Most ARSOF units derive their lineage from World War II legacy units, but Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs/Military Government trace their roots to World War I, which the U.S. entered on 6 April 1917. In 1918, the War Department and American Expeditionary Forces established sections to perform propaganda activities. After the Armistice, the Army conducted Military Government operations in Germany and Russia. It also published American Military Government of Occupied Germany in 1920, which laid a solid groundwork for Civil Affairs during World War II. However, combat propaganda was a casualty of postwar demobilization and the lean Great Depression years, forcing the Army to re-learn this capability in the early 1940s.
1917
6 APR 1917
U.S. entered WWI
Contextual events
6 APR 1917 U.S. declared war on Germany, citing its use of unrestricted submarine warfare, and declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire on 7 DEC
18 MAY 1917 President Woodrow Wilson the signed Selective Service Act into law, requiring American males aged 21 to 30 to register for the draft
26 MAY 1917 American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) established
25 JUN 1917 First AEF troops arrived in France
7 NOV 1917 In the October Revolution, Bolsheviks seized Petrograd, toppling the Provisional Russian government and establishing the Russian Soviet Republic the following January
22 DEC 1917 Led by Vladimir Lenin, Russia opened peace negotiations with Germany
1918
23 JAN 1918
Psychological Subsection Established. CPT Heber Blankenhorn, Psychological (Propaganda) Subsection established under the purview of Military Intelligence within the War Department General Staff.
Photo: Captain Heber Blankenhorn
28 AUG 1918
American Expeditionary Force’s Propaganda Campaign Began. The Propaganda Section disseminated more than 3 million leaflets targeting enemy forces during WWI.
Contextual events
The “Spanish Flu” began, killing some 50 million people worldwide over two years
8 JAN 1918 President Wilson announced his postwar aims, called the "Fourteen Points"
3 MAR 1918 Russia and Germany signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, ending Russian involvement in WWI
15 JUL 1918-3 AUG 1918 In the Second Battle of the Marne, Allies checked the final German offensive of the war before it reached Paris
26 SEP 1918 AEF began Meuse-Argonne offensive, the largest and costliest American military operation of WWI
3 NOV 1918 Austria-Hungary agreed to an armistice with the Allies, ending combat on the Italian Front
11 NOV 1918 Germany and the Allies agreed to terms for armistice
Post-WWI
Post-WWI
11 NOV 1918 – 7 DEC 1941
12 NOV 1918
U.S. Military Government Began in Germany. Army occupation lasted until 11 July 1923.
23 NOV 1918
American Military Government in Siberia. The Expeditionary Force conducted duties until 1 April 1920. U.S. Forces also participated in an Allied occupation of North Russia.
Contextual events
14 FEB 1919 President Wilson proposed League of Nations at the Paris Peace Conference
2 - 6 MAR 1919 Communist International (COMINTERN) founded in Moscow to promote the worldwide spread of Communism
SPRING 1919 Anarchists mailed bombs to U.S. government and business leaders; most were intercepted, but one detonated at the home of U.S. Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer
28 JUN 1919 The Treaty of Versailles signed, officially ending WWI
11 AUG 1919 New German constitution established the Weimar Republic
7 NOV 1919 A series of U.S. government raids began against suspected radicals, leading to thousands of arrests over several months
1934 - 1939
2 JAN 1934
Basic Field Manual: Volume VII Military Law, Part Two: Rules of Land Warfare, was published. With a large section on Military Government, it became the basis for Field Manual 27-10: Rules of Land Warfare, published on 1 OCT 1940.
Contextual events
31 MAR 1939 Britain and France pledged to support Poland if it was attacked
22 MAY 1939 Adolph Hitler and Benito Mussolini signed the “Pact of Steel” military alliance between Germany and Italy
23 AUG 1939 German and Soviet foreign ministers agreed to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, known as the Treaty of Non-Aggression
1 SEP 1939 Germany invaded Poland, starting World War II in Europe
3 SEP 1939 Britain and France declared war on Germany
17 SEP 1939 Soviet Union invaded Poland
6 OCT 1939 Germany and the Soviet Union completed conquest of Poland
1940
30 JUL 1940
Basic Field Manual 27-5: Military Government, published.
Contextual events
9 APR 1940 Germany invaded Denmark and Norway
10 MAY 1940 Winston Churchill became Prime Minister of Great Britain. Germany invaded Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, crossing into France two days later
26 MAY-4 JUN 1940 Allied troops evacuated from France at Dunkirk
14 JUN 1940 Germans occupied Paris
10 JUL 1940 Battle of Britain began, as German air force (Luftwaffe) attempted to destroy the British Royal Air Force (RAF), prior to a German invasion of Great Britain
16 SEP 1940 U.S. instituted the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940, requiring all men between the ages of 21 and 45 to register for the draft
5 NOV 1940 President Roosevelt reelected for unprecedented third term
World War II
WWII
7 DEC 1941 – 28 AUG 1945
Many units that influenced U.S. Army Special Operations Forces were formed during World War II, which the U.S. entered on 8 December 1941, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the day prior. These included the First Special Service Force, the Alamo Scouts, the Philippine Guerrillas, and elements of the Office of Strategic Services, for Special Forces; the six Ranger Battalions, Merrill’s Marauders, and the MARS Task Force, for the Rangers; and Military Government and Psychological Warfare elements, for today’s Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations units. With the exception of a small Military Government capability, all special operations units were disbanded at the end of the war.
1941
11 JUL 1941
Coordinator of Information (COI) Established. The first National Intelligence Agency and the direct predecessor to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). It was established and headed by William J. Donovan.
22 DEC 1941
Special Activities/Goodfellow (SA/G) Formed. It later became the OSS Special Operations Branch.
Contextual events
11 MAR 1941 President Roosevelt signed the Lend-Lease Act to provide arms to Great Britain
22 JUN 1941 Germany invaded the Soviet Union
14 AUG 1941 The U.S. and Great Britain issued a joint declaration, the Atlantic Charter, an affirmation of shared principles for the post-war world
30 OCT 1941 U.S. extended Lend-Lease aid to the Soviet Union
7 DEC 1941 Japanese aircraft attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, and other U.S. bases on the island of Oahu
8 DEC 1941 Japan attacked U.S. military installations in the Philippines; U.S. declared war on Japan
11 DEC 1941 Germany and Italy declared war on U.S.
1942
9 APR 1942
American Forces Surrender in Bataan, Philippines. Hundreds of Americans and Filipinos refused to surrender and melted into the jungle to fight the Japanese for the next three years. Guerrilla leaders like COL Wendell W. Fertig, LTC Russell W. Volckmann, and MAJ Donald D. Blackburn became instrumental in the birth and development of Army Special Forces.
22 APR 1942
Detachment 101 Created. It organized thousands of native troops to fight the Japanese in Burma until disbanded on 12 July 1945. The ‘Redass Squadron’ supported Det 101 with light aircraft.
9 MAY 1942
School of Military Government at the University of Virginia Opened. The first of several to convene in civilian universities during WWII.
13 JUN 1942
Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Established. Its Research and Analysis Branch contributed to Civil Affairs area manuals during World War II, and helped train officers for Civil Affairs duties in multiple theaters.
19 JUN 1942
1st Ranger Battalion activated at Carrickfergus, Ireland. Nine days later, it moved to the British Commando Depot at Achnacarry, Scotland, for training.
9 JUL 1942
First Special Service Force (FSSF) Activated at Fort William H. Harrison, MT. The Canadian-American FSSF adopted the crossed arrows of the Indian Scouts as their distinct branch insignia and a red arrowhead as their SSI. Today’s SFGs draw their official Army lineage from the Force.
19 AUG 1942
Operation JUBILEE.
50 American Rangers participated in an amphibious raid against Nazi positions at Dieppe, France.
27 OCT 1942
Psychological Warfare Service of Allied Force Headquarters Created. Redesignated as the Psychological Warfare Branch in November 1942, it fell under the Information and Censorship Section, headed by BG Robert A. McClure.
15 DEC 1942
528th Quartermaster Service Bn Activated at Camp McCain, MS.
Contextual events
9 APR 1942 U.S. forces on Bataan, Philippines, surrendered to Japanese; several thousand American and Filipino prisoners of war died in the subsequent Bataan Death March
18 APR 1942 U.S. Army Air Forces aircraft, led by LTC James Doolittle, bombed Tokyo
4-7 JUN 1942 U.S. carrier-based aircraft inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway, allowing the U.S. to transition to offensive operations in the Pacific Theater
7 AUG 1942 U.S. Marines landed on Guadalcanal, initiating a five month campaign to establish a foothold in the strategically important Solomon Islands
2 DEC 1942 Atomic “chain reaction” achieved at world’s first nuclear reactor, in Chicago
1st and 2nd Broadcast Station Operating Detachments (BSOD) Assigned to Psychological Warfare Branch. The BSODs were activated to provide radio broadcast support to the North Africa Campaign.
1 MAR 1943
Civil Affairs Division Established in the War Department.MG John H. Hilldring was named its head a month later.
5 MAR 1943
Philippine Guerrillas in Mindanao. Navy LCDR Charles ‘Chick’ Parsons landed by submarine to meet COL Wendell W. Fertig, leader of the largest guerilla unit. Parsons arranged for continued communications and logistical support to Fertig’s command.
1 APR 1943
2nd Ranger Battalion Activated at Camp Forrest, TN.
1 MAY 1943
Allied Military Government for Occupied Territories Established in Italy. It was the first major U.S. Military Government action in WWII.
4 MAY 1943
First OSS Operational Groups (OG) Established. They served in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, France, Norway, Burma, and China. The OG is the functional model for the Special Forces Operational Detachment - Alpha.
21 MAY 1943
1st Mobile Radio Broadcasting Company (MRBC) Assigned to Psychological Warfare Branch. The 1st MRBC was created as a stand-alone unit with mobile radio broadcast transmitters, printing presses, loudspeakers, and monitoring devices. It was the first of five MRBCs activated during the war.
21/29 MAY 1943
3rd and 4th Ranger Battalion Activated in Tunisia, North Africa.
9 JUN 1943
OSS Maritime Unit (MU) Established.
15 AUG 1943
Operation COTTAGE - First Special Service Force. Two FSSF Battalions conducted an amphibious assault on the Aleutian Island of Kiska. The Japanese had withdrawn undetected weeks prior to the landing.
20 AUG 1943
Commission to Protect Historical Treasures Approved. President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved a Commission to Protect Historical Treasures. It resulted in SHAEF’s establishment of the Civil Affairs section of Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives.
1 SEP 1943
5th Ranger Battalion Activated at Camp Forrest, TN.
9 SEP 1943
Attached to the British X Corps, the Ranger Force conducted an amphibious landing at Maiori, near Salerno, Italy (Operation AVALANCHE). By mid-day, the force seized Chiunzi Pass and Vietri Pass overlooking Naples, exposing the German flank.
13 NOV 1943
BG Robert A. McClure Appointed Head of the Publicity and Psychological Warfare (P&PW) Division. LTG Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed BG Robert A. McClure head of the P&PW Division in London, England. Three months later, P&PW became the SHAEF G-6.
28 NOV 1943
Alamo Scout Training Center Established. The Training Center was established on Fergusson Island, New Guinea. It was created by Sixth Army commander LTG Walter Krueger to “train selected volunteers in reconnaissance and raider work.” During its service, Alamo Scouts liberated 197 Allied prisoners.
1 DEC 1943
Civil Affairs Center was established at Shrivenham, England, to assign, train, and equip Civil Affairs personnel for European service.
3 DEC 1943
Battle of Monte La Defensa - FSSF. FSSF scaled the steep cliffs of Monte La Defensa to rout German Defenders. This action paved the way for Allied forces to penetrate the German Winter Line in Italy.
29 DEC 1943
MRBCs Activated. 2nd, 3rd (in the lineage of the 7th POB), 4th, and 5th MRBCs were activated at Camp Ritchie, MD. They deployed to Europe in the spring of 1944 for tactical Psywar support. The 6808th Publicity and Psychological Warfare Service Battalion was activated, and three months later it was reorganized as the 72nd Publicity Service Battalion.
Contextual events
12-23 JAN 1943 Roosevelt and Churchill met at the Casablanca Conference, finalizing Allied plans and deciding on a policy of unconditional Axis surrender
31 JAN-2 FEB 1943 German Sixth Army surrendered at Stalingrad, turning the tide of the war in Europe
9 JUL 1943 Allies invaded Sicily in Operation HUSKY, beginning a six-week campaign to secure control of the island
3 SEP 1943 First Allied troops landed on mainland Italy; the main invasion force followed on 9 SEP
28 NOV-1 DEC 1943 Churchill, Roosevelt, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin met at the Tehran Conference; Western Allies agreed to open a second front against Germany on European mainland
1944
JAN 1944
OSS Special Operations (OS) Branch began construction of Area H in London. Opened two months later, it was the largest Office of Strategic Services supply facility in Europe, and satisfied the logistics requirements for teams operating in that theater.
16 JAN 1944
The 6615th Ranger Force (P) (consisting of the 1st, 3rd, 4th Ranger Battalions, the 83rd Chemical Battalion, and the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion) was formed under the command of Colonel Darby, in preparation for the landing at Anzio.
22 JAN 1944
The 6615th Ranger Force (P) conducted an assault landing at YELLOW Beach near Anzio, Italy, during Operation SHINGLE.
30 JAN 1944
Battle of Cisterna, Italy. The 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalions were destroyed.
7 FEB 1944
5307th Composite Unit (P) - Merrill’s Marauders. Codenamed GALAHAD Force, it departed Ledo, India, to fight as a long-range penetration unit in Burma.
12 FEB 1944
European Civil Affairs Division Created. The European Civil Affairs Division was created to “perform the administrative and operational functions for all [Civil Affairs] personnel” in Europe. It later activated three CA regiments.
13 APR 1944
G-6, SHAEF Reorganized. The G-6, SHAEF split to form the Publicity Division and the Psychological Warfare Division (PWD/SHAEF) (BG Robert A. McClure). PWD/SHAEF coordinated propaganda efforts, oversaw Voice of SHAEF and Radio Luxembourg, conducted ‘consolidation’ propaganda of Allied Information Service, and delivered five billion leaflets.
4 JUN 1944
FSSF Elements the First Allied Troops into Occupied Rome.
