For the computer game, see Delta Force (video game). Delta Force is a tactical First-person shooter Computer game by developer and publisher NovaLogic. For the movie, see The Delta Force (film). The Delta Force is a 1986 Action film starring Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin as leaders of an elite squad of Special forces

1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Airborne)
USASOC Patch worn by SFOD-D Members on Class-A Uniforms
Active	1978
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Type	United States Special Operations Forces
Role	Versatile Special Operations Force, mainly trained for Counter-Terrorism. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. United States Special Operations Forces are active and reserve Component forces of U In most countries special forces (SF is a generic term for highly-trained Military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as Reconnaissance Counter-terrorism or counterterrorism refers to the practices tactics, techniques and strategies that Governments militaries, Police departments
Part of	Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bragg, North Carolina (35*09'15. The Joint Special Operations Command ( JSOC) is a component command of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM and is charged to study special operations The United States Special Operations Command ( USSOCOM or SOCOM) is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations 71N, 79*04'38. 71W)
Nickname	"Delta Force"
Engagements	Operation Eagle Claw Operation Urgent Fury Operation Just Cause Operation Desert Storm Operation Restore Hope Operation Gothic Serpent Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom * 2003 invasion of Iraq Operation Vigilant Resolve

The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) — commonly known as Delta in the U.S. Army, Delta Force by civilians, and Combat Applications Group by the Department of Defense — is a Special Operations Force (SOF) and an integral element of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Operation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light) was a United States military operation to rescue the 53 hostages from the U The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an Invasion of the nation of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea 100 miles north The United States invasion of Panama, codenamed Operation Just Cause, was the Invasion of Panama by the United States in December 1989 Unified Task Force (UNITAF was a United States led United Nations sanctioned multinational force which operated in the Republic of Somalia from 9 Operation Gothic Serpent was a Military operation conducted by special operations forces of the United States with the primary mission of capturing Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF is the official name used by the U The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia As part of the occupation of Iraq, the First Battle of Fallujah, Codenamed Operation Vigilant Resolve was an unsuccessful attempt by the United The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. The United States Department of Defense ( DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government United States Special Operations Forces are active and reserve Component forces of U The Joint Special Operations Command ( JSOC) is a component command of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM and is charged to study special operations

Delta Force's primary tasks are counter-terrorism and national intervention operations, although it is an extremely versatile group capable of assuming many missions, including, but not limited to, rescuing hostages, raids, and eliminating covert enemy forces. Counter-terrorism or counterterrorism refers to the practices tactics, techniques and strategies that Governments militaries, Police departments Delta Force conducts missions similar to those attributed to the British Special Air Service (SAS), on which it was originally modeled and by which its founding was assisted. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Special Air Service ( SAS) is a Special forces regiment within the British Army which has served as a model and inspiration for the special

Contents 1 Background 2 Overview 3 Weaponry 4 Organization 5 Recruitment and training 6 Known Operations 6.1 Delta Force in modern conflicts 7 Notable Delta operators 8 Delta Force in popular culture 9 See also 10 Bibliography 11 References 12 External links

Background

The unit was started by Colonel Charles Beckwith in 1977. Colonel Charles Alvin Beckwith ( January 22, 1929 &ndash June 13, 1994) known as "Chargin' Charlie" was a career Throughout its creation, the unit had the benefit of experience from the British SAS, with which Colonel Beckwith served and trained while on loan through an officer exchange program with the British in 1961-1962. The Special Air Service ( SAS) is a Special forces regiment within the British Army which has served as a model and inspiration for the special

The unit took part in Operation Eagle Claw, the failed attempt to rescue American hostages from the U. Operation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light) was a United States military operation to rescue the 53 hostages from the U S. Embassy in Tehran in 1980. Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The mission failed due to an overly complex plan, inadequate Special Operations Aviation training for the accompanying aircrews, a collision between a rescue helicopter and a refuelling tanker aircraft, and mechanical problems that reduced the available helicopter numbers from the initial eight to only five (one less than minimum required) before the mission contingent left the refueling site to stage for the attack.

