List of former United States special operations units

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Former United States special operations units are disbanded or otherwise dormant unconventional warfare units of the United States military. Most units were created to fulfil categorical obligations within a particular conflict, and were disbanded once that conflict ended. All branches of the United States armed forces – the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force have fielded special operations units. For subsisting special operations units, see United States Special Operations Forces.

Contents

The Civil War

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

Other

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group</span> Vietnam War–era American multi-service special operations unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Army Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course</span> Military unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Reconnaissance Battalion</span> US Marine unit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franklin D. Miller</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special reconnaissance</span> Intelligence gathering discipline

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Project DELTA was the first of the Reconnaissance Projects, which were special reconnaissance (SR) units named with a Greek letter. The Reconnaissance Projects were formed by the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) during the Vietnam War to collect operational intelligence in remote areas of South Vietnam.

The United States Marine Corps is tasked by Department of Defense directive to "conduct complex expeditionary operations in the urban littorals and other challenging environments" and "conduct amphibious operations, including engagement, crisis response, and power projection operations to assure access." Before 2006, the Marine Corps was the only branch of the Armed Forces that did not have any of its special warfare elements participating in the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), due to confining its special operations capabilities only for the purpose to the Fleet Marine Force.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Sacquety, Troy (2008). "GENERAL ARSOF HISTORY Allied Long Range Penetration Groups (LRPG) for Burma The Chindits, the Marauders, and the MARS Task Force". 4. 4 (1). Fort Bragg, NC: US Army Special Operations Command History Office. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Sacquety, Troy J. (2009). "RANGERS HISTORY Over the Hills and Far Away The MARS Task Force, the Ultimate Model for Long Range Penetration Warfare". Veritas. 5 (4). Fort Bragg, NC: US Army Special Operations Command History Office. Archived from the original on 4 January 2024.
  3. "1LT Jack L. Knight". US Army Special Operations Command History Office. For Bragg, NC. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023.
  4. 1 2 "GENERAL ARSOF HISTORY Of Mules and Men The 612th and 613th Field Artillery Battalions (Pack) in Burma". Veritas. 1 (2). Fort Bragg, NC: US Army Special Operations Command History Office. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023.