6 JUN 1944
D-Day: 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions. 2nd Ranger Battalion assaulted Pont du Hoc in Normandy, France. Remainder of 2nd and all of the 5th Battalion assaulted Omaha Beach. Over the next several nights, OSS Operational Groups and Jedburgh teams parachuted into occupied France.
14 JUL 1944
512th Signal Company (A) Activated. It supported the airborne and special operations of the Allied Airborne Task Force during WWII and is in the lineage of the 112th Signal Battalion. The 512th was deactivated on 10 February 1945 in France.
3 AUG 1944
Merrill’s Marauders, OSS Det 101 Captured Myitkina, Burma
14 AUG 1944
Operation DRAGOON - FSSF. The Allied invasion of southern France began. The FSSF, the 528th Quartermaster Battalion, the 512th Airborne Signal Company, and Psywar units participated.
26 SEP 1944
6th Ranger Battalion Activated. 6th Ranger Battalion activated in Port Moresby, New Guinea. Formed by LTG Krueger (CDR, Sixth Army), LTC Henry A. Mucci, the battalion later seized two islands in advance of the invasion of Leyte.
5 DEC 1944
FSSF Final Formation at Villanueve-Loubet, Near Menton, France. The FSSF disbanded on 6 January 1945.
Contextual events
6 JUN 1944 Operation OVERLORD began with Allied amphibious landings in Normandy, France
15 AUG 1944 Allied troops landed on the southern coast of France in Operation DRAGOON
20 OCT 1944 American forces landed on Leyte, Philippines. In the subsequent naval battle, which lasted from 23-26 OCT, U.S. forces crippled the Japanese Combined Fleet
7 NOV 1944 President Roosevelt reelected for fourth term
16 DEC 1944 Battle of the Bulge began a with German surprise attack on Allied troops in the Ardennes
1945
17 JAN 1945
MARS Task Force Captures First Positions Along Burma Road. Possession of those positions was instrumental in opening a ground supply route to China.
30 JAN 1945
Cabanatuan POW Rescue. Task force comprised of Company A, 6th Rangers, Alamo Scout teams Nellist and Rounsaville, and Philippine guerrillas liberated 500 POWs from the prison camp at Cabanatuan.
2 FEB 1945
First Lieutenant Jack L. Knight, MARS Task Force, earned Medal of Honor. 1LT Jack L. Knight, MARS TF, earned a Medal of Honor (posthumously) for leading a bold attack against the Japanese at Loi Kang, Burma. 1LT Knight was the only Army special operations soldier to be awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.
10 FEB 1945
112th Airborne Army Signal Battalion Activated. Consolidated with 512th Signal Company (A), it participated in Operation VARSITY and provided strategic communications support for the Potsdam Conference in July-August 1945.
27 FEB 1945
389th Translator Team Activated in Dulag, Leyte, Philippines. It supported 96th Infantry Division operations on Leyte and Okinawa.
13 MAR 1945
Position of Theater Psychological Warfare Officer was established in the China Theater. It coordinated joint/interagency psychological warfare activities in Japanese-occupied China.
16 MAR 1945
U.S. Army Commenced Military (then Civil) Government of the Ryukyu Islands. The first Military Government units went ashore on Okinawa on 1 April. Civil Government lasted until 15 May 1972.
9 MAY 1945
The Occupation of Italy, Germany and Austria Began. The Office of Military Government for Germany (OMGUS) operated until 5 May 1955. The Army’s Occupation of Austria ended on 27 July 1955. The occupation of Italy ended 15 September 1947.
14 JULY 1945
PWD/SHAEF Dismantled. Over the next few months all tactical Psywar units were deactivated. Military Government’s Information Control Division absorbed the PWD’s assets.
25 AUG 1945
95th, 97th, and the 98th HHDs, Military Government Group, Activated at the Presidio of Monterrey, CA. Also, on 26 August the 96th Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Military Government Group, was activated at the Presidio of Monterrey, CA. It was redesignated 10 May 1967 as 96th Civil Affairs Group, and 26 November 1971 as 96th Civil Affairs Battalion.
Contextual events
4-11 FEB 1945 At the Yalta Conference, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin planned for the defeat of Germany, and post-war Europe
12 APR 1945 President Roosevelt died, and was succeeded by Vice President Harry S. Truman
7 MAY 1945 Germany surrendered; Victory in Europe (V-E) Day celebrated the following day
26 JUN 1945 United Nations (UN) Charter signed by representatives of 50 countries; it was officially formed on 24 OCT
6 AUG 1945 U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan; a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on 9 AUG
14 AUG 1945 Japan agreed to unconditional surrender
2 SEP 1945 Japan formally surrendered on board USS Missouri, ending WWII. In French Indochina, Ho Chi Minh declared an independent Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV)
Post-World War II / Early Cold War
Post-WWII/Early Cold War
28 AUG 1945 – 25 JUN 1950
After World War II, a bitter ideological divide emerged between the U.S. and its allies on one side, and the Soviet Union and its Communist allies on the other. Political, economic, and military conflicts between the two blocs persisted until the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Open warfare with the Soviet Union was avoided; however, both sides contributed to the arms race, and supported proxy forces around the globe. Conflict was especially intense in Latin America, and in Africa and Southeast Asia, where former European colonies struggled to achieve independence. During the Cold War, U.S. Army Special Warfare units trained partner forces and conducted unconventional warfare, while ARSOF direct action and hostage rescue capabilities expanded. A failed hostage rescue mission in Iran in 1980 prompted the Department of Defense to establish several new headquarters to better manage and coordinate Special Operations Forces.
1945
3 SEP 1945
U.S. Occupation of Japan and Korea. Military Government began in Japan. The U.S. Army occupation of Korea also began below the 38th Parallel.
1 OCT 1945
OSS Disbanded.
Contextual events
10 JAN 1946 The United Nations convened its first session, in San Francisco
22 FEB 1946 George F. Kennan, Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow, argued for “containment” of the Soviet Union, in his “Long Telegram” to the State Department
5 MAR 1946 Winston Churchill stated that an “iron curtain” divided Europe’s Western democracies from Soviet-dominated governments in the East, in a speech at Westminster College, in Fulton, Missouri
24 AUG 1946 Huk Rebellion began in the Philippines, lasting until 1954
19 DEC 1946 Communist Viet Minh soldiers attacked French forces in Hanoi, beginning the First Indochina War
1947
1 MAY 1947
Trieste United States Troops Established.Trieste United States Troops was established to conduct Military Government of the Free Territory of Trieste. It ended on 26 October 1954 when the area was turned over to Italy.
Contextual events
12 MAR 1947 President Truman announced the “Truman Doctrine,” stating that the U.S. would provide political, economic, and military aid to people resisting “subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressures.”
5 JUN 1947 Secretary of State George C. Marshall called for a comprehensive economic program to rebuild Europe
26 JUL 1947 President Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, a major reorganization that led to the creation of the post-World War II U.S. national security bureaucracy
29 NOV 1947 UN General Assembly voted to partition Palestine, recommending the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states, and establishing Jerusalem as an international city
1948
15 NOV 1948
406th MRBC Activated in New York. Sponsored by National Broadcasting Company, it became the Mobile Radio Broadcasting Company (MRBC) of the 301st Radio Broadcasting & Leaflet (RB&L) Group two years later.
Contextual events
3 APR 1948 President Truman signed the Economic Recovery Act of 1948; known as the “Marshall Plan,” it provided some $12 billion to rebuild Western Europe
14 May 1948 Israel proclaimed independence and was immediately recognized by the U.S. and Soviet Union; British troops withdrew from Palestine the next day
24 JUN 1948 Soviets blockaded West Berlin, prompting a U.S.-led aerial resupply of the city, known as the Berlin Airlift
26 JUL 1948 Executive Order 9981 ended segregation in the U.S. military
15 AUG 1948 South Korea formally became the Republic of Korea; led by Syngman Rhee, it governed the Korean peninsula south of the 38th parallel
9 SEP 1948 The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) was founded, with Kim Il-sung as its leader; it governed the peninsula north of the 38th parallel
2 NOV 1948 President Truman reelected
1949
29 JUL 1949
U.S. Occupation of Korea Ended.
Contextual events
4 APR 1949 Twelve nations, led by the U.S., signed a mutual defense treaty creating the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); intended to provide security against the Soviet Union, it was the first U.S. peacetime military alliance outside of the Western Hemisphere
12 MAY 1949 The Berlin Airlift ended when the Soviets lifted the blockade
23 MAY 1949 Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) created as a democratic nation
29 AUG 1949 Soviet Union tested its first atomic bomb
1 OCT 1949 Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the communist People’s Republic of China (PRC)
7 DEC 1949 Chinese Nationalists, led by Chiang Kai-shek, retreated to Taiwan, and established a new capital at Taipei
Korean War
Korean War
25 JUN 1950 – 27 JUL 1953
U.S. involvement in the Korean War led to the rebirth of Army Special Operations Forces. A new Ranger Training Center created Ranger Infantry Companies (Airborne), and later instructed individuals in Ranger skills. The Eighth U.S. Army created a guerrilla organization to command, control, train, and advise North Korean guerrillas fighting alongside United Nations troops. Civil Affairs units helped alleviate the widespread misery experienced by the Korean people. Tactical and strategic Psychological Warfare units reappeared. Toward the end of the conflict a new Psychological Warfare Center and School was formed at Fort Bragg, NC, to train Psywar and Special Forces soldiers. Some of the first Special Forces soldiers served in combat in Korea.
1950
5 JUL 1950
Far East Command Formed the GHQ Raider Company. Conducting special missions behind enemy lines in Korea, the GHQ Raiders became an element of the Special Activities Group (SAG). It supported the amphibious assault at Inchon, and participated in the fierce fighting during the Chosin Campaign in late 1950.
15 AUG 1950
Eighth Army Ranger Training Center Established Near Pusan, Korea. It supported the forming of the Eighth Army Ranger Company on 25 August 1950, to infiltrate enemy lines and attack command posts and key facilities.
1 SEP 1950
Psychological Warfare Division (PWD) of the Army G-3 Established. Led by BG Robert A. McClure, it implemented plans to activate, train, and deploy Psywar units.
2 SEP 1950
Training began at Kijang for the Eighth U.S. Army Ranger Company.
15 SEP 1950
Ranger Training Center Established at Fort Benning, GA. Created to train Ranger Infantry Companies (Airborne) (RICA).
3 OCT 1950
301st RB&L Group Was Activated in New York. Federalized in May 1951, it deployed six months later as the strategic Psywar asset in Europe. It returned to reserve control in May 1953 and was disbanded.
15 OCT 1950
Tactical Information Detachment (TID) Arrived in Taegu, Korea. Redesignated in November as the 1st Loudspeaker & Leaflet (L&L) Company, it provided tactical Psywar support to Eighth U.S. Army.
29 OCT 1950
Civil Assistance. U.S. conducted Military Government (MG) functions (under COL Charles R. Munske) in the North Korean capital of P’yongyang with a sub-element in Chinnamp’o. MG in P’yongyang lasted until its evacuation on 4 December 1950.
8 NOV 1950
1st Radio Broadcasting & Leaflet (RB&L) Group Activated at Fort Riley, KS. In the lineage of the 1st POB, 1st RB&L deployed to Tokyo, Japan, to provide strategic Psywar support to the Far East and United Nations Commands.
9 DEC 1950
1st Ranger Infantry Company (A) (RICA) Arrived in Korea. It was followed on 24 December by the 2nd and 4th RICAs. Ultimately, six RICAs (the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and the 8th) served in the Korean War.
Contextual events
9 FEB 1950 Senator Joseph R. McCarthy claimed the U.S. State Department was “infested” with Communists; the resulting anti-communist campaign ruined many careers
7 APR 1950 In National Security Council Paper-68, Paul Nitze and Secretary of State Dean Acheson argued for a massive U.S. military build-up to counter Soviet aggression
25 JUN 1950 North Korea invaded South Korea
30 JUN 1950 Lodge-Philbin Act passed, allowing recruitment of foreign nationals in the U.S. Army
SEP 1950 U.S. Military Advisory Assistance Group (MAAG) Indochina arrived in Saigon
15 SEP 1950 UN forces executed an amphibious attack on North Koreans at Inchon, stopping the North Korean advance, and setting the stage for a UN counteroffensive
NOV 1950 China entered the Korean War in support of North Korea; UN forces retreated
1951
JAN 1951
Civil Affairs in Korea. The UN Public Health and Welfare Detachment was renamed the UN Civil Assistance Command, Korea (UNCACK). Prior units were the U.N. Public Health and Welfare Detachment and U.N. Civil Assistance Command. On 30 June 1953, UNCACK was renamed the Korea Civil Assistance Command (KCAC).
15 JAN 1951
Office of the Chief of Psychological Warfare Established in the Pentagon. Led by BG Robert A. McClure, its efforts led to the establishment of the Psychological Warfare Center and the activation of the 10th SFG at Fort Bragg, NC.
15 JAN 1951
Eighth Army Created a Guerrilla Command. Framed as the Attrition Section, it organized, trained, and directed over 20,000 North Korean anti-Communist fighters in support of UN war aims. It underwent many reorganizations and name changes, becoming popularly known as ‘the 8240th Army Unit.’
15 JAN 1951
Military Government School Began at Fort Gordon, GA.
19 MAR 1951
5th L&L Company Activated at Fort Riley, KS. In the lineage of the 5th POB, it deployed to Germany six months later and provided tactical Psywar support to the Seventh U.S. Army.
23 MAR 1951
Operation TOMAHAWK. The 2nd and 4th RICAs conducted a parachute assault at Munsan-ni, Korea, as part of the 187th Airborne RCT.
2 MAY 1951
First Psychological Warfare Officers Course Began at the Army General School, Fort Riley, KS. Members of the Psywar Division had begun writing the Program of Instruction the previous December. On 15 June 1951, thirty-nine officers graduated from the six-week course.
1 OCT 1951
All RICAs Disbanded. The Ranger Training Center became the Ranger Training Command, training individuals, vice units, in small unit leadership and Ranger skills. This is the origin of the Army Ranger School.
24 OCT 1951
First Psychological Warfare Non-commissioned Officers’ Course Began. On 21 November 1951, forty-five students graduated from Psywar NCO Class No. 1 at the Army General School, Fort Riley, KS.
