Delta Force

This article is about the special operations force. For other uses, see Delta Force (disambiguation).

1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (Airborne)
USASOC's shoulder sleeve insignia worn by Delta operators, depicting the historical Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife inside the outline of an arrowhead
Founded19 November 1977; 47 years ago (1977-11-19)
Country United States
Branch United States Army
TypeSpecial mission unit
RoleSpecial operations
Counterterrorism
SizeClassified[1]
see below
Part ofJoint Special Operations Command
U.S. Army Special Operations Command
HeadquartersFort Liberty, North Carolina, U.S.
Nickname(s)"The Unit", "D'Boys"[2]
Engagements
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Valorous Unit Award
Commanders
Current
commander		Classified
Notable
commanders		Charles Alvin Beckwith
William F. Garrison
William G. Boykin
Peter J. Schoomaker
Eldon A. Bargewell
Gary L. Harrell
Bennet S. Sacolick
Austin S. Miller
Mark J. O'Neil
Christopher T. Donahue
Insignia
USASOC Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (1st SFOD-D), also known as Delta Force, Combat Applications Group (CAG), or within Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) as Task Force Green,[2] is a special operations force of the United States Army under the operational control of JSOC. The unit's missions primarily involve counterterrorism, hostage rescue, direct action, and special reconnaissance, often against high-value targets.

Delta Force, along with the Intelligence Support Activity, and its Navy and Air Force counterparts, DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6) and the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, are the U.S. military's tier one special mission units that are tasked with performing the most complex, covert, and dangerous missions directed by the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense.[9][10]

Most Delta Force operators and combat support members are selected from the Army Special Operations Command's 75th Ranger Regiment and U.S. Army Special Forces, though selection is open to other special operations and conventional units across the Army and other military branches.[11][12]

  1. ^ Haney 2002.
  2. ^ a b Naylor 2015.
  3. ^ Cawthorne 2008, p. 97.
  4. ^ Smith, Michael (23 February 2002). "SAS joins Kashmir Hunt for bin Laden". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 June 2022.
  5. ^ "US-Iraqi rescue operation 'foils IS mass execution'". BBC News. 22 October 2015. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022.
  6. ^ Scarborough, Rowan (25 January 2014). "Delta Force commando who saved 'numerous lives' in Benghazi seige honored". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 13 June 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  7. ^ Harkins, Gina (29 April 2020). "A Delta Force Marine earned the Navy Cross in Benghazi". We Are the Mighty. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  8. ^ Murphy, Jack (11 January 2016). "JSOC's Secretive Delta Force Operators on the Ground for El Chapo Capture". SOFREP News. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  9. ^ "In high demand, Air Force commandos must find new ways to cope with stress of duty". The Gaffney Ledger. Gaffney, South Carolina. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  10. ^ updated, Marc Ambinder last (22 March 2013). "The most secret of secret units". theweek. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Special Operations/Delta Force". Military.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  12. ^ "5 key differences between Delta Force and SEAL Team 6". We Are the Mighty. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2022.