5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

The 5th Special Forces Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), part of the Colorado Army National Guard, is located just northeast of Denver in Watkins. The unit had over 400 personnel that trained in special operations. Special Forces participated in foreign intelligence defense, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, direct action and counterterrorism.

As of 2010, the Battalion consisted of a Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 3 Special Forces companies, and a battalion support company. B Company and the support Company, D Company, were also part of the Colorado Army National Guard. A Company, at Los Alamitos, California, was part of the California Army National Guard. C Company was part of the Texas Army National Guard.

About 100 Colorado Army National Guard soldiers were called to duty in early December 2001. Members of the B/5-19th Special Forces's A-Teams reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Colorado Guard unit would be under the direction of the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), which was aligned with the US Central and Pacific commands.

In March 2008, Company C, previously part of the Colorado Army National Guard, stationed in Fort Collins, Colorado, was reactivated in a ceremony in Austin, Texas as an element of the Texas Army National Guard. The unit remained part of the 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), headquarters outside of Denver, Colorado, part of the Colorado Army National Guard.