Contextual events
29 MAR 1951 Julius and Ethel Rosenburg sentenced to death for espionage; both were executed on 19 JUN
11 APR 1951 President Truman relieved GEN Douglas A. MacArthur from duty as Commander, UN Command/Far East Command
10 JUL 1951 Armistice negotiations began in Kaesong, Korea
1952
10 APR 1952
Psywar Center Established at Fort Bragg, NC. Commanded by COL Charles H. Karlstad, it was the forerunner of today’s U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
26 APR 1952
9th L&L Company Activated at Fort Riley, KS. Parent unit in the lineage of 9th POB.
27 APR 1952
The Occupation of Japan Ended.
19 MAY 1952
HHC, 10th SFG Activated at the Psychological Warfare Center, Fort Bragg, NC. On 19 June 1952 the remainder of the 10th SFG was activated. On the following day COL Aaron Bank assumed command of the Group.
23 MAY 1952
6th RB&L Group Relocated. 6th RB&L Group (originally Psywar Det., 5021st ASU at Fort Riley) moved from Fort Riley, KS, to Fort Bragg, NC, as the main Psywar unit assigned to the Psychological Warfare Center. When 1st L&L and 1st RB&L returned from the Far East, they were similarly assigned to the PWC.
20 OCT 1952
The Psychological Warfare School Established Under the Psywar Center. A Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) for the Psywar Center and School was approved on 28 November 1952.
Contextual events
OCT 1952 The British declared a state of emergency in response to the Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya; tens of thousands were killed in the subsequent counterinsurgency campaign, which lasted until 1960
3 OCT 1952 Britain tested its first atomic weapon in the Montebello Islands
1 NOV 1952 U.S. tested the first hydrogen bomb at Eniwetok Atoll, in the Marshall Islands
4 NOV 1952 Dwight D. Eisenhower elected as President
1953
27 FEB 1953
First SF-Trained Soldiers Assigned to Korea. Most served with the EUSA guerrilla command and other units operating with the anti-Communist NK guerrillas. Ultimately, ninety-nine Special Forces personnel served in Korea, making this the first combat use of Special Forces.
Contextual events
5 MAR 1953 Joseph Stalin died
25 APR 1953 James D. Watson and Francis H. C. Crick published a groundbreaking paper on DNA structure
29 MAY 1953 Edmund P. Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the first climbers to scale Mount Everest
27 JUL 1953 Armistice signed at Panmunjom, Korea; it restored the border between North and South Korea at the 38th parallel
19 AUG 1953 Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq overthrown in coup; Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi became leader of Iran
Post-Korean War
Post-Korean War
27 JUL 1953 – 1 NOV 1955
1953
22 SEP 1953
77th SFG Activated at Fort Bragg, Nc. It was commanded by LTC Jack T. ‘Blackjack’ Shannon.
11 NOV 1953
10th SFG Deployed to Flint Kaserne in Bad Toelz, Germany.
Contextual events
7 APR 1954 At a news conference, President Eisenhower stated that communist victory in Indochina could have a “falling domino” effect, leading to communist domination of the Pacific
7 MAY 1954 Viet Minh defeated the French Army at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu
17 May 1954 The U.S. Supreme Court declared segregated public schools unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education
27 JUN 1954 Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz resigned, following a U.S.-backed coup
21 JUL 1954 The Geneva Accords ended the First Indochina War, with France and the Viet Minh agreeing to partition Vietnam along the 17th parallel, pending national elections in July 1956
8 SEP 1954 U.S., Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand established the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
1955
20 JAN 1955
14th RB&L Group Activated. In the lineage of the WWII-era 4th MRBC, the 14th Radio Broadcasting & Leaflet Group was activated at Fort Shafter, Hawaii.
4 MAY 1955
Support Operations Task Force Europe (SOTFE) Activated. Redesignated as the Special Operations Task Force Europe on 1 September 1978.
5 MAY 1955
American Occupation of Germany Ended. The OMGUS was deactivated.
27 JULY 1955
American Occupation of Austria Ended.
17 AUG 1955
CA/MG Established as a Branch in the U.S. Army Reserve.
22 AUG 1955
Department of the Army Approved the Arrowhead Shoulder Sleeve Insignia For Wear by Special Forces. The airborne tab was added in November 1958.
Contextual events
18 APR 1955 Physicist Albert Einstein died
14 MAY 1955 Warsaw Treaty Organization (Warsaw Pact), a political and military alliance between the Soviet Union and its Eastern European satellites, was founded to counter NATO
26 OCT The Republic of Vietnam (RVN) was proclaimed, with Ngo Dinh Diem as president
1 DEC 1955 Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, AL, bus to a white passenger, prompting the yearlong Montgomery Bus Boycott
1956
1 AUG 1956
Detachment A Activated in Berlin, West Germany. Officially designated as the 39th Special Forces Operational Detachment (SFOD). Inactivated on 16 December 1984.
27 NOV 1956
Psywar Center and School Redesignated. The Psywar Center and School were redesignated as the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center and School.
Contextual events
26 JUL 1956 Egyptian President Gamal A. Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal, a strategic waterway in Egypt jointly owned and operated by the British and French
23 OCT 1956 Hungarian Revolution began; Soviet military intervened and restored Communist rule by 10 November
29 OCT 1956 Suez Crisis began when Israeli forces crossed into Egypt, later supported by the French and British; the U.S. condemned the invasion and pressured its allies to accept a ceasefire 8 days later
2 DEC 1956 Fidel Castro returned to Cuba and led a guerrilla war in the Sierra Maestra mountains
1957
24 JUN 1957
1st SFG Activated in Japan. It arrived at Okinawa in July 1957.
24 JUN 1957
1st SFG MTT Trained RVN Commandos in Nha Trang.
Contextual events
FEB 1957 Asian Flu Pandemic (H2N2 virus) began; it caused over one million deaths worldwide, including over 100,000 in the U.S.
24 SEP 1957 President Eisenhower ordered 101st Airborne Division troops to Little Rock, AR, to support school integration
4 OCT 1957 USSR launched Sputnik I, the first artificial space satellite
1958
20 AUG 1958
1st SFG Mobile Training Team 12A graduated the first class of Republic of Korea Army Special Forces in Korea. This relationship ultimately led to a continuous presence on the peninsula known as Special Forces Detachment - Korea. In 2005, that detachment became the 39th Special Forces Detachment.
Contextual events
JAN 1958 Mao Zedong unveiled his “Great Leap Forward” plan to implement communist reforms in China; it resulted in tens of millions of Chinese deaths from famine
31 JAN 1958 U.S. launched its first satellite, Explorer I
27 MAR 1958 Nikita S. Khrushchev became Soviet Premier
29 JUL 1958 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) founded
21 DEC 1958 Charles de Gaulle elected President of France
1959
2 JUL 1959
Project HOTFOOT. 107 SF Soldiers of the 77th SFG ordered to Laos. Led by LTC Arthur D. ‘Bull’ Simons, they trained Laotian soldiers to fight the Communist Pathet Lao. Mission changed to the overt Operation WHITE STAR in April 1961, and ended in July 1962.
2 OCT 1959
The Civil Affairs/Military Government Branch Renamed the Civil Affairs Branch. First established in the U.S. Army Reserve on 17 August 1955.
7 DEC 1959
The VII Corps Commander Authorized the Creation of a Provisional LRRP Unit to Conduct Deep Reconnaissance in Europe. The VII Corps Commander (Lieutenant General Guy S. Meloy, Jr.) authorized the creation of a provisional Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) unit to conduct deep reconnaissance for the Corps in Europe. This marked the beginning of the creation of Long Range Penetration or Reconnaissance units to provide deep patrol support to specific Corps, Divisions, or Brigades.
Contextual events
1 JAN 1959 Dictator Fulgencio Batista fled Cuba; Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara led rebels into Havana two days later
3 JAN 1959 Alaska became the 49th U.S. state
16 FEB 1959 Fidel Castro sworn in as Cuban Prime Minister
24 JUL 1959 Vice President Richard M. Nixon engaged Khrushchev in the “Kitchen Debate,” comparing U.S. and Soviet standards of living
21 AUG 1959 Hawaii became the 50th U.S. state
Vietnam War
Vietnam War
1 NOV 1955 – 30 APR 1975
The Special Forces advisory mission in Vietnam began as mobile training teams in the late 1950s and early 1960s. In 1964, 5th Special Forces Group headquarters deployed to South Vietnam to control all Special Forces activities in-country. Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations capabilities expanded significantly during the war, countering Communist influence in South Vietnam. President Richard M. Nixon’s ‘Vietnamization’ policy led to the reduction of U.S. forces in South Vietnam beginning in 1970, but ARSOF remained until the fall of Saigon in 1975. After the war, ARSOF experienced drastic cuts in size and capabilities, evidenced by the inactivation or transferring to the U. S. Army Reserve of various ARSOF units.
1960
15 APR 1960
The 11th, 12th, 19th, 20th SFGs Activated. HQ, 11th SFG (USAR) relocated on 1 March 1961 to Boston, MA. HQ, 12th SFG (USAR) relocated on 24 March 1964 to Chicago, IL. On 1 May 1961, the 19th SFG was withdrawn from the Regular Army and allotted to the Utah Army National Guard. On 8 July 1961, the 20th SFG was withdrawn from the Regular Army and allotted to the Alabama National Guard.
27 APR 1960
Commander-In-Chief, Pacific, Requested Psychological Warfare Support For the Advisory Mission in Vietnam. Most product support came from outside of Vietnam. A psychological warfare Mobile Training Team later arrived in country to assist, but its presence was short-lived.
7 MAY 1960
37-Man MTT From 77th SFG Deployed to South Vietnam. Led by COL William Ewald, it conducted Ranger training for selected Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) soldiers.
6 JUN 1960
77th SFG Redesignated the 7th SFG at Fort Bragg, NC.
Contextual events
1 FEB 1960 Four African-American college students refused to leave a “whites only” lunch counter in Greensboro, NC; their actions inspired similar “sit-ins” around the country
3 FEB 1960 British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan’s “Winds of Change” speech foreshadowed the end of European colonialism; over 30 nations gained independence during the decade
1 MAY 1960 Francis Gary Powers' U-2 spy plane shot down over Soviet airspace
26 JUN 1960 At a Communist Party conference in Bucharest, Soviet Premier Khrushchev openly criticized China and Mao Zedong, revealing the depth of the Chinese-Soviet split
14 SEP 1960 Organization of the Gasoline Exporting Countries (OPEC) founded
8 NOV 1960 John F. Kennedy elected President
1961
29 JAN 1961
1st Psychological Warfare Battalion Deployed to Laos. 1st Psychological Warfare Battalion (Broadcasting & Leaflet) personnel deployed to Laos to support U.S.-Laotian anti-Communist efforts.
11 MAY 1961
Additional SF Advisors Deployed to South Vietnam. President Kennedy dispatched 400 Special Forces and 100 other advisors to RVN.
21 SEP 1961
5th SFG Activated at Fort Bragg, NC.
23 SEP 1961
Special Forces Operational Detachment - Korea Formed. “Det-K” began with a series of TDY assignments from 1st SFG in Okinawa. The arrangement became more permanent. By November 1961 it had became the “FA 40th Detachment,” under the operational control of the Korea Military Assistance Group. Redesignated on 16 October 2005 as the 39th Special Forces Operational Detachment (Airborne).
28 SEP 1961
Green Beret Authorized For Special Forces. Department of the Army Message 574088 stated, “The beret [green] is authorized as an item of the uniform for all Special Forces.” On 12 October President John F. Kennedy visited Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg, NC.
15 NOV 1961
13th Psychological Warfare Battalion was activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The predecessor of the 13th Psychological Operations Battalion, the battalion transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve in 1975 and finally settled at Arden Hills, Minnesota, in 1996.
Contextual events
1 MAR 1961 President Kennedy issued an executive order establishing the Peace Corps
12 APR 1961 Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space
17 APR 1961 U.S.-backed Cuban exiles (Brigade 2506) landed at the Bay of Pigs, in Cuba, with the goal of overthrowing Fidel Castro; their failure strengthened Castro’s hold on power, and led to closer Cuban-Soviet ties
25 MAY 1961 President Kennedy announced his goal to land an American on the moon by decade’s end
13 AUG 1961 East German soldiers began sealing the border between East and West Berlin; construction of the Berlin Wall commenced two days later
1962
15 JAN 1962
U.S. Army Special Warfare Center and School Established (USASWCS). USASWCS established as a School Activity under the Continental Army Command (CONARC).
15 JAN 1962
A-113 (1st SFG) Dispatched to Buon Enao, South Vietnam. Detachment A-113 (1st SFG) dispatched to South Vietnam’s Central Highland village of Buon Enao. CPT Ronald Shackleton initiated the Village Defense Program (VDP). It later became the Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) program.
21 MAR 1962
22nd Special Warfare Aviation Detachment (SWAD). Assigned to the Special Warfare Center, it was inactivated December 1963.
6 JUN 1962
Special Warfare Concept Promoted. In his graduation speech to the U.S. Military Academy class of 1962, President John F. Kennedy promoted Special Warfare as an alternative to Massive Retaliation.
30 SEP 1962
HQ, U.S. Army Special Forces Vietnam (P) (USASFV[P]) Formed. Located in Saigon, South Vietnam, COL George C. Morton and seventy-two 5th SFG personnel formed the nucleus of the unit.
22 OCT 1962
USAJFKSWCS Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Approved.
Contextual events
20 FEB 1962 John H. Glenn, Jr. became the first American to orbit the earth
15 MAY 1962 President Kennedy ordered 5,000 Marines to Thailand in response to instability in neighboring Laos, which was fighting a communist insurgency
27 SEP 1962 Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published; it was a catalyst for the modern environmental movement
14-28 OCT 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis brought world to brink of nuclear war
20 OCT 1962 Sino-Indian War began with the Chinese invasion of northwest India, ending a month later in a Chinese victory
1963
1 APR 1963
8th SFG Activated at Fort Gulick, Canal Zone, Panama.
17 APR 1963
South Vietnamese Government Began the Chieu Hoi Program.Chieu Hoi encouraged Viet Cong insurgents to defect and support the government. Bolstered by U.S. Army psychological warfare and lasting until 1972, it resulted in the defection of some 200,000 enemy combatants.
1 MAY 1963
6th SFG was activated at Fort Bragg, NC.
