribes to fight
VC and North Vietnamese troops Same period SF in
Latin America, Laos and Liberia 3rd, 6th, 8th SFG
created to meet increasing demands Close of
Vietnam troop reductions begin 3rd, 6th, 8th and
1st SFGs all deactivated by 1974 - 70 cutback
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• Since Vietnam
• SPARTAN Special Proficiency at Rugged Training
  and Nation-Building
• Many Reforms Under President Reagan
• 1983 SF NCOs receive separate career management
  fields
• 1983 Special Forces Warrant Officer Program
• 1983 SF recognized as career field for
  commissioned officers
• 1984 1st SFG reactivated
• 1980s Special Forces across the Globe
• Help US-allied countries with self defense,
  construction, medical care
• 1989 Operation Just Cause in Panama
  surveillance and blocking tactics
• Behind-the-Lines Missions in Iraq during Gulf
  War

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Army Special Forces Today
Continuing their work across the globe.
In Afghanistan

• Intercept Al Qaeda and Taliban Forces
• Quick strike operations
• Working with Anti-Taliban groups

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Special Forces Organization
- 16 April 1987 U.S. Special Operations Command
(USSOCOM)

• December 1989 U.S. Army Special Operations
  Command (USASOC)
• USASOC 3 Sub-groups
• U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne)
  (USASFC(A))
• U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychology
  Operations Command (Airborne) (USACAPOC(A))
• U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center
  and School
• Also 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Benning, GA
  and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
  (Airborne) in Fort, Campbell, KY report directly
  to USASOC

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• Steps toward becoming a Green Beret
• Open to males only
• Officers may request transfer to SF in the same
  year that they are to be considered for promotion
  to Captain. (Usually 3rd or 4th year)

• Must meet specified requirements and then be
  screened by an annual board and nominated to
  attend the Special Forces Assessment and
  Selection Program (SFAS) in Camp Mackall, NC
• If officer is selected in SFAS and graduates
  OAC, he will attend the Special Forces Detachment
  Officer Qualification Course (SFDOQC) at Fort
  Bragg, NC.
• - 2 phases 1st phase 18 weeks covering common
  skills training, land navigation and
  survival, evasion, resistance and escape.
• 2nd phase Six weeks, final qualification
  with both common skills and specialty
  training

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Detachment Organization The A-Team
Standard SF Company is composed of 6 A-teams
(ODA) and 1 B-team (ODB)

• ODB is headquarters
• A-teams are independent operational units
• 12 SF soldiers 2 officers and 10 sergeants
• Cross-trained and multi-lingual

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• In Conclusion
• Special Forces are an invaluable asset to the
  United States Army
• Provide needed unconventional warfare
  capabilities, economy of force, can be used to
  support conventional forces and expand the range
  of available strategic options
• Also needed in peace time for various essential
  tasks
• - Being used more and more