Special mission unit
The terms Tier One Special Mission Unit and Special Missions Unit (SMU) are used, particularly in the United States, to describe some highly secretive and elite military
United States
The United States military definition in the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms comes from Joint Publication 3-05.1 – Joint Special Operations Task Force Operations (JP 3-05.1).[2] JP 3-05.1 defines a "special mission unit" as "a generic term to represent a group of operations and support personnel from designated organizations that is task-organized to perform highly classified activities."[3]
The U.S. government does not acknowledge which units specifically are designated as special missions units,
List of United States military SMUs
As of 2023, the U.S. military has publicly acknowledged five units as Special Mission Units:
- The Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta (1st SFOD-D), widely known as Delta Force. JSOC calls them Task Force Green.
- The Naval Special Warfare Development Group(DEVGRU), commonly known as SEAL Team Six. JSOC: Task Force Blue.
- The Air Force's 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24 STS). JSOC: Task Force White.[12]
- The Army's Intelligence Support Activity, officially identified only by a series of code names that are replaced every two years.[15] Originally tasked by the Army and subordinate to INSCOM, they were placed under JSOC after the September 11 attacks. JSOC: Task Force Orange.[16]
- The U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), has also been referred to as an SMU.[17]
Australia
The Australian Army's elite Special Air Service Regiment are described as being "special missions units with unique capabilities within the Australian Defence Force".[18] The Regiments are components of Australia's Special Operations Command (SOCOMD), and are tasked with conducting "sensitive strategic operations, special recovery operations, training assistance, special reconnaissance and precision strike and direct action".[18]
The SASR currently has four
Notable operations
- On December 13, 2003, Members of
- On May 2, 2011,
- On October 22, 2015, 30 U.S. special operations forces consisting of members of killed in Action in Iraq since November 2011.[24][25] SGM Thomas Payne, then a SFC was awarded the Medal of Honor on September 11, 2020 for his actions that day.[26][27]
- Between October 26 and 27, 2019 in ISIL on February 6, 2015. Baghdadi killed himself when he detonated a suicide belt while seeking to evade the U.S. forces during the raid after reaching a dead end in a tunnel. Two Delta operators and one military working dog (Conan) were injured from Baghdadi's suicide belt but sustained no life threatening injuries.[29]
References
- ^ Roblin, Sebastien (19 October 2019). "Dream of Becoming a Navy Seal or Part of Delta Force? Here Is the Ultimate Guide to U.S. Special Forces". The National Interest.
- ^ Article title
- ^ "Joint Special Operations Task Force Operations" (PDF). 26 April 2007. p. GP-15 (Glossary page). Retrieved 2013-09-19.
- ^ a b c d "Secret Unit Expands Rumsfeld's Domain". The Washington Post. 2005-01-23. Retrieved 2013-09-19.
- ISBN 1410223140.
- ^ New York Times. Retrieved 2013-09-19.
- ISBN 978-0-8054-4712-5.
- ^ a b c "The most secret of secret units". The Week. 2013-03-22. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
- ^ ISBN 978-1846033100.
- ISBN 978-0312378264. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
- ^ "In high demand, Air Force commandos must find new ways to cope with stress of duty". Gaffney Ledger. 9 May 2005. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ [7][8][6][4][9][10][11]
- ^ a b GlobalSecurity.org JSOC entry
- ^ Washington Times. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- ^ [13][8][4][9][14]
- ^ [13][8][4][9][14]
- ^ "AORG-STB MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD SUBJECT: Career Opportunity in Special Mission Unit" (PDF). 2011-10-04. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023.
- ^ a b "Special Air Service Regiment". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 22 May 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
- ^ Lee (2007), p. 95.
- ^ Epstein, Rafael; Welch, Dylan. "Secret SAS teams hunt for terrorists". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
- ^ "Saddam Hussein Captured". US: ABC News. January 6, 2006. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- ^ "Graphic: Osama bin Laden killed at compound in Pakistan". The Washington Post. 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2013-09-30.
- ^ Thomas Gibbons-Neff (October 24, 2015). "Helmet camera footage shows joint U.S. Delta Force-Kurdish raid to rescue Islamic State hostages". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube (October 23, 2015). "Master Sgt. Joshua Wheeler, U.S. Commando Killed in ISIS Raid, Ran to Gunfight". nbcnews.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ Jim Miklaszewski, Richard Engel and Alastair Jamieson (October 22, 2015). "U.S. Special Operations Forces Commando Killed in ISIS Hostage Rescue". nbcnews.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ "SERGEANT MAJOR THOMAS P. PAYNE, MEDAL OF HONOR, OPERATION INHERNT RESOLVE". army.mil. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ Katie lange (October 19, 2020). "Medal of Honor Monday: Sgt. Maj. Thomas 'Patrick' Payne". defense.gov. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- Pompeo, Michael R. (27 October 2019). "On the Death of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi"(Press release). U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- ^ Luis Martinez (February 4, 2020). "U.S. Special operations forces raid a compound that resulted in the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi". US: ABC News. Retrieved October 4, 2020.