After that debacle, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), also known as the "Nightstalkers", was founded and made responsible for the transporting of special forces personnel to and from Areas of Operation.

In 1999, writer Mark Bowden published the book Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, which chronicles the events that surrounded the October 3, 1993 Battle of Mogadishu. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Mark Robert Bowden (born July 17, 1951) is an American Writer. Black Hawk Down A Story of Modern War is a book by Mark Bowden chronicling the U The Battle of Mogadishu (also referred to as the Battle of the Black Sea) or ^[1] The book, in a short brief, relates Delta Force's involvement in the operations that occurred before the events leading to the battle. ^[1] The book was later turned into a film by director Ridley Scott in 2001. Black Hawk Down is a 2001 Academy Award -winning War film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the book Black Hawk Down a Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30 1937 in South Shields, Tyne and Wear) is a British Academy Award Nominated and Golden Globe Emmy Award and BAFTA Award winning Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.

In 2006, Bowden published another book Guests Of The Ayatollah: The First Battle In America's War With Militant Islam, which chronicles the events of the Iran hostage crisis. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Mark Robert Bowden (born July 17, 1951) is an American Writer. The Iran hostage crisis ( Persian: تصرف سفارت آمریکا was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States where 52 The book contains first-hand accounts of Delta Force's involvement in the failed rescue attempt. Operation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light) was a United States military operation to rescue the 53 hostages from the U An accompanying piece on The Atlantic Monthly's web site contains pictures and interview videos from some of the participants.

1st SFOD-D has also participated in operations in a variety of foreign locations, including in Beirut, Lebanon and extensively in Central America, fighting the Salvadorian revolutionary group Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front and assisting the CIA-funded Contras, in Nicaragua. Beirut (بيروت Bayrūt) is the Capital and Largest city of Lebanon with a population of over 2 Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (in Spanish: Frente Farabundo Martí para la Liberación Nacional, FMLN) is a Left-wing political near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all The Contras is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing Nicaragua 's FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional Sandinista Junta of National Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America ^[2]

Overview

The Pentagon tightly controls information about Delta Force and publicly refuses to comment on the secretive unit and its activities. The Pentagon is the Headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia.

Delta operators are granted an enormous amount of flexibility and autonomy, similar to their US Navy counterparts in the DEVGRU. The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, commonly known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six ( ST6) by civilians is the United States They reportedly do not maintain any general uniformed presence and civilian clothing is the norm on or off duty while at Ft. Bragg. ^[2] This is done to conceal the identities of these "secret soldiers". ^[2] When military uniforms are worn, they lack markings, names, or branch names. Military uniforms comprises standardised Dress worn by members of the Armed forces of various nations ^[2] Hair styles and facial hair are allowed to grow to civilian standards in order for the force to be able to blend in and not be immediately recognized as military personnel. ^[2]

This special status that sets the force apart from the "regular army" is mentioned in the book Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden (though less so in the film of the same name). ^[1] Delta operators are allowed a significant degree of latitude in their "personal grooming standards. ^[1] They are allowed to grow their hair longer than what "normal" army regulations would allow. ^[1] Although the Army Rangers used to sport the standard "high and tight" haircut, the fact that the Ranger mission currently involves the support of Delta Force operations allows them to periodically assume the same "civilian" look of their Delta brethren. ^[1]

Weaponry

Delta's unconventional nature also allows its members to carry highly-customized weapons. Like any other military unit, Delta has dedicated mission taskings including snipers and squad machine gunners. The flexibility of Delta means that weaponry is quite varied and often depends on the mission at hand or personal preference of the individual operators. Below is a list of common or highlighted weapons; the list should not in any way be considered complete, and it should also be noted that Delta Force operators often have access to the entire armory of the United States Army. Individual weapons by type and current level of use The list is weighted towards 20th and 21st century army weapons and is not complete

• A common weapon of choice may be the M4 carbine often in use with various accessories including the M203 grenade launcher, and other accessories of the SOPMOD kit. M203 is a single shot 40 mm Grenade launcher that attaches to the M16 Assault rifle or the M4 Carbine used by the Military The Special Operations Peculiar Modification ( SOPMOD) kit is an accessory system for the M4A1 Carbine used by USSOCOM. The H&K MP5SD may still be available to Delta operators, but has fallen out of use as a CQB (close quarters battle) weapon due to the general acceptance of the superiority of the M4 carbine and the 5. The MP5 is a 9 mm Submachine gun of German design developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the West German arms manufacturer 56 mm round's ballistic performance when compared to that of the MP5's 9 mm cartridge. However the MP5SD is inherently much quieter, being integrally suppressed.

