7th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

Lo Que Sea - Cuando Sea - Donde Sea

Mission and Area of Responsibility

Area of Responsibility:
The 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes the land mass of Latin America south of Mexico; the waters adjacent to Central America and South America; the Caribbean Sea, its 13 island nations, European and U.S. territories; the Gulf of Mexico; and a portion of the Atlantic Ocean. It encompasses 32 countries (19 in Central and South America and 13 in the Caribbean) and covers about 15.6 million square miles. The region represents about one-sixth of the landmass of the world assigned to regional unified commands. The 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) also supports the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Special Forces Mission:

Organize, equip, train, validate and prepare forces for deployment to conduct worldwide special operations, across the range of military operations, in support of regional combatant commanders, American ambassadors, and other agencies as directed.

Mission and Area of Responsibility

Special Forces Missions

Green Berets have long employed the use of Unconventional Warfare to train and lead forces in enemyheld or controlled territory. Geen Berets are the only US Military unit trained to conduct UW. Unlike Direct Action, which is generally a quick campaign, UW can last for months or even years. UW missions give the U.S. Army time to enter a country covertly and build relationships with local militia or natives, who are taught a variety of tactics including subversion, sabotage, intelligence collection and unconventional assisted recovery, which can be employed against the enemy. By using UW training, the Army can possibly prevent larger conventional attacks. Because of the deep roots set up by UW missions, other Special Forces tactics, like Direct Action or Special Reconnaissance, can be launched quickly and seamlessly.

Unconventional Warfare (UW):

Foreign Internal Defense (FID):

Foreign Internal Defense is training and advising the military forces of a friendly nation to help themselves prevent or defeat insurgency. Green Berets will almost always conduct their combat missions alongside the indigenous or local forces that they have trained. FID campaigns are employed during times of peace to help nations prepare for unwanted or unwarranted attacks by enemies. Green Berets organize, assist and train the military and national defense forces of foreign nations. Green Berets have been used over time to assist nations, especially during the Cold War, to stop Communist advancement. Recently, however, Green Berets have trained foreign governments to deal with drug war- lords and traffickers as well as the growing threat of terrorist groups within their borders.

Special Forces Missions

Special Reconnaissance:
Going behind Enemy Lines without detection is the name of the game for Special Reconnaissance. Often times, before the U.S. Army makes a strategic strike against an adversary, Green Berets are sent behind enemy lines to uncover information about the enemy. These intelligence- gathering activities monitor as much about the enemys movement and operations as possible and are considered by many to be the most important Green Beret mission. Special Reconnaissance missions generally take place before any movement by our military. Without that vital information, U.S. Army Soldiers might be caught off guard and unprepared when entering enemy territory.

Direct Action:

Direct Action missions are short duration strikes that are used when Green Berets need to seize, capture, recover or destroy enemy weapons and information or recover designated personnel or material. In many instances, Green Berets are in and out before the enemy has time to know what hit them. Many of these actions are quick-strike missions, usually involving a raid or ambush on an enemy camp. Often, Green Berets use Direct Action to remove high level enemy leaders or other important target.

HALO & SCUBA

High Altitude Low Opening (HALO)
HALO describes a method of delivering personnel, equipment and supplies from an aircraft at high altitude via free-fall parachute insertion. HALO is also known as Military Free Fall (MFF). In the HALO technique the parachutist opens his parachute at a low altitude after free-falling for a period of time. In a typical HALO insertion the Soldiers are dispatched from an altitude between 10,000 and 25,000 feet. This high altitude and quiet delivery system allows for Soldiers to be dropped far behind enemy lines with minimum chance of detection. Special Forces First used HALO in Vietnam to support air infiltration to conduct special reconnaissance in area controlled by enemy forces. MFF school is a four week course taught at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Yuma Proving Grounds, Arizona.

Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA)

Scuba teams specialize in underwater and on boat methods of infiltration. The SCUBA Soldiers of Special Forces give an added resource for any mission that may need to incorporate water borne capabilities. SCUBA Soldiers can conduct reconnaissance, underwater recovery of equipment, assault ships and clear water obstacles for future missions. Soldiers must complete rigorous training and be extremely confident in themselves and their equipment before being able to be assigned to a SCUBA team. To become SCUBA qualified the SF Soldier must attend the Combat Divers Qualification Course (CDQC), a six week course at Key West, Fl.

