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There, Special Forces would see extensive combat. Soon after the creation of the Special Forces, America became locked into a conflict in Vietnam. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. The Special Forces training school was known as the Psychological Warfare School, later becoming the John F. Soon after, a portion of the 10th split and became the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). The Special Forces came into existence in June of 1952, consisting of only the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Members of the Army were assigned to the OSS and would be the ones to help with creating the Special Forces unit. While the OSS was not a military organization, it laid the framework for the CIA and special operations units such as the Navy SEALs and Special Forces. One of their main secret weapons was the three-man “ Jedburgh Teams,” which parachuted into occupied Europe and created havoc for the Nazi Army. In WWII, the purpose of the OSS was to participate in espionage, reconnaissance, training local militants, and creating general chaos for the Germans behind their lines. The unit served in the Aleutian Islands, Italy, including the Battle of Anzio, and France. The men went through rigorous training in Helena, Montana, participating in airborne training, weapons training, hand to hand combat, land warfare, snow skiing, demolition, and overall fitness.

Becoming a member of this unit was tough. The unit was created to be dropped behind enemy lines and wage guerilla-like warfare on the enemy. The 1st Special Service Force was comprised of American and Canadian commandos. military recognized the group and began officially supporting its operations. This group came together and conducted resistance and intelligence gathering. The Philippine Guerrillas were a mix of American civilians and military personnel that evaded capture when the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1941. One of their most notable missions was when they assisted in rescuing 513 POWs at the Cabanatuan POW Camp. They participated in general guerrilla warfare and direct action missions. As the war progressed, these reconnaissance units took on a more offensive role, attacking the Japanese Army and killing flag officers. The Sixth Army commander needed a unit, consisting of small teams, that could penetrate deep behind the Japanese lines, to gather intelligence.

The Alamo Scouts were a special reconnaissance unit, attached to the Sixth United States Army, working in the Pacific Theater. Several units laid the framework for Special Forces, among them the Alamo Scouts, Philippine Guerrillas, 1st Special Service Force, and the Operational Group’s Jedburgh Teams within the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Like many special operations forces, the Special Forces trace their lineage back to WWII. Some of these include Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance, Counter-terrorism, Counter-insurgency, Foreign Internal Defense, Unconventional Warfare, Security Force Assistance, Information Operations, and Peace Operations. Special Forces have a plethora of mission sets. They have been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism, but their operational relevancy goes back for decades. Army Special Forces, affectionately referred to as the “Green Berets,” are one of America’s most elite and capable special operations units.

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