5 DEC 1963
3rd SFG was activated at Fort Bragg, NC.
16 DEC 1963
Military Freefall Capability Demonstrated. 14 members of the U.S. Army and Air Force conducted a mass exit freefall jump from a C-130 aircraft at 43,500 feet above ground level at El Centro, CA. The demonstration led to increased interest in the military applications of the capability and resulted in the Military Freefall Parachutist Course taught at USAJFKSWCS.
Contextual events
12 MAY 1963 Riots erupted in Birmingham, Alabama, after the attempted assassination of key civil rights leaders; Kennedy sent over 18,000 federal troops to restore order
5 AUG 1963 The U.S., Soviet Union, and United Kingdom signed the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty, prohibiting above-ground testing of nuclear weapons
28 AUG 1963 At the March on Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech
2 NOV 1963 South Vietnamese President, Ngo Dinh Diem, assassinated
22 NOV 1963 President John F. Kennedy assassinated, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson sworn in as President
1964
1963-1964
14th Psychological Warfare Battalion supported Vietnam effort. The 15th Psychological Warfare Detachment (printing), 14th Psychological Warfare Battalion, printed nearly 80 million leaflets for U.S. Pacific Command, mostly for the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. The battalion also trained 1st SFG psychological warfare personnel deploying to Vietnam.
24 JAN 1964
MACV-SOG Activated. Military Assistance Command Vietnam, Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG) activated in Cholon, South Vietnam.
1 JUN 1964
Redesignation. U.S. Army Special Warfare Center and School was redesignated as the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS). The change was made in honor of the 35th President of the United States.
1 OCT 1964
5th SFG Reassigned From Fort Bragg, NC, to Nha Trang, South Vietnam. It replaced USASFV(P) as the command element for all U.S. Army Special Forces personnel in Vietnam.
Contextual events
2 JUL 1964 President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, outlawing segregation in public places and banning employment discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, or national origin
2 AUG 1964 USS Maddox engaged three North Vietnamese torpedo boats in the Gulf of Tonkin
7 AUG 1964 In the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Congress authorized President Johnson to “take all necessary measures” to defend U.S. forces from North Vietnamese aggression
3 NOV 1964 President Johnson was reelected
1965
1965
Most ‘psychological warfare’ units became ‘Psychological Operations’ units.
28 APR 1965
Operation POWER PACK. Elements of 1st Psywar Battalion and 1st Psywar Company deployed to support the U.S. Information Service (USIS) to assist in the stabilization effort and to earn the sympathy of the Dominican people. The 42nd Civil Affairs Company also conducted operations until 1 November 1965.
28 APR 1965
Operation POWER PACK. Elements of the 7th SFG deployed in support of the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division to the Dominican Republic as part of a force to stabilize the country and prevent a Communist takeover.
15 MAY 1965
The V and VII Corps LRRP Companies are Made Permanent U.S. Army-authorized TO&E Companies. The V Corps company redesignated as Company D (LRP), 17th Infantry. The VII Corps company redesignated as Company C (LRP), 58th Infantry. Both retained their airborne status.
20 OCT 1965
7th POG Activated on Okinawa.
21 OCT 1965
129th Aviation Company. Supported U.S. forces, including 5th SFG in Vietnam, with lift and gunship support. The unit is a legacy unit of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
1 NOV 1965
6th PSYOP Battalion Activated in Vietnam.
1 DEC 1965
41st Civil Affairs Company Deployed to Vietnam. Two more CA companies (the 2nd and 29th) followed.
20 DEC 1965
2nd Psychological Operations Group (POG) Activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Contextual events
8 MAR 1965 U.S. Marines landed near Da Nang, becoming the first U.S. combat troops in South Vietnam
27 JUN 1965 U.S. forces launched their first offensive, targeting National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) positions near Saigon
6 AUG 1965 President Johnson signed the Voting Right Act, outlawing practices used to suppress the African-American vote
11 AUG 1965 Five days of race-related rioting began in Watts, Los Angeles, CA, resulting in 34 deaths and thousands of arrests
14-18 NOV 1965 Battle of Ia Drang marked the first major engagement of the Vietnam War between the U.S. and North Vietnamese Army (NVA)
1966
1966-1968
Four test CH-47A Chinook gunships nicknamed ‘Guns-A Go-Go’ served in Vietnam. Their legacy became inspiration for 4/160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
30 JAN 1966
“The Ballad of the Green Berets”. SSG Barry Sadler sang his hit song on the Ed Sullivan Show.
16 SEP 1966
Commander of MACV Creates the Recondo School at Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam. At the direction of GEN William C. Westmoreland, Commander of the Military Assistance Command - Vietnam (MACV), established the Recondo School at Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam. The rigorous three week course trained soldiers in the skills required to conduct long-range reconnaissance and commando missions in Vietnam.
Contextual events
12 JAN 1966 In his State of the Union address, President Johnson vowed that the U.S. would remain in South Vietnam “until aggression has stopped”
11 MAR 1966 France announced its intention to withdraw from the NATO integrated military command, and requested removal of Allied headquarters from French territory; while still in the alliance, France remained apart from the integrated command until 2009
16 MAY 1966 Mao Zedong formally announced the establishment of a new “Cultural Revolution Group;” subsequent political purges in China lasted until 1976 and killed millions
1967
14 APR 1967
46th SFC Activated. 46th SF Company activated at Lopburi, Thailand. The company was inactivated on 1 April 1970.
1 DEC 1967
4th POG and 7th, 8th and 10th PSYOP Battalions Activated in Vietnam.
Contextual events
27 JAN 1967 Three American astronauts were killed in the Apollo 1 spacecraft fire
12 JUL 1967 A deadly race riot erupted in Newark, NJ, followed on 23 JUL by one in Detroit, MI; these were part of a period racial unrest known as the “Long, Hot Summer of 1967”
5-10 JUN 1967 In the Six-Day War, Israel defeated Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq
9 OCT 1967 Communist revolutionary ‘Che’ Guevara was killed in Bolivia
1968
19 JUN 1968
The Green Berets Movie Released. The movie, starring John Wayne, was released in theaters by Warner Brothers-Seven Arts.
1 SEP 1968
Elements of 10th SFG Redeployed. On 3 SEP, the 1st Battalion, 10th SFG, became the SF Detachment, Europe.
31 DEC 1968
SF POW MAJ Nick Rowe escaped captivity in Vietnam. MAJ James N. ‘Nick’ Rowe escaped after being held by the Viet Cong for five years. He was later instrumental in establishing the Survival, Escape, Resistance and Evasion (SERE) course at Camp Mackall, NC.
Contextual events
30 JAN 1968 NVA and Viet Cong launched the Tet Offensive; after suffering heavy losses, the U.S. achieved military victory, but protests against the war intensified
4 APR 1968 Martin Luther King, Jr. assassinated in Memphis, TN, prompting riots in U.S. cities
10 MAY 1968 U.S. and North Vietnamese diplomats met in Paris for peace talks
5 JUN 1968 Senator and presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy shot shortly after winning California’s Democratic primary; he died the following day
20 AUG 1968 Warsaw Pact troops, led by the Soviet Union, invaded Czechoslovakia, ending “Prague Spring” protests and reforms
1 NOV 1968 President Johnson halted U.S. bombing of North Vietnam, hoping to kick-start the stalled peace negotiations in Paris
5 NOV 1968 Richard M. Nixon elected U.S. President
1969
10 JAN 1969
Redesignation. U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School redesignated as the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Institute for Military Assistance.
1 MAY 1969
Department of the Army Approved a Scuba Badge For Qualified Divers. This badge was worn by Special Operations divers until 2004.
25 JUN 1969
1st Civil Affairs Bn Activated on Okinawa. It was in the lineage of the 91st CA Battalion.
25 SEP 1969
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 528th Battalion Quartermaster Activated. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 528th Quartermaster Battalion, was activated in Phu Bai, Republic of Vietnam. It supported conventional Army units in the I Corps Tactical Zone until its inactivation on 15 April 1971.
4 FEB 1969 Yasser Arafat became leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)
17 MAR 1969 Golda Meir became Prime Minister of Israel
21 JUL 1969 During the Apollo 11 mission, Neil A. Armstrong and Edwin E. ‘Buzz’ Aldrin walked on the moon
1 SEP 1969 Libyan Colonel Muammar Gaddafi led a coup that deposed King Idris and established the Libyan Arab Republic
15 OCT 1969 Mass protests, under the banner “Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam,” began across the U.S.
1970
21 NOV 1970
Operation IVORY COAST. A Special Forces ground element, led by COL Arthur D. ‘Bull’ Simons, conducted a raid on the Son Tay prison camp in North Vietnam.
Contextual events
6 MAR 1970 Three members of the Weather Underground terrorist group died while making bombs intended to kill U.S. soldiers
17 APR 1970 Crippled spacecraft Apollo 13 returned safely back to Earth
30 APR 1970 U.S. and South Vietnamese troops began operations inside Cambodia, sparking public outcry and triggering a new wave of anti-war protests
4 MAY 1970 4 students were killed and 8 injured when National Guardsman fire on protestors at Kent State University
17 NOV 1970 Trial began for Army 2LT William L. Calley for his part in the 1968 My Lai Massacre; he was found guilty of premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment
1971
3 MAR 1971
5th SFG Redeployed From Nha Trang, South Vietnam to Fort Bragg, NC.
5 MAR 1971
6th SFG Inactivated at Fort Bragg, NC.
13 AUG 1971
The USAJFKSWCS Military Freefall School Graduated its First Class at Fort Bragg, NC.
15 SEP 1971
U.S. Army Civil Affairs School Moved From Fort Gordon, GA, to Fort Bragg, NC.
Contextual events
13 JUN 1971 New York Times began publishing portions of the “Pentagon Papers,” a classified study of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, from 1945 to 1968
1 JUL 1971 26th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, lowering the voting age to 18
25 OCT 1971 Reversing its previous decision, the UN voted to recognize the People’s Republic of China and expel the Republic of China (Taiwan)
3-16 DEC 1971 India defeated Pakistan in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
1972
30 JUN 1972
8th SFG Inactivated. 8th SFG inactivated at Fort Gulick, Canal Zone, Panama. Elements of the 8th SFG became 3rd Battalion, 7th SFG.
13 SEP 1972
4th POG Reactivated at Fort Bragg, NC. It had been inactivated a year earlier at Fort Lewis, WA.
Contextual events
21 FEB 1972 President Nixon became first U.S. president to visit the People’s Republic of China
22 MAR 1972 U.S. Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex and sent it to the states for ratification
26 MAY 1972 At Moscow Summit, Nixon and Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev signed the Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty (SALT)
17 JUN 1972 Five men were arrested for breaking into the Democratic National Committee offices at the Watergate Complex
5-6 SEP 1972 Palestinian Black September terrorists killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team in Munich
7 NOV 1972 President Nixon reelected
1973
22 JUN 1973
Bryant Hall Dedicated at Fort Bragg, NC.
10 JUL 1973
96th Civil Affairs Battalion Relocated From Fort Lee, VA, to Fort Bragg, NC.
Contextual events
27 JAN 1973 Paris Peace Accords formalized the Vietnam ceasefire agreement between the U.S., North and South Vietnam, and the Viet Cong
29 MAR 1973 The last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam
4 APR 1973 World Trade Center, the world’s tallest building, opened
14 MAY 1973 The U.S. launched Skylab, its first space station
11 SEP 1973 A military coup removed Chilean President Salvador Allende; Augusto Pinochet assumed power two days later
6 OCT 1973 Yom Kippur War (October War) began when Egyptian troops crossed the Suez Canal, rupturing the Israeli defensive line, and Syria attacked Israeli positions in the Golan Heights
17 OCT 1973 OPEC declared an oil embargo on the U.S., and other Western nations supporting Israel
1974
31 JAN 1974
Army Chief of Staff Directed the Establishment of a Ranger Battalion.
27 JUN 1974
1st SFG Inactivated at Fort Bragg, NC.
1 JUL 1974
1st Ranger Battalion Parachuted into Fort Stewart, GA, and Activated.
1 OCT 1974
2nd Ranger Battalion Activated at Fort Lewis, WA.
21 DEC 1974
96th Civil Affairs Battalion Activated. The 96th CA Battalion remained the only active duty CA unit in the Army.
Contextual events
17 MAY 1974 Donald DeFreeze (Field Marshal Cinque), leader of the Symbionese Liberation Army, died in a shootout with Los Angeles Police
18 MAY 1974 India successfully tested a nuclear bomb, becoming the first nuclear power outside of the UN Security Council
8 AUG 1974 President Nixon announced his resignation as a result of the Watergate Scandal; Vice President Gerald R. Ford was sworn in as President the following day
Post-Vietnam War
Post-Vietnam War
30 APR 1975 – 27 NOV 1990
1975
30 OCT 1975
PSYOP Realignments. HHD, 2nd POG withdrawn from the Regular Army and allotted to the USAR in Parma, OH. Also, HHD, 7th POG transferred from the Regular Army (later moving to Moffett Field, CA).
31 DEC 1975
SF at a Low Point. The year ends with the Regiment down to three active duty Groups and attempting to remain relevant in the post-Vietnam Army.
Contextual events
13 APR 1975 Civil war erupted in Lebanon, lasting until 1990
17 APR 1975 The Communist Party of Kampuchea, the “Khmer Rouge,” captured Phnom Penh, ending the Cambodian Civil War
30 APR 1975 Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon to the North Vietnamese Army
12 MAY 1975 U.S. merchant ship SS Mayaguez seized in international waters by Khmer Rouge forces in Cambodia; 41 U.S. servicemen were killed in a rescue operation just before hostages were released
2 NOV 1976 James E. ‘Jimmy’ Carter elected President
1977
5 NOV 1977
SF Blue Light Teams. 5th SFG establishes SF BLUE LIGHT Teams. Three Assault Teams formed and trained at Mott Lake on Fort Bragg, NC. In August 1978 the BLUE LIGHT program ended.
Contextual events
21 JAN 1977 President Carter pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders
9-11 MAR 1977 Islamic radicals seized 149 hostages in Washington, DC, killing 2
16-17 APR 1977 Apple II computer introduced
26 OCT 1977 The world’s last naturally occurring case of smallpox was recorded
1978
1 SEP 1978
Redesignated. Support Operations Task Force Europe redesignated as the Special Operations Task Force Europe.
