Special Forces

Special Forces, highly trained branch of the United States Army, specializing in unconventional or guerrilla warfare. Popularly known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive caps, the modern Special Forces came into being in 1952. The growth of the force, most notably through its role in Southeast Asia during the 1960s, reflects the increasing importance accorded guerrilla tactics in modern revolutionary and political developments around the world.

Special Forces personnel, all airborne- or paratroop-qualified, with high security clearances, were trained to infiltrate enemy-controlled territory and contact and organize local dissidents for guerrilla operations. The forces were known for their strong esprit de corps and intensive cross-training, that is, their schooling in more than one specialty as a precaution against loss of, or injury to, members of a combat team. Rigorous physical conditioning, familiarity with foreign weapons, and hand-to-hand combat and night-fighting were important training aspects, as were the extramilitary concerns of medical training. In 1987 those Special Forces personnel not deactivated after the Vietnam war were incorporated into the U.S. Special Operations Command.

The Special Forces were to some degree modeled on various foreign commando-type units of recent decades (see Commando). The American forerunners of the Special Forces were the Rangers, originally a rugged infantry unit formed in 1755 during the French and Indian War by the American frontiersman Robert Rogers. The term ranger gradually came to signify any raiding, irregular, or paramilitary force. In the 19th century, mounted ranger companies fought against both Mexicans and Native Americans. Units of rangers fought on the Confederate side in the American Civil War. The Rangers were formally reestablished in battalions during World War II when, as “Darby's Rangers,” they carried out dangerous patrols and spearhead missions under the command of Colonel William O. Darby. Six Ranger companies later fought in the Korean War but, suffering severe casualties, were deactivated as units shortly before the formation of the Special Forces.