• Delta Force operators often decide to pick up or use weapons that are in use with the indigenous forces or the enemy in the Area of Operations (AO). (For example, an AK-47) This is to help them blend in with the locals, to use local ammunition scavenged during the mission, or to conceal their country of origin if weapons are lost or captured. The AK-47 (contraction of Russian Автомат Калашникова образца 1947 года; Avtomat Kalashnikova obraztsa 1947 goda; "Kalashnikov's

• It has been noted in a popular weapons magazine that "Delta Force gives each member a stipend with which to purchase his own customized M1911 in . A stipend is a form of Monetary payment or salary such as for an Internship or Apprenticeship. The M1911 is a single-action, Semi-automatic pistol ( Handgun) chambered for the. 45 caliber. "^[3] Former Delta operator Larry Vickers states on his webpage that the experience which contributed to his line of handbuilt 1911 pistols came from his fifteen years in Delta where "more . 45 ACP ammo is shot out of 1911 style pistols than any other place in the world". ^[4]

• Delta snipers use M14s in urban environments due to their semi-automatic ability, allowing for a follow-up shot much more quickly than with a bolt-action rifle. In Mark Bowden's book, Black Hawk Down, he records that one of the elite Delta Force soldiers, Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart, chooses an M14 rifle because of the increased stopping power offered by the 7.62 mm NATO and reliability. Mark Robert Bowden (born July 17, 1951) is an American Writer. Black Hawk Down A Story of Modern War is a book by Mark Bowden chronicling the U Sgt First Class Randall 'Randy' David Shughart ( August 13, 1958 &ndash October 3, 1993) is a posthumous recipient of the Medal Stopping power is a Colloquial term used to describe the ability of a weapon to stop the actions of an individual through a penetrating ballistic injury The 762x51mm NATO is a Rifle cartridge developed in the 1950s as a standard firearm cartridge among NATO countries Haney, in fact, notes that Delta snipers frequently use the M14 rather than more specialized sniping rifles. More recent upgrades to the M14, such as the M21 and M25 rifles are commonly in use, and often misidentified as M14s. The M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS is the semi-automatic Sniper rifle adaptation of the popular M14 rifle. The M25 is a joint venture sniper rifle built for both the US Army Special Forces and the US Navy SEALs. ^[2] In addition, the SR-25 rifle, a 7. For State Route 25 or State Road 25 see List of highways numbered 25. 62 mm platform that is based on the same semi automatic operating system as the M4 and M16 rifle is also currently in use in the special operations community.

• Larry Vickers worked with Heckler & Koch to come up with a better weapon than the M4, and then asked his former colleagues to help test the weapon. Larry Vickers is a former member of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (1st SFOD-D commonly referred to as Delta Force) Heckler & Koch GmbH ( H&K) (pronounced ˈhɛklɐʔʊntˈkɔx is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various ^[4][5] The Heckler & Koch HK416 was the first weapon to result from this program, and uses a different type of piston action as a remedy to the inherent fouling issue that the M4 Carbine carries with its direct impingement system. The HK416 is an Assault rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch. ^[5] The Heckler & Koch HK417 is a weapon based on the same piston system but designed to shoot the larger 7.62 NATO round for more stopping power, as the lack of stopping power from the 5.56 NATO is another criticism of the M4 from Special Forces troops. The HK417 is a Battle rifle rifle designed and manufactured in Germany by Heckler & Koch. The 762x51mm NATO is a Rifle cartridge developed in the 1950s as a standard firearm cartridge among NATO countries 556x45mm NATO, standardized under STANAG 4172 is a Rifle cartridge. ^[5] In a telling display of Delta Force's opinion on the new weapon, the first 500 production HK416 carbines were purchased by Delta Force, in addition to the prototypes already with Delta. ^[5]