Contextual events
14-15 MAR 1978 Israel invaded Lebanon
27 APR 1978 Communist rebels killed Afghan President Mohammed Daoud Khan and overthrew the government
5-17 SEP 1978 President Carter hosted Camp David peace talks between Israel and Egypt, laying the groundwork for an Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty the following year
8 SEP 1978 Scores of protesters killed in Iran; Shah imposed martial law
25 DEC 1978 Vietnam invaded Cambodia, capturing Phnom-Penh within two weeks; the resulting Vietnamese occupation lasted until 1989
1979
28 MAY 1979
‘Quiet Professional’ Article Published. The Army Times published the article “SF: No More Hot-Dogging,” by COL Charles A. Fry. The opinion piece advocates greater SF professionalism and support to the Army.
Contextual events
16 JAN 1979 Shah of Iran forced into exile; Ayatollah Sayyid Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile on 1 FEB, and Islamic Republic of Iran declared on 1 APR
4 MAY 1979 Margaret Thatcher became first female Prime Minister of Great Britain
17 JUL 1979 Dictator Anastasio Somoza fled Nicaragua; Cuban-backed Sandinistas established a government 3 days later
4 NOV 1979 An Iranian mob seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 63 hostages
21 NOV 1979 Mob burned the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan, killing a U.S. Marine
24 DEC 1979 Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan
1980
25 APR 1980
Operation EAGLE CLAW. A joint attempt (including Special Forces and Ranger elements) failed to rescue American Embassy hostages held in Tehran. It exposed shortcomings in America’s Special Operations capabilities that led to several new commands and legislative reforms.
15 DEC 1980
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) Formed.
Contextual events
22 FEB 1980 At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, the U.S. ice hockey team defeated the heavily favored Soviet team in what became known as the “Miracle on Ice”
21 MAR 1980 Protesting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, President Carter announced a U.S. boycott of the upcoming Summer Olympics in Moscow
22 SEP 1980 Iraq invaded Iran
4 NOV 1980 Ronald W. Reagan elected U.S. President
1981
10 JAN 1981
SF in El Salvador. Special Forces arrived in El Salvador to train its soldiers in their war against leftist rebels. This training mission lasted until February 1992.
16 OCT 1981
160th Aviation Battalion Activated at Fort Campbell, KY. Provisionally activated on 15 August 1981, the battalion, better known as Task Force-160, was comprised of units from the 101st Airborne Division.
Contextual events
20 JAN 1981 Iran released the remaining 52 Americans hostages after 444 days of captivity
30 MAR 1981 President Reagan was shot by John Hinckley, Jr. in a failed assassination attempt
6 OCT 1981 President Anwar Sadat of Egypt assassinated; he was succeeded by Hosni Mubarak, who was sworn in on 15 OCT
1982
1 JUN 1982
Realignment. The U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center designated as a separate TRADOC activity when CONARC split into FORSCOM and TRADOC.
1 OCT 1982
1st Special Operations Command (P) Activated at Fort Bragg, NC.
Contextual events
28 JAN 1982 BG James L. Dozier was rescued after being held captive for 42 days by the Italian terrorist group Red Brigade
2 APR 1982 Argentina invaded the Falklands Islands; British victory in the subsequent war hastened the downfall of military rule in Argentina
30 JUN 1982 Deadline passed with the Equal Rights Amendment three states short of ratification
25 AUG 1982 U.S. Marines landed in Lebanon as part of a multinational force to oversee the evacuation of Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) guerrillas under Israeli siege
13 NOV 1982 The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC
1983
17 JUN 1983
Department of the Army Authorized a Special Forces Tab For Wear by Qualified Soldiers. The tab bore the same colors as those used for Special Forces Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.
23 OCT 1983
Operation URGENT FURY. The 1st & 2nd Ranger Battalions conducted a parachute assault on Point Salinas airfield in Grenada. On 25 October, elements of TF-160 and ARSOF elements participated in the assault on the Richmond Hill Prison. Tactical PSYOP teams broadcasted surrender appeals to People’s Revolutionary Army soldiers and their Cuban advisors. CA helped the Grenadian government transition to post-Communism.
Contextual events
23 MAR 1983 President Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative, a space-based missile defense program, to defend the U.S. against nuclear attack
1 SEP 1983 Soviets shot down a Korean airliner killing 269 passengers, including a U.S. Representative, after the flight deviated into prohibited Soviet airspace
25 OCT 1983 The U.S. invaded Grenada to protect American citizens and remove the Cuban-aligned Revolutionary Military Council
1984
16 APR 1984
Physical Security Support Element Activated in Berlin, West Germany. Replaced Detachment A (39th SFOD).
4 SEP 1984
1st SFG Reactivated at Fort Lewis, WA.
3 OCT 1984
Rangers Received Colors. 3rd Ranger Battalion and the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 75th Regiment received their colors at Fort Benning, GA.
Contextual events
16 MAR 1984 William Francis Buckley, CIA station chief in Beirut, was kidnapped, and later tortured and killed by Islamic Jihad
8 MAY 1984 Soviet Union announced it would boycott the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles
12 OCT 1984 The Provisional Irish Republican Army attempted to assassinate British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
6 NOV 1984 President Reagan was reelected
2-3 DEC 1984 A chemical explosion and fire in Bhopal, India, killed more than 23,000 people
1985
16 JAN 1985
160th Aviation Battalion Reassigned. It transferred from 101st Airborne Division to 1st SOCOM.
1 OCT 1985
PSYOP MOS Established. Psychological Operations Specialist Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 96F established. Implemented 16 October 1985.
Contextual events
16 MAR 1985 Associated Press reporter Terry Anderson was taken hostage in Beirut by Hezbollah, and held six years
14 JUN 1985 Hezbollah hijacked TWA Flight 847, and beat Navy SW2 Robert D. Stethem to death
10 JUL 1985 Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior was sunk by French agents in Auckland, New Zealand
7 OCT 1985 Cruise ship Achille Lauro hijacked by Palestinian terrorists
1986
3 FEB 1986
75th Infantry Regiment Redesignated the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, GA.
17 SEP 1986
112th Signal Battalion Reactivated at Fort Bragg, NC. Placed under 1st SOCOM to provide enhanced communications capabilities for ARSOF.
3 OCT 1986
129th Aviation Company. Activated 129th Special Operations Aviation Company at Hunter Army Airfield, GA. On 16 June 1988, the unit was inactivated and formed the nucleus of A Company, 3-160th.
16 OCT 1986
160th Special Operations Aviation Group (SOAG) Activated at Fort Campbell, KY. The 160th Aviation Battalion and the 160th SOAG co-existed until 1990.
Contextual events
28 JAN 1986 U.S. space shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after takeoff, killing all 7 on board, including schoolteacher Sharon Christa McAuliffe
5 APR 1986 Libyan agents detonated a bomb at a discotheque in West Berlin, killing 3 people, including 2 U.S. soldiers, and injuring over 200 others
15 APR 1986 U.S. conducted air strikes near Tripoli and Benghazi, in Libya, in response to Libyan support for international terrorism
26 APR 1986 An accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, in northern Ukraine, released radiation that spread across Europe
1987
20 MAR 1987
TF-160 “Night Stalkers” DUI Approved.
9 APR 1987
Special Forces Branch Established. Created the 18-series Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) and the 180A MOS for Special Forces Warrant Officers.
16 APR 1987
USSOCOM Activated. DoD activated the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at MacDill AFB, FL, under GEN James L. Lindsay. It provided unified command and control for all special operations forces.
16 MAY 1987
13th Support Battalion (Special Operations) Redesignated. 13th Support Battalion (Special Operations) redesignated as the 528th Support Battalion (Special Operations) at Fort Bragg, NC. Constituted in the Regular Army to provide dedicated logistics support to 1st SOCOM.
24 JUL 1987
Operation EARNEST WILL. The first combat action involving USSOCOM elements began in the Persian Gulf. Elements of 160th SOAG deployed to the region and operated off Mobile Sea-Based Platforms (Operation PRIME CHANCE) to protect re-flagged oil tankers and interdict Iranian gunboats.
15 OCT 1987
Active and USAR Civil Affairs and PSYOP Units Assigned to USSOCOM.
Contextual events
5 MAY 1987 Joint Congressional hearings into the sale of U.S. arms to Iran in exchange for the release of hostages, and money to finance anti-Sandinista “Contras” in Nicaragua, the “Iran-Contra Affair,” began
17 MAY 1987 USS Stark hit by two Iraqi missiles, killing 47 U.S. Navy sailors
12 JUN 1987 President Reagan challenged Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev to “Tear down this [Berlin] wall”
8 DEC 1987 The U.S. and Soviet Union signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, leading to the destruction of nearly 3,000 missiles by June 1991
1988
16 JAN 1988
160th Aviation Battalion Reorganized into 160th Aviation Regiment Under the U.S. Army Regimental System.
29 FEB 1988
First Non-Commissioned Officers Academy (NCOA) Class Convened at USAJFKSWCS.
10 JUN 1988
5th SFG Relocated From Fort Bragg, NC, to Fort Campbell, KY.
12 JUN 1988
Operation MOUNT HOPE III. MH-47 Chinooks from 2/160th recovered a Soviet-made Mi-24 Hind helicopter from the desert of northern Chad.
12 JUN 1988
Initial Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) Course Began at SWCS. The class lasted for three weeks.
1 DEC 1988
U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Formed Provisionally at Fort Bragg, NC. On 1 December 1989 it was formally activated as a Major Army Command (MACOM) and the Army Service Component Command for USSOCOM.
Contextual events
16 MAR 1988 Iraq dropped chemical bombs on the Kurdish town of Halabja, resulting in international condemnation
20 AUG 1988 A formal ceasefire ended the 8-year-long Iran-Iraq War
8 NOV 1988 George H. W. Bush elected U.S. President
14 NOV 1988 The PLO recognized Israel’s right to exist, declared Palestine an independent state, and called for an international peace conference
21 DEC 1988 Libyan intelligence agents detonated a bomb on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people, including 189 Americans, in retaliation for the 1986 U.S. bombing campaign against Libya
1989
15 JUN 1989
1st Special Warfare Training Group Formed at the USAJFKSWCS. It consolidated many of USAJFKSWCS’ training and support management functions within one unit.
20 SEP 1989
PSYOP Response to Hurricane Hugo. 6th POB personnel deployed to Saint Croix and the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of JTF-140 to provide Humanitarian Relief after Hurricane Hugo.
1 DEC 1989
U.S. Army Reserve Special Operations Command (P) Activated.
20 DEC 1989
Operation JUST CAUSE Began in Panama. USASOC’s first combat operation began in Panama in support of the XVIII Airborne Corps/JTF-South. The Ranger Regiment conducted parachute assaults at several locations, and elements of the 7th SFG and 617th SOAD conducted missions around the country. Other SOF elements, supported by the 160th SOAG, participated in key missions, including the rescue of Kurt Muse from the Modelo Prison.
PSYOP products encouraged Panamanian Defense Forces to surrender and with CA elements enhanced the safety of the civilian population. The 528th Support Battalion provided a Forward Arming and Refueling Point for aviation assets, and a wide array of logistics support to Army Special Operations Forces elements in theater. The 112th Signal Battalion deployed teams to create secure communications links for deployed Special Operations elements.
Contextual events
15 FEB 1989 The last Soviet troops departed Afghanistan
10 MAY 1989 Rioters in Panama protesting against fraudulent election results were attacked by Manuel Noriega’s forces
4 JUN 1989 Chinese troops killed hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square
9 NOV 1989 East German guards allowed thousands of Berliners across the border into the western part of the city, leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall and foreshadowing the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe
20 DEC 1989 In Operation JUST CAUSE, U.S. troops invaded Panama to remove Manuel Noriega
1990
20 JUN 1990
USAJFKSWCS Reassigned. U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center and School reassigned from TRADOC to USASOC. This gave USASOC control of all ARSOF components, with the exception of forward-deployed units.
28 JUN 1990
160th Aviation Regiment and SOAG Combine to Become 160th SOAR. An administrative formality, the 160th Aviation Regiment combines with HHC, 160th SOAG to become the 160th Aviation Regiment (Special Operations), consolidating Special Operations Aviation units under one Command. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment was assigned to USASOC.
29 JUN 1990
3rd SFG was reactivated at Fort Bragg, NC.
2 AUG 1990
5th SFG Supported Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM. 5th SFG operational in Southwest Asia in support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. Established a Special Forces Operating Base at King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia.
7 AUG 1990
Deployment Order for Operation DESERT SHIELD. Elements of 3rd, 5th, and 10th SFGs, and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment depart for the Middle East. During DESERT SHIELD, and later DESERT STORM, they conducted Foreign Internal Defense, Special Reconnaissance, Direct Action, Personnel Recovery/Combat Search and Rescue, and Coalition Support missions.
21 SEP 1990
3rd-7th SFG Relocated From Panama to Fort Bragg, NC. Company C remained in Panama, eventually relocating to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, before moving to Fort Bragg.
1 OCT 1990
PSYOP MOS 96F converted to 37F.
27 NOV 1990
ARSOF Reorganizations. 1st SOCOM redesignated as U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, NC. That same date, the 112th Signal Battalion (Special Operations) (Airborne) was assigned to U.S. Army Special Forces Command. Also, the U.S. Army Reserve Special Operations Command was inactivated and the U.S. Army Civil Affairs/Psychological Operations Command (USACAPOC) created and assigned to USASOC.
Contextual events
3 JAN 1990 Noriega surrendered to U.S. forces
25 APR 1990 Violetta Chamorro became president in first peaceful transition of power in over 50 years in Nicaragua, after defeating the Sandinista candidate in February elections.
2 AUG 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait, leading to Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM
3 OCT 1990 East and West Germany were formally reunified
8 OCT 1990 A symbol of globalization, the first McDonald’s restaurant opened in mainland China
Post-Cold War
Post-Cold War
1991 – 2000
The end of the Cold War led ARSOF to reorient from countering communist aggression to promoting democracy, mitigating humanitarian crises, and confronting rogue actors. In the waning days of the Cold War, ARSOF provided key support to the mission to remove Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega during Operation JUST CAUSE. During Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM, ARSOF was critical to the U.S.-led coalition’s defense of Saudi Arabia and liberation of Kuwait. Other ARSOF deployments during the 1990s included United Nations peacekeeping, non-combatant evacuations, and multilateral efforts in Somalia, Haiti, the Balkans, throughout Africa, and in Latin America. In addition, there were increased terrorist attacks against U.S. targets, culminating in the devastating 11 September 2001 attack that cost nearly 3,000 American lives.
