The Army Special Forces, known as the Green Berets, were founded in 1952 and have six missions including unconventional warfare and counter-terrorism. They are organized into special forces groups and undergo a rigorous selection process. Much of their activities and missions are classified.
The Army Special Forces are more commonly known as the Green Berets and are an elite unit within the US military founded in 1952. This group is tasked with six missions: counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, unconventional warfare , direct action and foreign internal defense . Army Special Forces are often involved in search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping missions, as well as counter-narcotics operations, manhunts and training of foreign forces.
Active duty Green Berets uphold the Latin motto de oppresso liber, which means to liberate the oppressed. The symbol of the Army’s Special Forces is the Green Beret first authorized by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 for use by members of this elite unit. While some Army Special Forces manuals and documentation have been made public, much information relating to Green Beret activities, techniques, and missions is classified.
Unconventional warfare was the first and remains the primary mission of Army Special Forces since the unit was created in 1952 as part of the United States Army’s Psychological Warfare Division under Brigadier General Robert McClure. The exact opposite of conventional warfare, unconventional warfare involves the use of clandestine or covert methods to influence the outcome of battle. Units can spread propaganda and disinformation behind enemy lines to undermine enemy forces and governments, target non-military buildings, and disrupt supply lines. Sabotage, subversion, and guerilla tactics are all methods employed by those engaged in unconventional warfare.
The Green Berets are organized into special forces groups based in the United States and responsible for different regions. For example, the 20th Special Forces Group operates in Central and South America and is based in Birmingham, Ala., while the 5th Special Forces Group, based in Fort Campbell, Ky., operates in the Middle East, Central Asia, Horn of Africa and the Persian Gulf. Within each group are detachments or alpha squads of a dozen men with the commanders and warrant officers as leaders. The remaining ten men are experts in intelligence, communications, medicine, weapons or engineering.
The selection process for the Army Special Forces is long, difficult and competitive. Applicants are generally college educated, speak a language other than English, have completed Parachutist and Army Ranger training, and have attained the rank of Specialist or Corporal. Potential Green Berets will be mentally and physically tested and undergo a rigorous background check.
The selection process consists of a qualifying course or ‘Course Q’ which begins with a four week introductory lesson followed by a month of physical endurance testing aimed at filtering out unqualified candidates. Training can last up to 95 weeks and emphasizes critical and independent thinking, but can also subject a candidate to typical prisoner of war camp treatments or extreme elements in addition to weapons and diving instruction.
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