Organization

According to the book Inside Delta Force by Command Sergeant Major Eric L. Haney (ret. Command Sergeant Major Eric L Haney (US Army Ret is a former member of the United States Army 's Counter-terrorist unit the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta ), the smallest unit is a team, consisting of four to five members. ^[2] Each team specializes in HALO/HAHO, SCUBA, or other skill groups. HALO/HAHO are Acronyms that describe methods of delivering personnel equipment and supplies from a Transport aircraft at a high Altitude via Free-fall Scuba diving is swimming underwater, or taking part in another activity while using a Scuba set. ^[2] The next tier is the troop level, consisting of four to five teams. ^[2] Squadron level (there are three squadrons) consists of two troops (Short gun-assault and Long gun-sniper) which are broken down into troops and teams as needed to fit mission requirements. ^[2]

In Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda, Army Times staff writer Sean Naylor describes Delta as having nearly 1,000 operators. Army Times is an independent weekly newspaper serving active reserve and retired United States Army and United States National Guard personnel and their ^[6] Naylor wrote that only approximately 250 of those are operators trained to conduct direct action and reconnaissance missions. ^[6] Those soldiers are divided into three squadrons—A, B, and C—with each squadron subdivided into three troops. ^[6] Two are assault troops while a third troop specializes in reconnaissance and surveillance and is known as the "recce" troop. ^[6] The remaining soldiers in Delta are highly trained specialists in mechanics, communications, intelligence, and other support activities, on top of a headquarters staff. ^[6]

Naylor also wrote that Delta maintains an aviation platoon using aircraft painted in civilian schemes and with fake identification numbers, different from the aircraft of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). ^[6] This aviation platoon allegedly uses as many as twelve AH-6 and MH-6 Little Birds. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[6]

Recruitment and training

Most recruits come from the United States Army Special Forces (the Green Berets) and the 75th Ranger Regiment. The 75th Ranger Regiment (Airborne is a Military unit of the United States Army. Not just anyone can become a Delta operator; personnel must be male, in the rank of Sergeant (E-5) and attend a Delta briefing to be even considered for admission. Since the 1990s, the Army has posted recruitment notices for the 1st SFOD-D ^[7], which many believe refers to Delta Force. The 1990s collectively refers to the years between and including 1990 and 1999 The Army, however, has never released an official fact sheet for the force. The recruitment notices placed in Fort Bragg's newspaper, Paraglide, refer to Delta Force by name, and label it ". . . the Department of Defense's highest priority unit. . . " ^[8]. The notice states that all applicants must be males, 22 years or older, have a general technical score of 110 or higher, and be in the ranks of E-5 through E-8, with at least four and a half years in service.

Such recruits are men with skills such as proficiency in a foreign language or other desirable traits. The selection process is based on the UK SAS model ^[9][10]. United Kingdom Special Forces Selection is the selection and training process for members of the United Kingdom's three Special Forces formations Special Air The selection course begins with standard tests including: push-ups, sit-ups, and a three mile run. The recruits are then put through a series of land navigation courses to include an eighteen-mile, all-night land navigation course while carrying a thirty-five pound rucksack. The rucksack's weight and the distance of the courses are increased and the time standards to complete the task are shortened with every march. The physical testing ends with a forty-mile march with a forty-five pound rucksack over very rough terrain which must be completed in an unknown amount of time. It is said that only the highest-ranking members of the Pentagon are allowed to see the set time limits, but all assessment and selection tasks and conditions are set by Delta training cadre. ^[10][2] The mental portion of the testing begins with numerous psychological exams. The men then speak to the commander of Delta and others within the unit. If an individual is selected for Delta, then a 6 month training cycle/probation begins, starting with firearms accuracy and training with other types of munitions. ^[2]