Organizational Structure

Unit Breakdown
The 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Structure:
The 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is commanded by a Colonel, who is assisted by a Group Command Sergeant Major. The group is comprised of five battalions, four Special Forces Battalions and one Group Support Battalion. The Group Support Battalion has assets to support the Group headquarters and below with additional logistical, intelligence, medical, and signal support Soldiers.

The Battalion:

The Special Forces Battalion is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel, who is assisted by a Battalion Command Sergeant Major. The Battalion has four companies. Among these companies are three Special Forces Companies (A Co., B Co., and C Co.) and one support company composed of support Soldiers which include communications, mechanics, riggers, cooks, intelligence, personnel services, chaplain, legal and more.

The Company:

A Special Forces company is commanded by a Major, who is assisted by a Company Sergeant Major. The company has six Operational Detachment Alphas. Among these are ODAs specializing in Military Free Fall, combat diving, and mountain operations. In addition to the six ODAs, the company headquarters is known as an Operational Detachment Bravo (ODB), or B-Team. The B-Team is composed of 11-13 Soldiers and supports the A-Teams with logistical, communications, and intelligence support.

Unit Breakdown
The Operational Detachment Alpha:
The basic Special Forces organization building block is the 12 man team called the Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) also known as the A-Team. Each man on the ODA has a specific specialty. The ODA is led by a Captain, with a Warrant Officer as second in command. The Senior NCO on the detachment is the Team Sergeant, who is usually a Master Sergeant. The rest of the team consists of one Operations and Intelligence Sergeant, two Weapons Sergeants, two Engineer Sergeants, two Medical Sergeants, and two Communications Sergeants. With two each o fthe specialty sergeants, a 12 man team can split into two six-man elements if needed. Special Forces Weapons Sergeants, called 18Bs, are the weapons specialists. Theyre capable of operating and maintaining a wide variety of U.S., Allied and other foreign weaponry. 18B tasks include maintaining proficiency with all foreign highdensity light and heavy weapons; selecting weapons placements and sites; assigning targets and areas of fire.

Unit Breakdown
Special Forces Engineering Sergeants, called 18Cs, are specialists across a wide range of engineering disciplines. 18C tasks include working in demolitions, explosives, land and water navigation duties, field fortification, bridging, rigging, reconnaissance and sabotage operations. Special Forces Medical Sergeants, called 18Ds, are considered to be the finest first-response/ trauma medical technicians in the world. Though theyre primarily trained with an emphasis on trauma medicine, they also have working knowledge of dentistry, veterinary care, public sanitation, water quality and optometry. Special Forces Communications Sergeants, called 18Es, operate every kind of communications gear out there, from encrypted satellite communications systems to old-style, high-frequency Morse Code systems. They also have serious computer/ networking skills.

Support Soldiers:

No unit would be able to function without a host of support from non-combat arms Soldiers. These Soldiers come from a variety of specialties and provide everything from beans to bullets in order to maintain the Green Beret in the field. These Soldiers are usually assigned

Unit Breakdown
to the support Co. or HHC and provide the following support: The S1 section, or the personnel section, is responsible for all the administrative actions and processing of all personnel, finance, and awards actions. The S2 section, or Intelligence section, is responsible for all intelligence briefings and gathering of intelligence. The S3 section, or Operations, conducts all planning, coordination and training. The S4 section, or Logistics, handles all financial budgeting, transportation planning and allocation of funds. The S6 section, or Communications and Electronics, are responsible for all communications systems, networks and security of those networks. The Judge Advocate General (JAG) Office is the Groups legal counsel. They handle all legal matters such as, but not limited to, power of attorneys and wills. The Chaplains are the spiritual counselor for the Soldiers and their families. They provide worship service and family counseling among many other social duties. The Motor pool or Maintenance Section ensures that all the vehicles, generators and any other mechanical device is fully serviceable and ready for use. The Property Book Officer (PBO) ensures that all equipment from battalion level to the team level is properly accounted for.

