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With the Global War on Terror in its fifteenth year, a great deal of emphasis has been placed on special operations forces, often forgetting several other critical and tradition-laden military units. Sure, Navy SEALs are amazing and you will see more of them in this article, but a great deal of brave individuals who have fought and died for this great country never served in such elite units.
In fact, many of our nation’s heroes served in traditional infantry elements long before our nation’s elite units even existed.
Here is a list of 19 military units and specialties that the average American should know – from conventional to Tier One Special Mission Units (SMU). Please note that this list is a starter kit to your knowledge and certainly not comprehensive.
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CONVENTIONAL UNITS
Several conventional US military units have storied traditions and have made an extraordinary impact on our way of life as we know it.
Pictured above is the 173d Infantry Brigade. This storied element saw action in World War I, but is perhaps best known for its forward leaning actions during the Vietnam War. The 173rd was the first major US ground component deployed in Vietnam. They served there from 1965 to 1971, where they lost nearly 1,800 soldiers.
Members of the Brigade received over 7,700 decorations, including more than 6,000 Purple Hearts.
Here is our list of additional conventional units to know. Don’t worry the special operations forces, including some that you do not know, are coming…
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US Army 10th Mountain Division
The pride of Fort Drum in New York. The 10th Mountain Division is a light-infantry unit that has been used a great deal in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but they got their start long before the Global War on Terror.
The unit was originally formed in 1918 as a regular Army unit, but became a light alpine division in 1943 with their primary purpose being experts in mountain warfare. They were the only unit of its size to receive alpine training. Subsequently, the unit was used to fight in the hills and mountains of Italy during WWII and has maintained their mountain status since.
We have served along some of these brave young soldiers, and though the division has been moved, deactivated and reactivated time and time again, we are glad they appear here to stay at Fort Drum.
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US Army 101st Airborne Division, “Screaming Eagles”
The storied 101st Airborne Division is an elite light-infantry unit utilized to conduct airborne assaults. The 101st has seen action in conflicts from D-Day to the Battle for Hamburger Hill to the current the Global War on Terror, where they have been extremely active. The unit insignia is among the most recognizable patches in the world.
The 101st Airborne is capable, at a moment’s notice, to plan, coordinate, and execute brigade-size air assault operations capable of seizing key terrain in support of operational objectives, and is capable of working in austere environments with limited or degraded infrastructure.
However, not all is well with this group at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. Many are questioning the ability of the Division to conduct major operations after recent budget cuts removed one of the nation’s premier air assault forces of their helicopters.
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US Army 1st Cavalry Division
Among the most decorated Divisions in the military, the 1st Cavalry Division – another element with a very familiar and well recognized insignia – was formed in 1921.
The Division is based at Fort Hood, Texas and has fought in every war or conflict since WWII, including Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq and Afghanistan and in Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
The Division has also been popular in a number of Hollywood films. Perhaps the most popular was in that of Platoon. Willem Dafoe’s character Elias wears the 1st Cavalry Division’s unit insignia as his combat patch. This is perhaps no coincidence as Director Oliver Stone served in the 1st Cavalry Division himself, there is your free trivia question of the day.
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US Army 82nd Airborne Division
Specializing in parachute operations, the 82nd Airborne Division, which calls Fort Bragg home, is considered by many to be the most highly trained infantry division. The unit has served our nation proudly since WWI.
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SOCOM: The United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is critical to our nation’s defense and counterterrorism apparatus. SOCOM houses a great many of the units that are portrayed in television and films. Still, its important to understand in the world of special operations that two paths exist, white SOF and Black SOF (or Tier One units). White SOF is your run of the mill bad-ass warriors such as Navy SEALs and Special Forces. Black SOF takes the term ‘elite’ to a whole new level…we will get to that later. For now, lets start with our list of SOCOM’s key elements.
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US Army Special Forces aka ‘Green Berets’: Need to conduct irregular warfare? Direct action? Counterterrorism? How about a host of other sensitive missions? Then an SF unit, or Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) is likely high on your rolodex….yes I still have a rolodex. These units/ODAs are made up of 12 elite operators with a myriad of specialties that work congruently to get the job done. Oh and no…not all special operations units are ‘special forces’ as the media often calls them. Only Special Forces are ‘special forces’….please stop making that mistake. The generic term for SpecOps units is special operations forces or SOF.
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US Navy SEALs: This well known unit often steals the spotlight, and rightly so. Navy SEALs (Sea, Air and Land) have grown a great deal over the years and adapted to the US’ land based wars that have dominated the Global War on Terror. Recognized as one of the most arduous and hellish training pipelines in the world, B.U.D.S (Basic Underwater Demolition School) carves out the Navy’s best operators on the White SOF side of the house.
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US Army Rangers: The 75th Ranger Regiment is a light-infantry special operations unit based at Fort Benning, GA. Known as an elite raid force, Rangers are capable of conducting a great multitude of missions from airfield seizure to direct action and counterterrorism. Rangers often work with other elite military units to get the job done. The Ranger Regiment is a huge pipeline for tier one units, such as the Combat Applications Group (better known as Delta Force) who are always looking for vetted, battle hardened and extremely well trained operators.