On many occasions, Delta Force will cross-train with similar units from allied countries such as the French GIGN, Australian SASR, British SAS, the Canadian JTF 2, the German KSK and the Israeli Sayeret Matkal as well as helping train other U. The National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, commonly abbreviated GIGN (Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale is the French Gendarmerie 's Elite The Special Air Service Regiment ( SASR) is a Special Forces Regiment modelled on the original British SAS and also drawing on the traditions The Special Air Service ( SAS) is a Special forces regiment within the British Army which has served as a model and inspiration for the special Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2 was formed on April 1, 1993 and is the Canadian Forces unit responsible for federal counter-terrorist operations The Kommando Spezialkräfte ( Special Forces Command, KSK is part of Germany 's Special Forces. Sayeret Matkal (סיירת מטכ"ל Translation: General Staff Reconnaissance Unit is the main Special forces unit of the Israeli Defence Force S. counter-terrorism and national intervention units, such as the FBI's HRT. The Hostage Rescue Team ( HRT) is the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation 's Elite Special Operations tactical and Counterterrorism

Known Operations

Operation	Country	Year
Operation Eagle Claw	Iran	1980
Operation Urgent Fury	Grenada	1983
Operation Acid Gambit	Panama	1989
Operation Just Cause	Panama	1989
Operation Desert Shield	Iraq	1990
Operation Desert Storm	Iraq	1991
Operation Restore Hope	Somalia	1993
Operation Gothic Serpent	Somalia	1993
Operation Enduring Freedom	Afghanistan	2001
Operation Anaconda (subordinate operation to OEF)	Afghanistan	2002
Operation Iraqi Freedom	Iraq	2003
Operation Vigilant Resolve	Iraq	2004

Delta Force in modern conflicts

Fred Pushies alleges that Delta Force assisted in providing security at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Operation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light) was a United States military operation to rescue the 53 hostages from the U For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an Invasion of the nation of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea 100 miles north Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Operation Acid Gambit was a plan to retrieve Kurt Muse, an American Civilian living in Panama and widely reported to be a CIA operative Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) The United States invasion of Panama, codenamed Operation Just Cause, was the Invasion of Panama by the United States in December 1989 Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Unified Task Force (UNITAF was a United States led United Nations sanctioned multinational force which operated in the Republic of Somalia from 9 Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Operation Gothic Serpent was a Military operation conducted by special operations forces of the United States with the primary mission of capturing Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF is the official name used by the U Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Operation Anaconda is the code name for an operation in early March 2002 in which the United States military, along with allied Afghan military forces attempted to Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. As part of the occupation of Iraq, the First Battle of Fallujah, Codenamed Operation Vigilant Resolve was an unsuccessful attempt by the United For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West They supposedly used a mobile command post disguised as a Budweiser delivery truck.

In his book Killing Pablo, Mark Bowden suggests that a Delta Force sniper may have eliminated Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. Mark Robert Bowden (born July 17, 1951) is an American Writer. Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria', aka El Patrón or El Doctor ( December 1, 1949 – December 2, 1993) gained There is no hard evidence of this though and credit is generally attributed to Colombian security forces.

Federal Agents present in Waco, Texas towards the end of the Mount Carmel Raid of David Koresh and the Branch Dividians, claim several days before the end of the stand-off, that a group of 10 or 15 individuals believed by most to be Delta operators, showed up in several unmarked vehicles with DOJ plates and were briefed by top ATF, FBI, and Military leaders present. It is alleged that these individuals, believed to be Delta Force operators and not the FBI, were responsible for the final assault and resulting fire.

On August 8, 1993 members of Delta Force were sent in with U. Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) S. Army Rangers in the conflict in Mogadishu, Somalia on which the movie Black Hawk Down was based. The United States Army Rangers or simply Army Rangers are specialized elite American light infantry and Special operations troops Mogadishu ( Somali: Muqdisho, popularly Xamar, Hamar; مقديشو Maqadīshū Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known They were sent in to secure several of Mohammed Farah Aidid's top lieutenants, as well as a few other targets of high value. General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (محمد فرح عيديدمحمد فرح عيديد December 15 1934 – August 2 1996 was a controversial Somali leader often described The mission was compromised after two UH-60 Blackhawks were shot down by RPG's. This resulted in an ongoing battle and lead to the death of several Rangers and six Delta operators.

