1st Special Forces Operational Detachment (Airborne)
DELTA
The U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1stSFOD-D) is the U.S. Army's special-operations unit organized for the conduct of missions requiring a rapid response with surgical application of a variety of skills. Delta plans and conducts a broad range of special operations across the operational continuum. Delta is organized for the conduct of missions requiring rapid response with surgical applications of a wide variety of unique skills,while maintaining the lowest possible profile of U.S. involvement.
Delta's soldiers are carefully selected and specially trained. Delta conducts worldwide recruitment twice a year prior to its fall and spring assessment-and-selection courses. Assignment to 1st SFOD-D involves an extensive prescreening process,successful completion of a 3 to 4 week mentally and physically demanding Assessment and Selection Course, and a 6 month operator Training Course. Upon successful completion of these courses officers are assigned to anoperational position within the unit.
The Delta Force was secretly created in October 1977 by US Army colonel Charles Beckwith in direct response to numerous, well-publicized terrorist incidents that occurred in the 1970s. From its beginnings, Delta was heavily influenced by the British Special Air Service. Delta Force was designed as an overseas counter-terrorist unit and specializes in hostage rescue, barricade operations and reconnaissance. Delta Force is comprised of volunteers mainly from the 82nd Airborne, Special Force Green Berets and the Rangers. Delta is one of two principal US government units tasked with counterterrorist operations outside the United States (the other being Naval Special Warfare Development Group).
Delta is reportedly organized into three operating squadrons (A, B, and C) which are subdivided into small groups known as troops. It is repoted that, as with the SAS, each troop specializes in HALO, SCUBA, or other operational skills. Delta also maintains support units which handle selection and training, logistics, finance, and the unit's medical requirements.
Delta units deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 to serve as bodyguards for senior US officers and, later, as part of a massive effort to locate and destroy mobile SCUD launchers in Iraq's northern deserts. In 1993, as part of Task Force Ranger, Delta took part in operations to apprehend warlord Mohamad Farah Aidid in Mogadishu, Somalia. A small advance team was sent to Lima, Peru immediately following the takeover of the Japanese Ambassador's residence in January 1997 along with six members of the British SAS.