1991
17 JAN 1991
PSYOP Supported Operation DESERT STORM. The Joint Psychological Operations Task Force (JPOTF) disseminated more than 25 million leaflets, hundreds of video and audiotapes, Voice of the Gulf radio broadcasts, and loudspeaker messages.
12 FEB 1991
Rangers Deployed to Operation DESERT STORM. 1st Ranger Battalion deployed through 15 April 1991.
17 FEB 1991
160th SOAR Conducted CSAR Mission. Pilots and crew from two 3/160th Black Hawks, and a security element from 5th SFG rescued an Air Force pilot behind Iraqi lines. One of the few downed-pilot recoveries of the war, it was the only one conducted under night vision goggles.
23 FEB 1991
3-160th SOAR Extracted 5th SFGODA. 3-160th MH-60 Blackhawks extracted a compromised reconnaissance 5th SFG ODA under fire.
26 FEB 1991
Company B, 96th CA Battalion Occupied as Salmon in Iraq. Occupation ended on 24 March 1991.
11 APR 1991
Operation PROVIDE COMFORT. 4th POG and Civil Affairs units assisted the Kurds in Northern Iraq. Their operations continued until 24 July 1991.
11 APR 1991
Operation PROVIDE COMFORT. 10th SFG conducted operations in Northern Iraq and Turkey.
Contextual events
27 FEB 1991 U.S. President Bush announced that U.S. military objectives in Operation DESERT STORM were met, having defeated the Iraqi army and liberated Kuwait
12 JUN 1991 Russia held its first presidential election, won by Boris Yeltsin
25 JUN 1991 Slovenia and Croatia declared formal independence from Yugoslavia; war followed
18-21 SEP 1991 Hard-liners in the Communist Party attempted a coup against Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev; its failure weakened both Gorbachev and the Communist Party
18 NOV 1991 Yugoslav People’s Army massacred hundreds of Croatian civilians after a three month siege that destroyed the city of Vukovar
25 DEC 1991 Gorbachev resigned as president, and the Supreme Soviet dissolved the Soviet Union the following day
1992
1992
Long-term process of fielding MH-60Ks, MH-47Es, and MH-60Ls began. 1/160th was to receive the MH-60Ks and Defensive Armed Penetrators; 2/160th was to receive the MH-47Es; and 3/160th was to get aerial refuelable MH-47Ds from 2/160th.
24 AUG 1992
Hurricane Andrew Hit SE U.S. A POTF deployed to Dade County, FL, to provide public service announcements for the humanitarian effort. The 112th Signal Battalion dispatched teams to provide communications support for Special Forces working in the affected area.
9 DEC 1992
Operation RESTORE HOPE. Elements of the 4th POG and 96th CA Battalion deployed to Somalia as part of the U.S.-led Unified Task Force (UNITAF) Somalia.
Contextual events
7 APR 1992 The U.S. and European Community recognized Bosnia-Herzegovina’s independence from Yugoslavia; Bosnian Serbs began bombarding Sarajevo, and pursued “ethnic cleansing” of Bosniaks
29 APR 1992 Riots ensued after five Los Angeles police officers were acquitted for the beating of Rodney G. King, killing 63, injuring thousands, and resulting in over 6,000 arrests
30 MAY 1992 UN enacted economic and diplomatic sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro due to their failure to respect a ceasefire in Bosnia-Herzegovina
4 NOV 1992 William J. ‘Bill’ Clinton elected U.S. President
1993
12 JAN 1993
Operation RESTORE HOPE. The 5th SFG established Forward Operating Base 52 in Mogadishu, Somalia.
3 MAR 1993
CA and PSYOP Officially Designated Special Operations Forces.
8 AUG 1993
Rangers Deployed to Operation RESTORE HOPE. 3rd Ranger Battalion deployed to conduct combat operations.
22 AUG 1993
JSOTF Task Force Ranger is Formed in Somalia. Secretary of Defense, Leslie ‘Les’ Aspin Jr., directed the forming of a joint special operations task force (JSOTF) (named Task Force Ranger) in Somalia. The Task Force is formed as a result of attacks made by Somali warlords on American and United Nations forces and installations conducting humanitarian assistance missions. All elements of Task Force Ranger arrive in Somalia by 28 August.
21 SEP 1993
Elements of Task Force Ranger Captured Osman Atto. Atto, a senior adviser and chief financier for warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed, and three bodyguards were detained in a daylight raid near the Digfer Hospital in Mogadishu. During the raid, for the first time U.S. helicopters received heavy Rocket-propelled Grenade (RPG) fires from Somali militia.
3 OCT 1993
Operation GOTHIC SERPENT. TF RANGER (Ranger and SOF elements) conducted operations in Mogadishu, Somalia, to capture leaders of Warlord Farrah Aideed’s forces. The largest combat action since Vietnam, it ended badly when two MH-60 helicopters were shot down and eighteen soldiers killed in the ensuing rescue attempt. MSG Gary I. Gordon and SFG Randall D. Shughart earned the Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously, for their defense of the crew of one of the Black Hawks.
Contextual events
26 FEB 1993 Islamic terrorists detonated a truck bomb at the World Trade Center attempting to bring down the Twin Towers, killing 6 and injuring over 1,000
19 APR 1993 The 51-day standoff between members of the Branch Davidian religious sect and federal agents near Waco, Texas, ended when the group’s compound was destroyed by fire, killing nearly 80 people
5 JUNE 1993 24 Pakistani troops serving in a UN peacekeeping force were killed in Mogadishu, Somalia
13 SEP 1993 Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat signed the Oslo Accords, agreeing to limited Palestinian autonomy
1 NOV 1993 Treaty of Maastricht went into effect, establishing the European Union
1994
26 JUL 1994
Diving Tower Became Operational. Free Ascent Diving Tower at the Special Forces Underwater Warfare Operations (SFUWO) School became operational.
15 SEP 1994
USAR 11th and 12th SFGs Inactivated.
19 SEP 1994
Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ranger Battalions, elements of 160th SOAR, and the 3rd SFG prepared to deploy from the aircraft carrier USS America (CV-66) as part of an invasion of Haiti. 3rd SFG formed the ARSOTF. The invasion was cancelled and replaced by a peacekeeping mission, Operation UPHOLD DEMOCRACY, where 96th CA and Army Reserve CA elements, along with PSYOP forces deployed to Haiti to aid in restoring Jean-Bertrand Aristide to the presidency.
1 OCT 1994
Military Freefall Parachutist Badge Approved. Initially only for qualified soldiers assigned to USASOC; unrestricted wear authorized on 7 July 1997.
Contextual events
6 APR 1994 The Hutu majority rose up against the Tutsi minority government, killing over 800,000 in three months during the Rwandan genocide
4 MAY 1994 Cairo Agreement granted limited self-rule to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and Jericho; Yasser Arafat returned from exile on 1 JUL to lead the Palestinian Authority
10 MAY 1994 Nelson Mandela became South Africa’s first black President
11 DEC 1994 Russian troops stormed the secessionist republic of Chechnya, launching a war that killed 100,000 by the end of the decade
1995
15 SEP 1995
USAR 11th and 12th SFGs Inactivated.
15 SEP 1995
10th SFG Relocated to Fort Carson, CO.
15 SEP 1995
Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR. Elements of the 1st, 3rd, and 10th SFGs deployed to Bosnia. 160th SOAR supported ARSOF and NATO forces from December 1995 until April 1996.
16 NOV 1995
112th Signal Battalion fielded five forward-deployed signal detachments, to provide a ‘crashout’ communications capability to the overseas Theater Special Operations Commands. The detachments were designated:
112th Signal Det. - Europe
112th Signal Det. - South
112th Signal Det. - Pacific
112th Signal Det. - Central
112th Signal Det. - Korea
16 NOV 1995
3rd PSYOP Battalion Activated at Fort Bragg, NC. Personnel came from the PSYOP Dissemination Battalion.
16 NOV 1995
PSYOP Support to Operation ASSURED RESPONSE. Mission was a Non-combatant Evacuation Operation in Liberia.
8 DEC 1995
U.S. Army Special Operations Support Command (SOSC) Activated at Fort Bragg, NC. Subordinate units included the 528th Support Battalion and the 112th Signal Battalion.
26 DEC 1995
Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR. CA elements ordered to Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR in Bosnia, beginning years of CA involvement in the Balkans.
Contextual events
6 JAN 1995 Bomb-making materials and plans for ‘Operation Bojinka,’ the downing of a dozen jetliners by terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda, discovered in Manila, Philippines
20 MAR 1995 The radical group Aum Shinrikyu released Sarin gas in the Tokyo subway system, killing 13 and injuring over 5,000 people
19 APR 1995 Timothy McVeigh bombed the Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, killing 168
2 JUN 1995 Serbians shot down a USAF F-16; CPT Scott Grady rescued six days later
14-16 JUL 1995 Over 7,000 Bosniak men massacred by Serbs at Srebrenica
14 DEC 1995 The Dayton Agreement ended the war in Bosnia
1996
13 APR 1996
Operation ASSURED RESPONSE. A Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) in Liberia was supported by 160th SOAR and 10th SFG.
2 DEC 1996
United Nations Humanitarian Efforts in Rwanda and Zaire. Civil Affairs and PSYOP units deployed to support the UN mission.
Contextual events
2 JAN 1996 U.S. troops entered Bosnia as part of a peacekeeping mission
APR 1996 Pogrom against Tutsis in Zaire resulted in a refugee crisis in Rwanda that ignited conflict between the two countries, and a series of wars across sub-Saharan Africa that killed roughly 4 million people by 2003
25 JUN 1996 Khobar Towers bombed in Saudi Arabia, killing 19 U.S. servicemen
27 JUL 1996 At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, a bomb planted by a domestic terrorist detonated in the Centennial Olympic Park, killing 2 and injuring over 100
26 SEP 1996 Taliban stormed the presidential palace, and the Afghan government withdrew from capital city, Kabul; Taliban occupied the city the following day
5 NOV 1996 President Clinton reelected
1997
Contextual events
1 JUL 1997 Hong Kong was formally returned to China after 150 years of British rule
31 AUG 1997 Princess Diana died in an auto accident
5 SEP 1997 Mother Teresa of Calcutta died; she was canonized in 2016
4 DEC 1997 133 countries signed a UN prohibition on the use of land mines
1998
2 JULY 1998
Operation JOINT FORGE. Four reserve PSYOP elements ordered to support the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.
18 NOV 1998
PSYOP Regiment Established.
Contextual events
11 MAY 1998 India resumed nuclear testing after a 24-year hiatus, exploding three warheads; arch-rival Pakistan tested five nuclear weapons on 29 MAY
7 AUG 1998 Terrorists linked to Al Qaeda bombed U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, killing 224, including 12 Americans, and injuring over 4,500
16 DEC 1998 President Clinton ordered airstrikes against Iraq in response to Saddam Hussein’s failure to comply with UN weapons inspectors
19 DEC 1998 U.S. House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against President Clinton
1999
3 APR 1999
PSYOP in the Balkans. PSYOP units prepared to deploy in support of international humanitarian efforts in that region.
Contextual events
12 FEB 1999 U.S. Senate voted to acquit President Clinton on impeachment charges
12 MAR 1999 Former Warsaw Pact countries Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic formally acceded to the Washington Treaty and joined NATO
24 MAR-10 JUN NATO conducted a campaign of air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, leading to Yugoslav withdrawal from Kosovo, and the establishment of a NATO peacekeeping force
20 APR 1999 Two students at Columbine High School, Colorado, killed over a dozen people and wounded 21 others; the worst school shooting in U.S. history to date, it shocked the nation
31 DEC 1999 Boris Yeltsin resigned; Vladimir Putin, named Prime Minister in August, became acting President of the Russian Federation
2000
24 NOV 2000
Task Force FALCON in Kosovo. The 75th Ranger Regimental Reconnaissance Detachment’s Team 2 and a C2 element deployed.
Contextual events
24 MAY 2000 Israeli forces withdrew from southern Lebanon, territory they first occupied in 1982
12 AUG 2000 Russian nuclear submarine Kursk destroyed by its own torpedo, all 118 crew killed
12 OCT 2000 Al Qaeda suicide bombers detonated a small boat alongside the USS Cole, harbored in Yemen, killing 17 U.S. sailors and wounding 39
7 NOV 2000 U.S. presidential election between Democrat Albert A. Gore, Jr. and Republican George W. Bush was “too close to call,” forcing an extended ballot recount in Florida
13 DEC 2000 Gore accepted a Supreme Court decision to end the Florida recount, conceding the election to Bush
2001
27 MAY 2001
Philippine Terrorist Group Captured Three Americans. The incident speeded up Operation FREEDOM EAGLE, a SOCPAC initiative where elements of 1st SFG deployed to train select Philippine Army troops. In January 2002 this effort became Operation ENDURING FREEDOM-PHILIPPINES (OEF-P).
Post-9/11 Operations
Post-9/11 Ops
11 SEP 2001 – Ongoing
Soon after 9/11, ARSOF elements spearheaded Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, taking the fight to Al Qaeda, the terrorist organization responsible for the attacks. Since then, ARSOF has remained at the forefront of the global campaign against violent extremism, while posturing to meet ‘near-peer’ threats. With Special Operations soldiers from all ‘tribes’ operating across the world, ARSOF gradually expanded to meet increased operational demands. New organizations included the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, 1st Special Forces Command, 8th Psychological Operations Group, 95th Civil Affairs Brigade, and 528th Sustainment Brigade (Special Operations).
2001
4 OCT 2001
JPOTF Established to Support Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. PSYOP radio broadcasts from EC-130 Commando Solo aircraft began the next day and leaflet drops in Afghanistan began ten days later. JPOTF then deployed to Tampa, FL.
16 OCT 2001
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) Initiated. Two MH-60L Direct Action Penetrators (DAPS) conducted the first air infiltrations into Afghanistan. The night flight from K-2 Airfield in Uzbekistan to LZ ALBATROSS inserted Special Forces teams of TF DAGGER (5th SFG) to link up with Northern Alliance forces.