In January 1997, a small Delta advance team and six members of the British SAS were sent to Lima, Peru immediately following the takeover of the Japanese Ambassador's residence. Lima is the Capital and largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers on a coast overlooking ^[11]

Members of Delta Force were also involved in preparing security for the 1999 Seattle WTO Conference, specifically against a chemical weapon attack. The WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999 was a meeting of the World Trade Organization, convened at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle Chemical warfare involves using the toxic properties of Chemical substances to kill injure or incapacitate an enemy. ^[12]

Delta Force was also involved in the offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001 ^[13]. The War in Afghanistan, which began on October 7 2001 as the U The Taliban ( طالبان, also anglicised as Taleban; translation "students" is a Sunni Islamist, predominately Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Many observers strongly suspect that members of Delta Force made up one of two units involved in a raid on a residence belonging to Mullah Omar. Mullah Mohammed Omar ( Pashto: ملا محمد عمر (born c According to the Pentagon, the level of resistance to that operation was minimal. The Pentagon is the Headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia.

Though the Mullah was not present, some papers and computer disks were said to have been seized in the raid. Critics later alleged that the second unit was unnecessary, claiming that it was very large and uncoordinated. As a result, they say, the defenders were alerted early and the number of friendly casualties was in fact higher than reported. According to the book Shadow Wars by David Pugliese, Delta operators wanted a quiet insertion method which was denied as command opted for a combined Ranger assault. For the unrelated novel series see Chronicles of the Shadow War. David Pugliese, born 1957 is the Canadian author of two books about military Special Forces Canada's Secret Commandos The Unauthorized Story of Joint Task Force Taliban fighters apparently ambushed the team when they were extracting and several Delta operators were severely wounded. The Taliban ( طالبان, also anglicised as Taleban; translation "students" is a Sunni Islamist, predominately

One of several operations in which Delta Force operators are thought to have played important roles was the 2003 invasion of Iraq^[14]. The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia They allegedly entered Baghdad in advance, undercover with long hair and mustaches, along with SEALs from DEVGRU, guiding air strikes, building networks of informants while eavesdropping on and sabotaging Iraqi communication lines. Baghdad (بغداد) is the Capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate, with which it is also coterminous The United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group, commonly known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six ( ST6) by civilians is the United States Eavesdropping is the act of surreptitiously listening to a private conversation

Delta Force has formed the core of the special strike unit which has been hunting individuals like Osama Bin Laden and others since the October 2001 beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom. Osama bin Laden, with some spelling variations is the name used in English to refer to (أسامة بن محمد بن عوض بن لادن born 10 March Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF is the official name used by the U It has been variously designated Task Force 11, in OEF, then Task Force 20, then seemingly Task Force 121, then after that Task Force 145 and Task Force 6-26 (not necessarily in that order). Task Force (TF 11 was a United States Navy Task force in World War II. Task Force 20 is a designation that has been used by several United States Department of Defense units Task Force 121 is a classic example of the United States ' 'Joint Task Force' concept of conducting Special operations. Task Force 145 is a combined US and British military Special forces group specifically charged with hunting down Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and Task Force 6-26 is a United States Joint military/Government Agency unit originally set-up to find "High Value Targets (HVT's in Iraq in the aftermath of Operation

