Inside Delta Force: America’s Most Elite Special Mission Unit
BY Guy D. McCardle
Learn about the shadowy world of Delta Force with this comprehensive guide to the covert unit written by former SEALs and SOCOM members.
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Special Mission Unit Operators. (Photo source: Sgt. Patrik Orcutt/US Army)
The name Delta Force, also known as the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), is synonymous with elite special operations within the United States Army.
Founded in 1977, Delta Force has gone by various names within the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) over the years, including Combat Applications Group (CAG), Army Compartmented Element (ACE), “The Unit,” and Task Force Green. Though organized administratively under the Army, JSOC controls Delta Force.
Delta Force specializes in counterterrorism, direct action, hostage rescue, and reconnaissance. It often tackles high-stakes, classified operations directed by the highest levels of the US government, underscoring the gravity of its work. This elite unit recruits primarily from the Special Forces and the 75th Ranger Regiment.
The Birth of Delta Force: A Response to Terrorism
In the 1970s, a series of high-profile terrorist incidents convinced the US government to establish a dedicated counterterrorism unit. Colonel Charlie Beckwith, a Special Forces veteran inspired by the British SAS (Special Air Service), championed the creation of such a force.
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