Unit Breakdown
The Public Affairs Office (PAO) is responsible for preparing information relative to unit participation activities that affect the community. They field media queries and interact with news agencies. Each section is headed by a staff officer who coordinates the planning and training of each section to ensure that the battalions operations continue. Without the hard work and dedication of these Soldiers and the services they provide, the group would not be able to complete its mission.

The Family Business

The Family Business is a term used in the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) to describe the bond between the Soldiers, their Families and the community. They are one big family, responsible for and to each other as a family. The unit cannot function without this bond. The Soldiers need the support of their Families and the community when they are on training missions or deployed. The Families need the support of the community when their Soldiers are away. The community needs the Soldiers and their Families to be active in the community as they are a part of that community. Without the Family Business, the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) cannot accomplish their mission.

Uniforms
Special Forces Distinctive Unit Insignia
On a wreath of the colors (argent and sable), two arrows saltirewise argent. The crest is the crossed arrow collar (branch) insignia of the First Special Service Force (a joint World War II American-Canadian commando unit organized in 1942), changed from gold to silver for harmony with the shield and to make a difference from collar insignia. The motto more fully translated means To Free the Oppressed.

Description:

A silver colored 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 a silver dagger with black handle point up; all over and between a black motto scroll arcing to base and inscribed DE OPPRESSO LIBER in silver letters.

Symbolism:

The crest is the crossed arrow collar insignia (insignia of branch) of the First Special Force, World War II. The motto is translated as To Free the Oppressed.

Background:

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.

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Shoulder Sleeve Insignia
Designed by Captain John W. Frye of the Original 10th Special Forces Group that had forward deployed to Bad Tolz.

Background:

The shoulder sleeve insignia was originally approved on 22 August 1955. It was amended to add an airborne tab on 20 November 1958.

Description:

On a teal blue arrowhead 3 1/8 inches (7.94cm) in height and 2 inches (5.08cm) in width, point up, a yellow dagger, its blade surmounted by three yellow lightning flashes, bendwise in pale, all inset 1/8 inch (.32cm) from the edge of the arrowhead. On a tab placed 3/16 (.48cm) inch above the insignia, the word AIRBORNE in yellow letters on a black background. Teal Blue Arrow Arrow: Stealth and Field Crafts of the Indian Scouts Teal Blue: US Army Branch Assigned 3 1/8 inches (7.94cm) in height and 2 inches (5.08cm) in width Symbolism: The arrowhead alludes to the American Indians basic skills in which Special Forces personnel are trained to a high degree.

The Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

Fighting Knife Adapted from the Unit Knife of the First Special Service Force. Uniquely designed V 42 Fighting Knife by Case for the First Special Service Force. Symbolism: The dagger represents the unconventional nature of Special Forces operations. Description: A yellow dagger, its blade surmounted by three yellow lightning flashes, bendwise in pale, all inset 1/8 inch (.32cm) from the edge of the arrowhead. Three Lightning Bolts Methods of Infiltration: Land Sea Air Descriptions: Three yellow lightning flashes, bendwise in pale, all inset 1/8 inch (.32cm) from the edge of the arrowhead. Symbolism: The three lightning flashes, their ability to strike rapidly.

Unit History
History of the 77th Special Forces Group Anything, Any Time, Any Place, Any How Activated 16 September 1953 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina Formed with personnel not forward based with 10th Special Forces Group to Bad Tolz, Germany. The first Commander was LTC Jack T. Shannon The first Executive Officer was Lt Frank J. Dallas Consolidated 20 May 1960 with 7th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, North Carolina When the 10th Special Forces Group departed for its overseas assignment at Bad Tolz, Germany, the men who were not required to go remained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and formed the 77th SF Group. The commander was LTC Jack T. Shannon. The executive officer was Lieutenant Frank J. Dallas and the motto was Anything, Any Time, Any Place, Any How. In 1956, Captain John W. Frye designed the arrowshaped patch which is still worn by the Green Berets. The blue patch, featuring an upturned knife and three jagged lightning bolts, was approved by the Department of the Army and was pictured in the Army Times newspaper. The knife was issued during World War II to the First Special Service Force, a predecessor unit, and the lightning bolts represent Special Forces infiltration by air, by land and by water. The next commander was Colonel Edson Duncan Raff, a colorful combat veteran whose service during World War