Notable Delta operators

• Colonel Charles Beckwith
  • Selected by President Jimmy Carter to organize and form a highly specialized counter-terrorism unit, known today as Delta Force ^[15]. Charles Beckwith may refer to Charles Alvin Beckwith – Colonel Charles "Chargin' Charlie" Alvin Beckwith (22 January 1929 – 13 June 1994 career James Earl "Jimmy" Carter Jr (born October 1 1924 was the thirty-ninth President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981 and the recipient of the 2002 Counter-terrorism or counterterrorism refers to the practices tactics, techniques and strategies that Governments militaries, Police departments
• Major Richard Meadows
  • Key role in establishing Delta Force ^[16]. Major Richard J Meadows ( June 16, 1931 - July 29, 1995) was a U
• Major General William Garrison
  • Commander of 1st SFOD-D from 1986–1989. William F Garrison is a retired Major General of the United States Army who was the commander of Operation Gothic Serpent, the military operation launched
• General Peter J. Schoomaker ^{[17] [18] [19]}
  • 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army. General Peter J Schoomaker (b February 12, 1946) was the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, serving from August 1, The Chief of Staff of the United States Army ( CSA) is the highest ranking officer in the United States Army and is member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Commander of 1st SFOD-D from 1989–1992.
• Major General David L. Grange
  • Commanded C Company, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, in Desert One in 1980. David L Grange is a retired United States Army Brigadier General, son of retired Lieutenant General David E The 1st Ranger Battalion was formed upon America's entry into World War II. The 75th Ranger Regiment (Airborne is a Military unit of the United States Army. Operation Eagle Claw (or Operation Evening Light) was a United States military operation to rescue the 53 hostages from the U Commanded a 1st SFOD-D squadron during the Invasion of Grenada. The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an Invasion of the nation of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea 100 miles north Deputy Commander of 1st SFOD-D under General Schoomaker. General Peter J Schoomaker (b February 12, 1946) was the 35th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, serving from August 1,
• Lieutenant General William G. Boykin
  • Commander of 1st SFOD-D from 1992–1995. Lieutenant General William G Boykin (Retired was the United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence Commanding Officer of the 1st SFOD-D unit at the Battle of Mogadishu. The Battle of Mogadishu (also referred to as the Battle of the Black Sea) or
• Major General Eldon Bargewell
  • Commander of 1st SFOD-D from 1995–1998. Major General Eldon A Bargewell was a general in the United States Army and commander of Delta Force.
• Major General Gary L. Harrell
  • Commander of 1st SFOD-D from 1998–2000. ^[20]
• Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart
  • Medals of Honor, KIA on October 3, 1993, during the Battle of Mogadishu. Master Sgt Gary Ivan Gordon (August 30 1960&ndashOctober 3 1993 is a posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor. Sgt First Class Randall 'Randy' David Shughart ( August 13, 1958 &ndash October 3, 1993) is a posthumous recipient of the Medal The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. Killed in action ( KIA or K I A) is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces by other Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The Battle of Mogadishu (also referred to as the Battle of the Black Sea) or
• Eric L. Haney, Command Sergeant Major, US Army (ret) ^[21]
  • Self-proclaimed founding member of Delta Force who has sparked controversy in his post-Army career. Command Sergeant Major Eric L Haney (US Army Ret is a former member of the United States Army 's Counter-terrorist unit the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta Wrote the book Inside Delta Force: The Story of America's Elite Counter-terrorist Unit, upon which the television series The Unit is based ^[22] (and self-referenced in show credits). The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real life Delta Force.
• Sergeant First Class Paul Howe (Retired as Master Sergeant)
  • The real life version of Delta Force Sergeant First Class Jeff Sanderson, played by William Fichtner in the film Black Hawk Down. Master Sergeant (MSG Paul Howe was an Army Delta operator who served in Somalia in 1993 William Edward "Bill" Fichtner (born November 27, 1956) is an American Supporting actor, often credited as William Fichtner Name changes were made in an attempt to keep the Delta Force operators anonymous.
• Larry Vickers
  • Delta Force operator that went on to private industry firearms design. Larry Vickers is a former member of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (1st SFOD-D commonly referred to as Delta Force) Some of his notable work includes help designing and consulting for Heckler & Koch on the Heckler & Koch HK416, Heckler & Koch HK417, and Heckler & Koch HK45 projects. The HK416 is an Assault rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch. The HK417 is a Battle rifle rifle designed and manufactured in Germany by Heckler & Koch. The Heckler & Koch HK45 ( Heckler & Koch.45 ACP) is a Semi-automatic pistol designed by the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch. He also runs a private training and consulting firm. ^[23]