19 OCT 2001
Ranger Parachute Assault on Objective RHINO. 3rd Ranger Battalion conducted a parachute assault on Objective RHINO, an airfield south of Kandahar, Afghanistan.
13 NOV 2001
Ranger Parachute Assault on Objective BASTOGNE. Rangers seized Objective BASTOGNE. Four AH-6 ‘Little Bird’ attack helicopters delivered via MC-130 attacked two separate targets at night before evacuating the objective.
10 DEC 2001
5th SFG Raised U.S. Flag Over American Embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan.
Contextual events
9 SEP 2001 Ahmad Shah Massoud, leader of opposition against the Taliban, was assassinated
11 SEP 2001 Al Qaeda conducted a series of terror attacks using hijacked airplanes in New York, Washington DC, and over Pennsylvania, killing nearly 3,000, and injuring over 6,000
20 SEP 2001 In an address before a Joint Session of Congress, President Bush declared a “war on terror” to defeat Al Qaeda, and “every terrorist group of global reach”
7 OCT 2001 Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan began with a coalition bombing campaign against Taliban and Al Qaeda forces
5 DEC 2001 Interim government established in Afghanistan; the Taliban regime collapsed 4 days later
2002
20 JAN 2002
Combat Search and Rescue. 160th SOAR scrambled two MH-47E Chinooks to recover the survivors of a crashed Marine helicopter from a high mountain outside Bagram.
17 FEB 2002
ARSOF began arriving in Uzbekistan. Elements of the 19th SFG and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment stage out of K-2 Airfield for the invasion of Afghanistan.
4 MAR 2002
Battle of Takur Ghar Began in Afghanistan.
1 APR 2002
20th SFG (ARNG) in OEF. 20th SFG elements deployed to Afghanistan and served under the newly formed CJSOTF-A headquarters.
1 MAY 2002
1st Battalion, 3rd SFG Began Recruiting For Afghan National Army.
19 JUN 2002
Military Information Support Team (MIST) Deployed to Afghanistan. MIST arrived to support the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.
15 NOV 2002
PSYOP Initiated in Iraq. USCENTCOM authorized a JPOTF to begin pre-hostility operations. JPOTF effort intensified in early 2003.
Contextual events
16 JAN 2002 UN Security Council called on member states to enact economic sanctions and an arms embargo, and refuse travel for Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban
23 JAN 2002Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped by Pakistani terrorists, and later executed
29 JAN 2002 In his State of the Union Address, President Bush described Iraq, Iran, and North Korea as an “Axis of Evil” pursuing weapons of mass destruction and supporting international terrorism
12 OCT 2002 Bombings by terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah killed 202 in Bali, Indonesia
8 NOV 2002 UN Resolution 1441 ordered Saddam Hussein to allow international inspectors to dismantle his weapons program or “face serious consequences”
2003
2003
Special Operations Support Command became ‘operationalized’ when its command group deployed to Iraq to provide a command and control headquarters for Logistics Task Force - West.
20 MAR 2003
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Began in Iraq. Various Psychological Operations units and task forces supported OIF, including the USCENTCOM JPOTF, a Military Information Support Team, and tactical elements. Bravo Forward Support Company, 528th Support Battalion supported Task Force Viking in Northern Iraq. Company B, 112th Signal Battalion provided communications support to Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - North. Special Operations Support Command became ‘operationalized’ when its command group deployed to Iraq to provide a command and control headquarters for Logistics Task Force - West.
22 Mar 2003
TF HUNTER Formed. Ranger elements combined with HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) to target enemy forces. Also, 160th SOAR inserted Special Forces teams into the Karbala Gap, Iraq, to provide reconnaissance for the conventional forces driving on Baghdad.
26 MAR 2003
Rangers Assaulted Objective BEAVER. 160th SOAR aircraft inserted 2/75th Rangers into Objective BEAVER, a suspected chemical and biological weapons development facility. After providing fire support, the 160th SOAR successfully evacuated the Rangers following a sustained firefight.
28 MAR 2003
Operation VIKING HAMMER. TF VIKING’s mission in Northern Iraq was to reinforce Kurdish Peshmerga forces arrayed against the Iraqi Army and to eliminate the terrorist Ansar Al-Islam group.
28 MAR 2003
3/75th Rangers Assaulted Objective SERPENT.
31 MAR 2003
Rangers Seized Haditha Dam Complex. Company B, 3/75th Rangers, seized Objective LYNX, the Haditha Dam complex northwest of Baghdad, and held it for eight days. On 6 April, 160th SOAR AH-6 Little Birds provided aerial reconnaissance and fire support.
1 APR 2003
Operation BARRACUDA. Army Special Operations Forces participated in the successful mission to rescue Private First Class Jessica Lynch from captivity in a hospital in Nasiriya, Iraq. She had been captured by Iraqi forces after her unit, the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company, was ambushed on 23 March 2003.
2 APR 2003
160th SOAR Provided Support at Lake Thar Thar. 1st Battalion provided fire support and casualty evacuation for ARSOF units in heavy contact at the Lake Thar Thar palace complex.
2 MAY 2003
CJSOTF-AP Assumed Operational Control of the Majority of SOF in Iraq.
23 MAY 2003
Mi-17 HIP Recovered. 2/160th SOAR recovered an Iraqi Mi-17 HIP, airlifting the helicopter out of a date palm grove.
11 JUN 2003
Rangers Assaulted Objective REINDEER. Elements of 160th SOAR provided airlift to 2/75th Rangers in the assault on an Islamic terrorist training camp. More than 70 terrorists were killed.
17 JULY 2003
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Objectives Changed. CJTF-7 and JPOTF received new guidance directing them to emphasize cooperation with civil authorities and coalition forces in Iraq.
31 AUG 2003
Company D, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment transfered to Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia.
Contextual events
1 FEB 2003 U.S. space shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry to Earth’s atmosphere
19 MAR 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom began with U.S. strikes on selected targets in Iraq
9 APR 2003 U.S. forces took control of Baghdad, signaling the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime
17 JUL 2003 Swearing-in of Transitional Government in the Democratic Republic of the Congo officially ended the Second Congo War
13 DEC 2003 Saddam Hussein was captured in ad-Dawr, near Tikrit, Iraq
2004
7 SEP 2004
Special Operations Diver Badge Approved.
Contextual events
11 MAR 2004 Terrorists bombed four commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, killing 191 people and injuring over 2,000
30 JUN 2004 U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority transferred governmental authority to the Iraqi Interim Government, restoring Iraq’s sovereignty
2 NOV 2004 President Bush reelected
7 NOV-23 DEC 2004 U.S., British, and Iraqi forces retook Fallujah, Iraq, from Islamic insurgents
26 DEC 2004 An earthquake in the Indian Ocean created a tsunami that killed over 227,000 people in 14 countries
2005
Contextual events
30 JAN 2005 Free elections were held in Iraq for the first time in five decades; Shi’ite and Kurdish parties fared well, but many of Iraq’s Sunni minority boycotted
7 JUL 2005 Islamic terrorists conducted a series of suicide attacks targeting the London transportation system, killing 52 and injuring over 700
29 AUG 2005 Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans, Louisiana, devastating the city; in all, it killed over 1,000 people and caused over $100 billion in damage
19 OCT 2005 Saddam Hussein’s trial for crimes against humanity began in Iraq
15 DEC 2005 Sunni Iraqis, who boycotted earlier elections, participated in Iraqi parliamentary elections, raising hopes of sectarian reconciliation
2006
17 JUL 2006
Special Troops Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment (P) Activated at Fort Benning, GA.
15 AUG 2006
SSI for 95th Civil Affairs Brigade Approved.
1 OCT 2006
USACAPOC Reassigned. The U.S. Army Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command reassigned from USASOC to the U.S. Army Reserve Command. USASOC retained control over active duty CA and PSYOP elements.
16 OCT 2006
PSYOP and Civil Affairs Established as Branches in the Regular Army. USASOC designated as Army Service Component Command of USSOCOM.
27 NOV 2006
Valiant 41. 160th SOAR AH-6 Little Birds provided fire support to ARSOF units in contact near Balad, Iraq, preventing them from being overrun.
Contextual events
22 FEB 2006 The bombing of the Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra increased sectarian tensions and pushed Iraq closer to civil war
27 APR 2006 Construction began on One World Trade Center, the “Freedom Tower” in New York; when completed in 2014, it was the tallest building in the U.S.
7 JUN 2006 Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, was killed in a U.S. air strike
9 OCT 2006 North Korea tested its first nuclear weapon
30 DEC 2006 Saddam Hussein was executed at an Iraqi army base outside of Baghdad
2007
16 MAR 2007
95th Civil Affairs Brigade Reactivated at Fort Bragg, NC. The 97th Civil Affairs Battalion was also activated.
9 APR 2007
Media Operations Complex Dedicated. The 1LT Michal A. Merkel Special Operations Forces Media Operations Complex was dedicated at Fort Bragg, NC. Merkel was killed in action in Pleiku, South Vietnam, on 24 March 1968.
1 OCT 2007
Special Forces Table of Organization and Equipment 31-815G Adopted. This included the addition of a fourth and support battalions and established a four digit numbering system for Operational Detachments - Alpha.
Contextual events
10 JAN 2007 President Bush announced a temporary surge of troops to stabilize the situation in Iraq
23 MAR 2007 Iranian forces seized 15 British Royal Navy personnel in disputed waters and held them for 13 days
17 AUG 2007 Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the resumption of strategic bomber flights
6 SEP 2007 Israeli aircraft bombed a suspected nuclear weapons facility in Syria
DEC 2007 After the collapse of a “housing bubble,” the U.S. economy slipped into a recession, which lasted until June 2009
2008
16 MAR 2008
98th Civil Affairs Battalion Activated at Fort Bragg, NC.
The First Special Operations Resuscitation Team (SORT) Deployed to Afghanistan. Belonging to the 528th Sustainment Brigade’s Special Troops Battalion, the first Special Operations Resuscitation Team deployed to Afghanistan, supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.
6 APR 2008
Operation COMMANDO WRATH. Operation COMMANDO WRATH in the Shok Valley, Afghanistan, was conducted by three 3rd SFG Special Forces Operational Detachments - Alpha and an Afghan National Army Commando Company. Staff Sergeant Ronald J. Shurer, II, later received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during this action.
16 AUG 2008
4th-5th SFG Activated at Fort Campbell, KY. Each year thereafter, a 4th Battalion was added to 3rd, 10th, 1st, and 7th SFG, respectively.
15 DEC 2008
Special Operations Theater Support Elements Officially Discontinued and Army Special Operations Forces Liaison Elements Formally Activated.
16 DEC 2008
528th Sustainment Brigade Activated. Formed at Fort Bragg, NC, and assigned to USASOC. Replaced the Special Operations Support Command (SOSC). Subordinate units of the 528th Bde included the Special Troops Battalion (Special Operations) and the 112th Signal Battalion (Special Operations).
Contextual events
24 FEB 2008 Raul Castro officially succeeded his brother, Fidel, as President of Cuba
20 SEP 2008 Suicide truck bomb destroyed the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing more than 50 people, and injuring over 250 others
3 OCT 2008 President Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act granting the federal government authority to purchase and insure troubled assets to stabilize the economy
4 NOV 2008 Barack H. Obama elected U.S. President
26-29 NOV 2008 Pakistani-based Islamic terrorists conducted a series of attacks in Mumbai, India, killing over 160 and injuring over 300
2009
16 MAR 2009
91st Civil Affairs Battalion Activated at Fort Bragg, NC. Lineage was taken from the 1st Civil Affairs Battalion.
11 JUL 2009
RRC Team 1 Conducted a Combat MFF Parachute Infiltration Onto Raker Drop Zone in Afghanistan. Its mission was to emplace vital tactical equipment and included inserting a tandem parachutist.
29 AUG 2009
Team Darby Conducts a Clearing Mission at Objective BERLIN, Afghanistan. Elements of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment conducted a clearing mission at Objective BERLIN, Afghanistan, killing 35 enemy soldiers.
Contextual events
18 JAN 2009 Israel announced a unilateral ceasefire, ending 22 days of war in Gaza between Israeli Defense Forces and Palestinian paramilitary groups; 13 Israelis and over 1,200 Palestinians were killed
11 JUN 2009 World Health Organization declared “Swine Flu” a pandemic
13 JUN 2009 Protests erupted in response to disputed results of the presidential election in Iran; they lasted into early 2010
28 JUN 2009 Honduran President Manual Zelaya was overthrown in a military coup
2010
12 JAN 2010
Operation UNIFIED RESPONSE. After Haiti suffered an earthquake, an element from the 98th CA Battalion deployed to coordinate the humanitarian response. Soldiers from the 7th SFG, 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, 112th Signal Battalion, and 528th Sustainment Brigade also deployed to support the effort.
3 AUG 2010
USCENTCOM JPOTF Renamed the Joint Information Support TF (Special Operations). The JISTF (SO) was located in Qatar, as the JPOTF had been since 2005.
1 OCT 2010
7th SFG Relocated to Eglin AFB, FL.
1 NOV 2010
USASOC Cultural Support Team (CST) Program Began. This four-year long USASOC program involved the assessment, selection, training, and deployment of seven groups of female soldiers to support Special Operations Forces in Afghanistan by interacting with host nation women and children in order to gather information and build rapport.
3 DEC 2010
‘PSYOP’ vs ‘MISO’. The Secretary of Defense ordered the functional term ‘PSYOP’ replaced with ‘Military Information Support Operations’ (MISO). On 15 February 2011, USSOCOM provided implementation guidance. Army directed completion by September 2011.
Contextual events
12 JAN 2010 A 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, devastating the country
FEB 2010 WikiLeaks began releasing large numbers of sensitive U.S. documents, and continued throughout the year
26 MAR 2010 Republic of Korea naval vessel Cheonan was torpedoed and sunk, killing 46 sailors
31 AUG 2010 Operation IRAQI FREEDOM ended; Operation NEW DAWN began the next day
23 NOV 2010 North Korean artillery shelled Yeonpyeong Island, killing two South Korean marines, in one of the worst clashes since the 1953 armistice
17 DEC 2010 Anti-government protests erupted in Tunisia, marking the beginning of the Arab Spring; protests spread to several Arab nations
2011
FEB 2011
Fielding of MH-60Ms Began.