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US Navy Explosive Ordnance Division (EOD): Not a job everyday Americans aspire to do on a daily basis, Navy EOD sailors work in conjunction with other special operations units to render safe all types of ordnance – whether improvised, biological, chemical or nuclear…tick tock…tick tock. Among their many duties…Navy EOD frequently works with the US Secret Service and other civilian law enforcement organizations.
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US Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance / Force Recon: Because the USMC is revered in its own right, and because Navy Seal and Special Forces often take the spotlight, Force Recon is often not talked about – something in a community of silent warriors that I am sure they appreciate. Known for their ability to perform deep reconnaissance and direct action missions, Force Recon has been a stalwart unit in the SOF community. A great deal of the above missions are now performed by Marine Special Operations Teams (MSOTs) under the newly formed MARSOC (Marine Special Operations Command).
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US Air Force Pararescuemen/ PJs: “So that others may live.” When the proverbial shit hits the fan, service members around the globe know this highly elite group of special operations warriors will be on their way to save the day. PJs insert into the most hostile environments to rescue downed aircrews as well as provide highly specialized trauma care to ensure our brave men and women are brought back to base.
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US Air Force Combat Controllers / CCTs: Sure, seizing that airfield as a part of a new military campaign sounds critical to sustained operations, but it won’t be easy without these guys. CCTs are Special Tactics Operators that insert into hostile territory and establish communications for air support, command and control and serve as air traffic controllers when the good guys come rolling in. CCTs often attach to other SOF units to provide their critical skills and are among the most highly respected operators in the SOF community.
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US Army PSYOPS (Psychological Operations): Sure, most soldiers serving in SOCOM’s US Army PSYOPS are not door kickers, but that does not mean that they do not fulfill a vital role. PSYOPS are used both overtly and covertly in order to influence populations and create dissent among our enemies. While most operators prefer to put two bullets in the heart and one in the mind of the enemy, PSYOPS tries to win the hearts and minds with strategic messages.
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Joint Special Operations Command/ JSOC: And now for the units everyone adores the most, including the President of the United States. JSOC serves as a specially funded command with the most elite units, Special Mission Units (SMU), which are at the President’s disposal for the most difficult and sensitive operations. These SMUs are Tier One Units or Black SOF. Not only are they the most difficult units to be accepted in, they are also shrouded in the most secrecy. In order to protect our oaths and former colleagues, we will only speak in general terms and discuss what is readily available on the internet, but at least you will have your verbiage right with this special breed of pipe-hitters.
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US Navy Special Warfare Developmental Group (NSWDG) / DEVGRU / Seal Team Six: Ever since the clandestine raid on Usama Bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan, Seal Team Six, or DEVGRU as they are referred to in the community, have been in the limelight. While the details of the unit are classified, suffice to say if these guys come knocking on your door it is going to be a bad day. Accepting only the best US Navy operators, Seal Team Six trains its operators to another level of elite bad-assery. Those on the wrong end of their missions usually wind up taking an unwanted vacation or a long dirt nap. Either way, when a tough problem faces our nation, Seal Team Six is a welcome tool to have in the bag.
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US Army 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) / Combat Applications Group / Delta Force or “The Unit”: Its hard to find someone that has not heard of Delta Force, and trust me – the bad guys do not want to say, hear or even think about this group of warriors. Plucked from the Army’s elite units, such as Rangers and SF, Delta Force is one of the President’s best tools in the War on Terror, as well as other less known conflicts that have popped up around the world. Delta is especially talented when it comes to hostage rescue, but don’t think that’s all they do. With the GWOT being a massive hunting operation for extremist leaders, Delta is quite adept at utilizing intelligence to plan and execute daring raids on the worst of the worst. Plus, Chuck Norris played a Delta operator in the ‘Delta Force’ movie series and we all know anything Chuck touches is pure gold.
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US Army Ranger Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC): While the Ranger regiment remains a white SOF element under SOCOM, certain operators are plucked and used in the JSOC kingdom. The Ranger Recon Company is one such example and is a special breed of operators that are thought to be among the US military’s best special reconnaissance units.
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Air Force 24th Special Tactics Squadron: The most elite Air Force operators make up the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, which is housed at Pope Field, adjacent to Fort Bragg, and serves as an integral part of the JSOC mission. As stated before, though less talked about, Air Force operators are welcomed by most units on almost any mission.
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US Army 160th Special Operations Aviations Regiment (SOAR) / Night Stalkers: You can’t fast rope onto a building and kill bad guys if you don’t have a ride. Pilots in the 160th are tasked with flying the most sensitive missions, often on short notice, and ensure that our elite warriors ingress and egress safely. They also perform reconnaissance and other vital missions.
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US Army Intelligence Support Activity: Unfortunately we cannot and will not tell you much about this group. The only reason we included them on our list is because this unit has become more prominent on the web since the GWOT kicked off. Suffice to say they play a critical role in our national security apparatus and whether you know it or not… you are glad they are around. Trust me.
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BONUS: CIA Ground Branch (Paramilitary Officers): CIA’s covert paramilitary arm, Ground Branch, is NOT a part of any of the above military commands, however, they play a vital role in our national security – you just didn’t know it. Again, there is little we will say in the case of GB, but they are tremendous operators that take the fight to the enemy on a daily basis.