Unit History
II was highly praised by General Eisenhower. The Colonel encouraged the wearing of the beret, but it was not given official sanction until five years later. The green beret received the approval of President John F. Kennedy after his visit to the Special Warfare Center (a title adopted in 1956) on 12 October 1961. The Special Forces troopers, led by General William P. Yarborough, wore berets to greet their commander-in-chief, and the nine-year controversy over the headgear came to an end. The 77th Group carried out a rigorous training and sports program. The men began a post judo club which by 1955 had 125 members. Fifty Green Berets began a club called the ParaDivers. Typical of the membership in the 77th was a private from Poland, a corporal from Shanghai and a private from Finland. A large number of displaced Europeans joined the U.S. Army under the Lodge Act, and added an enviable foreign language capability to the group. Colonel Gustav J. Gillert, Jr., became the group adjutant when Lt. Dallas went overseas with the 10th SF Group. Maj. General F.W. Farrell, 82nd Airborne Division commander, once told a Special Forces class, Conventional warfare is outmoded, and we must prepare ourselves for the unconventional in any future conflict. His words were similar to the views held by the famed General Orde C. Wingate, another advocate for special warfare. The 77th was not destined to move overseas as a unit. The men remained headquartered at the Special Warfare Center, and in June 1960 became members of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). History of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) The 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was first constituted as the 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Service Force on July 9, 1942 at Camp William Harrison, Montana. This specialized Canadian-United States unit was organized and trained to conduct commando raids against Nazi Germanys fledging nuclear weapons capability in the

Unit History
Scandinavian region of occupied Europe. However, the unit was diverted to the campaign in the Aleutian Islands, where they were confronted by not only Japanese, but the brutal arctic climate. Upon successful culmination of the Aleutian Campaign the Special Service Force was transferred to the European theater where they fought with distinction in both southern France and Italy, where they earned the nickname of The Devils Brigade. The Special Service Force was disbanded in France in 1945. It was reactivated on 25 September 1953 at Fort Bragg as the 77th Special Forces. The 77th Special Forces was redesignated as the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) on 20 May, 1960. In 2005, The Department of Defense recommended in its Base Re-alignment and Closure (BRAC) Recommendations that the 7th SFG relocate to Eglin AFB, FL. In 1960 the Group was recognized and designated as the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces. The Group colors carry six combat streamers from World War II and one from Panama. In addition, the 3rd Battalion is entitled to the Army Superior Unit Award Streamer, embroidered LATIN AMERICA 1985-1986. Although the 7th Special Forces Group is not the oldest Special Forces Group on the active roles, it is referred to as the building block from which Special Forces expanded during the term of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Throughout the early 1960s the request for Mobile Training Teams far exceeded the US military capability, therefore the 7th Special Forces Group was called upon to assist in the organization and activation of other similar units. The 7th Special Forces

Unit History
Group provided the cadre for the 3rd and the 6th Special Forces Groups which were oriented on the Middle East and Africa. In 1961, the 7th Special Forces Group was given the mission of advising the South Vietnamese Army. The 7th Special Forces Group was also actively involved in Laos and Thailand. The first Medal of Honor earned in the Republic of South Vietnam was awarded to Captain Roger Donlon, a member of the 7th Special Forces Group. At the same time Special Forces were expanding into Latin America. In May 1962, the advance party from Company D, 7th Special Forces Group departed for Fort Gulick, Panama Canal Zone, to establish what was later designated the 8th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. The 8th Special Forces Group was deactivated in 1972 and the unit redesignated as the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group. When President Reagan took office in 1980, communism was spreading rapidly throughout Latin America. Nicaragua was controlled by a Communist regime, and with the support of Cuba, they were working hard to export their revolution to El Salvador and Honduras. The 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group drafted the initial plan for US Military trainers in El Salvador that was accepted by SOUTHCOM and the Reagan Administration.