23 MAR 2011
Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR Began in Libya. PSYOP personnel produced millions of leaflets and 4,000 hours of radio programming urging government forces to stop fighting, not interfere with humanitarian aid, and spare key infrastructure.
25 MAR 2011
U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) is Provisionally Created as a Major Subordinate Command of USASOC. The one-star command enabled the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Commanding Officer to focus on training and warfighting.
2 MAY 2011
Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden Killed by U.S. Forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
2 JUN 2011
U.S. Special Operations Command Joint Military Information Support Command was disestablished. Its legacy and function transferred to the new Military Information Support Operations Command at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
6 JUN 2011
“Night Stalkers” Made the Distinctive Designation of the 160th SOAR. After decades of informal usage, the Army officially certified “Night Stalkers” as the distinctive designation of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
27 JUN 2011
5th Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne) Activated at USAJFKSWCS. It educated soldiers in the art of influence operations in order to earn the 37-series Military Occupational Specialty.
20 JUL 2011
Team Merrill Executes Operation MARAUDER RAPIDS in the Sar Hawza District of Paktika Province, Afghanistan. Team Merrill (elements of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment) executes Operation MARAUDER RAPIDS in the Sar Hawza District of Paktika Province, Afghanistan. The operation resulted in the destruction of a fortified enemy encampment and killed 118 enemy personnel.
4 AUG 2011
Military Information Support Operations Command Activated at Fort Bragg, NC. It commanded all active duty Army PSYOP units.
26 AUG 2011
8th POG (P) Activated. Formally activated on 16 November 2013, 8th POG was the second active duty PSYOP Group under the MISOC. The 4th POG consisted of the 6th, 7th, and 8th POBs; the 8th POG consisted of the 1st, 5th, and 9th POBs. The 3rd POB fell directly under the MISOC, but was later assigned to the 4th POG.
15 SEP 2011
7th SFG Completed its Move From Fort Bragg, NC, to Eglin Air Force Base, FL.
14 OCT 2011
U.S. Special Operations Forces Deployed to Uganda in Operation OBSERVANT COMPASS. Operating in a four country area, Special Forces Operational Detachments - Alpha trained partner nation forces in countering Lord’s Resistance Army fighters led by Joseph Kony.
14 OCT 2011
U.S. Special Operations Forces Deployed to Uganda in Operation OBSERVANT COMPASS. Over a four-country area, Psychological Operations elements encouraged many of Lord’s Resistance Army fighters to defect. Later, Special Operations Resuscitation Team-B deployed to Nzara, South Sudan, to provide Army Special Operations Forces in central Africa with a Role 2 medical capability. Elements from Company C, 112th Signal Battalion, also supported the operation.
16 OCT 2011
7th POB Activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It was initially constituted as the 51st POB, but was re-designated prior to activation. It drew lineage from the WWII-era 3rd MRBC.
Contextual events
11 FEB 2011 Longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned after weeks of mass protests
17 FEB 2011 Arab Spring spread to Libya, with the 17 February Revolution; forces loyal to longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi were defeated in the ensuing civil war
15 MAR 2011 Protests against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime began in Damascus; subsequent violent repression sparked the Syrian Civil War
17 SEP 2011 Occupy Wall Street protesters gathered in New York City’s Zuccotti Park, and remained until removed on 15 November
17 DEC 2011 North Korean leader Kim Jong-il died and was succeeded by his son, Kim Jong-un
31 DEC 2011 Operation NEW DAWN ended, concluding the U.S. military mission in Iraq
2012
1 OCT 2012
USASOAC Formally Activated.
Contextual events
16 JAN 2012 Insurgent groups in northern Mali revolted against the government, igniting a civil war
19 JUL 2012 Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) captured Kobani, in northern Syria, initiating the Rojava Revolution.
11 SEP 2012 Islamic militants attacked the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, killing the U.S. Ambassador and three others
29 OCT 2012 Superstorm Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, killing 72 and resulting in $72 billion in damage along the East Coast, from Maine to Virginia
6 NOV 2012 President Obama reelected
14 NOV 2012 Ahmad Jabari, commander of the Islamic militant group Hamas, was assassinated
2013
12 APR 2013
USASOAC Shoulder Sleeve Insignia and Distinctive Unit Insignia Approved.
29 MAY 2013
Provisional Activation of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Flight Company. Ceremony at Simmons Army Airfield, North Carolina, marked the provisional activation of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command Flight Company. This company provided rotary- and fixed-wing support to all U.S. Army Special Operations Command units.
NOV 2013
Company E (MQ-1C Gray Eagle) Assigned to the 160th SOAR. In April 2014, Company E is administratively placed under 2nd Battalion.
Contextual events
4 MAR 2013 Opponents of the Assad regime, including the Islamic State of Iraq, and its affiliate in Syria, took control of Raqqa
7 MAR 2013 Tensions between the U.S. and DPRK increased after another North Korean nuclear test; UN increased sanctions and North Korea threatened the U.S. with a pre-emptive strike in early March
15 APR 2013 Two terrorists detonated homemade bombs during the Boston Marathon, killing 3 and injuring hundreds
7 SEP 2013 Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the Belt and Road initiative
21 NOV 2013 Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych ended trade pact talks and political association with the European Union, sparking protests that culminated in his ouster in February 2014
2014
MAR 2014
Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion (SOATB) Began Unmanned Aircraft System Crew Training.
24 JUL 2014
1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (P) Established. Replacing the U.S. Army Special Forces Command, 1st Special Forces Command was the higher headquarters for Special Forces, Psychological Operations, and Civil Affairs units, and the 528th Sustainment Brigade, under the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, to enable deployment of Special Warfare packages to Theater Special Operations Commands and joint force commanders
2 OCT 2014
SOATB transferred to USASOAC.
2 OCT 2014
Operation INHERENT RESOLVE Against ISIS Began. Ongoing since the previous June, all ARSOF branches and functional areas became involved.
18 OCT 2014
National Guard Special Operations Detachment (SOD) X Activated in Raleigh, NC. The new detachment was the tenth such unit established to support TSOCs.
31 OCT 2014
Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan Deactivated at Camp Vance, Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan. The following day, Special Operations Task Force - Afghanistan assumed control of all U.S. Special Operations Forces conducting ‘advise and assist’ missions.
3 NOV 2014
Military Information Support Operations Command (MISOC) Deactivated. Its units were assigned to the new 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) (P).
31 DEC 2014
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan Ended. Special Operations Equipment Retrograde Teams from the 528th Sustainment Brigade managed the retrograde, turn-in, and final disposition of Special Operations Forces-Peculiar equipment, munitions, and other supplies.
Contextual events
1 MAR 2014 Russian Federation Council authorized the use of armed forces in Ukraine; Russian soldiers entered Crimea
16 MAY 2014 Paramilitary force led by General Khalifa Haftar attacked Islamist militias in Benghazi, Libya, launching a second civil war
19 JUN 2014 President Obama announced up to 300 special operations advisors would be sent to Iraq to help counter ISIS
29 JUN 2014 After capturing several major cities in Iraq during a June offensive, ISIS declared itself a caliphate, with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as its leader
2015
24 FEB 2015
Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines Deactivated. ARSOF elements, to include 1st SFG, have assisted and advised Philippine Armed Forces since 2001.
2 JUN 2015
USASOC Provisionally Established Military Intelligence Battalion (Special Operations) (Airborne). The battalion was aligned under the 528th Sustainment Brigade, 1st Special Forces Command. It provided operational-level intelligence support to 1st SFC and subordinate SF, PSYOP, and CA units.
21 AUG 2015
Two Female Officers Graduated From the Ranger Course at Fort Benning, GA.
DEC 2015
Joint Information Support TF (Special Operations) Became the Military Information Support TF-Central.
Contextual events
7 JAN 2015 Terrorists killed 12 and injured 11 in an attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, in France
22 JAN 2015 Yemini President and Prime Minister resigned as Iranian-backed Houthi rebels took over the capital
26 MAR 2015 A coalition of Gulf states, led by Saudi Arabia, launched air strikes against Houthis in Yemen, with U.S. logistical and intelligence support
20 JUL 2015 U.S. and Cuba re-opened embassies in a major step toward normalizing diplomatic relations, severed in 1961
13 NOV 2015 Gunmen and suicide bombers associated with ISIS killed 130 people, and wounded hundreds, in Paris, France
12 DEC 2015 195 nations adopted the Paris Agreement aimed at curbing global warming and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
2016
23 MAR 2016
5th SFG at Fort Campbell Reverts Back to Their Vietnam War Era Beret Flash.
1 OCT 2016
3rd Psychological Operations Battalion Formally Assigned to the 4th Psychological Operations Group.
Contextual events
16 JAN 2016 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action implemented, certifying Iran’s restriction of its nuclear program, and triggering U.S., UN, and European Union sanctions relief
23 JUN 2016 Voters in the United Kingdom vote to leave the European Union
1 JUl 2016 Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte launched a “Drug War” in the Philippines; human rights groups criticized his use of extrajudicial killings
7 OCT 2016 The U.S. Intelligence Community accused Russia of interfering in the U.S. electoral process
8 NOV 2016 Donald J. Trump elected President of the United States
24 NOV 2016 Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels and the Colombian government signed a peace treaty formally ending a 52-year conflict
2017
22 MAY 2017
The Ranger Military Intelligence Battalion (RMIB) Provisionally Activated at Fort Benning, GA.
23 MAY 2017
The Volare Optimos Statue Dedicated at the USASOAC Headquarters. While it honors Special Operations Aviation (SOA) soldiers, the statue, located on the plaza in front of the SOA Command Headquarters, included symbolism recognizing the ground force customers SOA support.
4 OCT 2017
Niger Ambush. An ambush near the village of Tongo, Tongo in western Niger killed four 3rd SFG soldiers. The attack highlighted 3rd SFG increased involvement in Africa, after the Group’s 2014 reorientation from the Middle East.
27 OCT 2017
Corrected PSYOP Unit Designations. After years of naming confusion, USASOC directed PSYOP units to be referred to as PSYOP Groups and Battalions, not as Military Information Support Groups and Battalions.
Contextual events
22 MAY 2017 Suicide bomber killed 22 people and injured hundreds at Manchester Arena, England
9 SEP 2017 Separatists launched a civil war in Cameroon
29 SEP 2017 The State Department announced a withdrawal of most embassy staff from Cuba, and expelled Cuban diplomats from the U.S., after U.S. personnel in Havana developed mysterious illnesses
5 OCT 2017 Al-Shabaab launched an insurgency in Mozambique
24 OCT 2017 The Chinese Communist Party enshrined President Xi Jinping’s ideology into the constitution, making him the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong
9 DEC 2017 Iraqi Prime Minister declared victory in the war against ISIS in Iraq
2018
19 JAN 2018
The Warner Brothers Movie 12 Strong Released. The movie celebrates ODA 595 of TF Dragger from OEF in 2001.
23 JAN 2018
Psychological Operations Reached One Hundred Years of Support to the Nation.
3 MAY 2018
95th Civil Affairs Brigade Named its Headquarters Building After Colonel Charles R. Munske.
17 JUL 2018
The 75th Ranger Regiment Multi-Purpose Canine Memorial Dedicated. The ceremony took place at the 75th Ranger Regiment Headquarters, Fort Benning, GA.
16 AUG 2018
Company F (MQ-1C Gray Eagle) Assigned to 160th SOAR. The activation of a second Gray Eagle company was a response to the high demand for unmanned aerial systems since the activation of Company E in 2013. Company F was administratively placed under 2nd Battalion.
7 SEP 2018
Al-Tanf Garrison, Syria. Special Forces, pro-western forces, and a USCENTCOM Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force conducted a show of force in the Border Deconfliction Zone in southern Syria. Starting in 2017, SF occupied and trained at the isolated garrison, a key OIR outpost.
14 NOV 2018
Female Soldier Graduated Special Forces Assessment and Selection at Camp Mackall.
DEC 2018
Civil Affairs Centennial.
Contextual events
11 MAR 2018 The National People’s Congress ended term limits established in the 1990s, allowing Xi Jinping to remain China’s “president for life”
8 MAY 2018 The U.S. withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, reinstating sanctions on Iran in August
20 MAY 2018 President Nicolas Maduro won a second term in Venezuela as opponents boycotted the election; the U.S. and European Union dismissed the results as illegitimate
12 JUN 2018 President Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un met, the first meeting of heads-of-state between the two countries
19 DEC 2018 Protests began in Sudan, sparking eight months of civil disobedience, culminating in the removal of Omar al-Bashir after thirty years in power
2019
1 MAY 2019
2nd Special Warfare Training Group (SWTG) Activation. USAJFKSWCS activated the 2nd SWTG at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
16 JUL 2019
389th Military Intelligence Battalion (Airborne) Activated at Fort Bragg, NC. Authorized 5 officers, 5 warrant officers, and 86 enlisted personnel, it continued the lineage of the 389th Translator Team and the 389th MI Company.
18 AUG 2019
ROLO Program Successfully Implemented in Combat. The Ranger O-pos Low titer (ROLO) Program was successfully implemented in combat by the lifesaving actions of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment medics during the fight at Objective BITTER BANDIT in Afghanistan.
7 OCT 2019
Turkish Forces into Syria. The Turkish Army begins an offensive into northern Syria against Kurdish forces. Special Forces operating in the north withdraw to avoid the offensive.
Contextual events
9 JUN 2019 Protests broke out in Hong Kong against a proposed bill that would undermine the region’s autonomy from China
20 JUN 2019 Iran shot down a U.S. military drone over the Strait of Hormuz, increasing tensions between the two nations
6 OCT 2019 President Trump announced a U.S. withdrawal from northern Syria, in advance of a Turkish military offensive
26-27 OCT 2019 ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed during a raid by U.S. special operations forces
18 DEC 2019 The U.S. House of Representatives approved two articles of impeachment against President Trump
2020
Contextual events
3 JAN 2020 Responding to Iranian-backed militia attacks on U.S. personnel in Iraq, the U.S. launched a drone strike that killed Iranian Quds Force commander, MG Qasem Soleimani; Iran retaliated five days later with a missile attack on U.S. bases in Iraq, injuring over 100 American soldiers
6 FEB 2020 U.S. Senate voted to acquit President Trump on impeachment charges
11 MAR 2020 World Health Organization declared COVID-19, better known as the Coronavirus, a global pandemic
