The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), popularly known as Delta Force, is U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s Special Mission Unit used for hostage rescue and counterterrorism, as well as direct action and reconnaissance against high-value targets. Delta Force and its Navy counterpart, the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, often referred to as SEAL Team Six, are the United States military’s primary counter-terrorism units and fall under the operational control of the Joint Special Operations Command.
The unit is under the organization of the U.S Army Special Operations Command but is controlled by the Joint Special Operations Command.
Delta Force’s structure is similar to the British 22 Special Air Service, the unit that inspired Delta’s formation. Delta having nearly 1,000 soldiers, of which approximately 250 to 300 are trained to conduct direct action operations. The rest are highly specialized support personnel who are among the very best in their fields.
Delta Force’s Operational Squadron Structure:
A Squadron (Assault)
B Squadron (Assault)
C Squadron (Assault)
D Squadron (Assault)
E Squadron (Aviation)
G Squadron (Formerly the Operational Support Troop, grew to Squadron size and specializes in Advanced Force Operations and is known to employ women)
Combat Support Troop (Contains WMD Experts, Breachers, and other specialists)
Delta Force recruits often from the U.S Army’s other two landtroops Special Operations Forces – U.S Army Special Forces and 75th Ranger Regiment, 70% of all Delta operators start their military careers in the 75th Ranger Regiment. But the unit also recruit from other branches of the military, including the U.S Marine Corps.
Delta Force was involved in the offensive against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001. Delta Force has formed the core of the special strike unit which has been hunting High Value Target (HVT) individuals like Osama Bin Laden and other key al-Qaeda and Taliban leadership since October 2001. One such operation was an airborne assault supported by the 75th Ranger Regimenton Mullah Mohammed Omar’s headquarters at a Kandahar airstrip. Although Delta Force’s mission was a failure in capturing Mohammed Omar, the Rangers had captured a vital strategic airstrip. Other battles Delta was involved in during the early stages of the war are the Battle of Tora Bora and Operation Anaconda. Delta Force have increased operations in eastern Afghanistan in 2009.
The Naval Special Warfare Development Group, Delta Force, 75th Ranger Regiment, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 24th Special Tactics Squadron, plus elements from other even more secret units and CIA’s Special Activities Division has killed or captured more than 2,000 enemy insurgents in Afghanistan against the Haqqani network, which is a strong faction of the Taliban.