Unit History
Throughout the decade of the 80s, soldiers from the 7th Special Forces Group played a critical role in helping the Salvadoran military grow form a constabulary force of 12,000 to a counterinsurgency force of 55,000 men under arms. The 7th Special Forces Group also played a very important role in preparing the Honduran Military to resist and defeat an invasion from Nicaragua. The extensive 7th Special Forces Group operations throughout Honduras in the 80s not only prepared them for the threatened invasion, but also assisted the Honduran forces in conducting their own counter insurgency operations and ultimately defeating the Honduran communist-supported insurgency. One key to the success in El Salvador and Honduras was 7th SFGs ability to professionalize their NCO Corps. During the last half of the 80s, the 7th Special Forces Group became involved in counter narcotics operations in the Andean Ridge countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. The purpose was not only to reduce the flow of drugs in the United States, but also to help control and reduce the violence that has resulted from the flow of illegal and uncontrolled dollars into South America. From December 19, 1989 to January 31, 1990, elements of the 7th Special Forces Group participated in Operation Just Cause to restore democracy to Panama. On D-Day and over the next ten days the 7th Special Forces Group conducted many reconnaissance and Direct Action missions in support of the operation and the Ma Bell Take downs of five Panamanian cartels located in rural areas throughout the country.

Unit History
Over the next six months, both 2nd and 3rd Battalions played key roles in Operation Promote Liberty, which transformed Panama from a military dictatorship supported by a corrupt military, into a legitimate democratic government, protected by a police force. The accomplishments of the Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA)s setting up provincial local governments are considered to be one of the greatest Foreign Internal Defense (FID)/Information Operations (IO) successes in the history of Special Operations. During the late 1990s, 7 SFG (A) also deployed to Colombia and trained three Counter Narcotics Battalions and assisted in the establishment of a Brigade Headquarters. These were the first units of their kind in Colombia and each is known as Batalln Anti Narcoticos or BRACNA. These elements continue to be very successful against the narcotics industry which thrived in Colombia prior to their inception. Since 7th SFG (A) detachments involvement in the counterdrug training, the FARC numbers and influence within Colombia has diminished greatly. From 2003 to 2008, 7th SFG (A) worked tirelessly to find and rescue three US civilians captured by the FARC when the plane they were traveling on crashed in the jungles of Colombia. For over half a decade, 7th SFG (A) kept ODAs ready to launch a rescue on a moments notice. In 2008, they were rescued during Operation Willing Spirit. 7th SFG (A) detachments continue to rotate among various locations within Colombia, training various units in counter-guerrilla and counternarcotics roles. 7th SFG (A) continues to be the driving force in partner nation training with all Special Forces units and Police units within Colombia.

Unit History
Since early 2002, the 7th SFG has deployed almost nonstop in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Currently, 7th SFG along with the 3rd Special Forces Group are the two SFGs responsible for the command and control of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A) in Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan. 7th SFG (A) has conducted thousands of joint US/Afghani raids, patrols, and civil missions over the past eight years. The soldiers of 7th SFG (A) are among some of the highest decorated in the Global War on Terror. MSG Brendan OConner of ODA 765 (7235) was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his valorous actions under direct enemy fire during OEF VIII. 7th SFG (A) continues to take the initiative in support of the OEF in Afghanistan. The Group has also deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom numerous times. From 2004 to 2008, ODAs 741, 751, 763, and 775 were the among the teams that rotated through conducting the Special Forces Liaison Element (SFLE) mission with the Cuscatlan Battalion from the El Salvadorian Army. These missions included everything from Civil Military operations to Direct Action missions. In addition, C/3/7 conducted several rotations as the Combat Reaction Element

(CRE) within multiple areas of operation in Iraq. 7th SFG (A) has also sent several Officers and NCOs to various countries throughout the CENTCOM AOR to support the GWOT. Currently, 7th SFG (A) is actively working in the Caribbean and Central America as part of the OEF-CCA campaign, is still engaged in South America, and is still conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. 7th SFG (A) has recently been called on for emergency response to the earthquake in Haiti. 7th SFG (A) continues to maintain the highest standard of excellence in every area throughout the world. 7th SFG(A) continues to maintain the highest standard of excellence throughout the world. Over the past 50 years, from Panama to Afghanistan, recovery operations to combat missions, training indigenous forces to exercising ingenuity, 7th SFG(A) continually proves Anything, Anytime, Anyplace.