Delta Force in popular culture

• In the television series 24, agent Jack Bauer is noted to have previously been a member of Delta Force and achieved rank of Captain. 24 is an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American action Drama Television series. Jack Bauer is the Protagonist of the United States Television series 24, in which he has trained and worked in various capacities Delta Force also serves an integral part in the first three seasons of the show.
• In the novel Deception Point by Dan Brown, Delta Force plays a major antagonist role. Deception Point ( 2001) is a scientific thriller Novel by Dan Brown, the author of The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown (born June 22 1964 is an American Author of Thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code An antagonist (from Greek ανταγωνιστής - antagonistes, "opponent competitor rival" is a character or
• The CBS television show The Unit centers around a fictionalized Army special forces unit based on Delta Force. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network. The Unit is an American action-drama television series that focuses on a top-secret military unit modeled after the real life Delta Force. It is based on the book Inside Delta Force by the show's producer Eric Haney. Command Sergeant Major Eric L Haney (US Army Ret is a former member of the United States Army 's Counter-terrorist unit the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta
• In the G.I. Joe comic book series by Larry Hama, the official name of the G. GI Joe is a line of military-themed articulated "action figures" produced by the Toy company Hasbro. Larry Hama (born 7 June 1949 is a Japanese American writer artist actor and musician who has worked in the fields of entertainment and publishing since the 1960s I. Joe Team is given as Special Counter-terrorist Group Delta.
• The book, and later movie, Black Hawk Down, describes the real-life attempt by Delta Force and the US Army Rangers to capture a Somalian warlord, Mohammed Farrah Aidid. Black Hawk Down is a 2001 Academy Award -winning War film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the book Black Hawk Down a The 3rd Ranger Battalion is one of three Battalions of United States Army Rangers. General Mohamed Farrah Aidid (محمد فرح عيديدمحمد فرح عيديد December 15 1934 – August 2 1996 was a controversial Somali leader often described
• In the novel By Order of the President by W.E.B. Griffin, Delta Force plays a significant role. W E B Griffin (born William Edmund Butterworth III on November 10, 1929) is a writer of military and detective fiction with 38 novels in six series published
• In the novel The Day Before Midnight by Stephen Hunter, several major characters are Delta Force members. For the American basketball player see Steven Hunter. Stephen Hunter (born March 25 1946) is an American Novelist The leader of Delta Force in the novel is a man named Richard Puller, who bears many similarities to Charlie Beckwith. Colonel Charles Alvin Beckwith ( January 22, 1929 &ndash June 13, 1994) known as "Chargin' Charlie" was a career
• The popular Delta Force series by NovaLogic centers around Delta Force operations, one of the more recent games being Delta Force: Black Hawk Down. Delta Force is a tactical First-person shooter Computer game by developer and publisher NovaLogic. NovaLogic is a software developer and publisher established in 1985 and based in Calabasas California. Delta Force Black Hawk Down is a First-person shooter set in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope in 1992 and Operation Gothic Serpent
• In several of the Vince Flynn novels, Delta Force works with CIA operative Mitch Rapp. Vince Flynn (born 1966 is a best-selling American author of Political thriller Novels. near as long as it used to be several months ago It has been actively summarized and split into sub-articles and there is a dynamic talk page discussion of all Mitch Rapp is a character in a series of books by Vince Flynn.
• In the movie 'The Delta Force,' starring Chuck Norris a passenger airplane is held hostage and Delta Force must rescue the passengers on board. The Delta Force is a 1986 Action film starring Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin as leaders of an elite squad of Special forces Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10 1940 is an American martial artist, action star and Television and Film Overview Fixed-wing aircraft range from small training and recreational aircraft to Wide-body aircraft and military cargo aircraft. A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security
• In the Novel Mission Compromised, Delta Force plays an important role, The main character is a former member and the task force he commands is made up of many Delta members. Mission Compromised is a fictional novel written in 2002 by Oliver North and Joe Musser that details the story of one of the most secretive military units in history

See also

• List of special forces units

Bibliography

• Beckwith, Charles (1983). This list is about military units For other units see List of special police units, List of special operations units, Paratrooper forces around the world, Charles Beckwith may refer to Charles Alvin Beckwith – Colonel Charles "Chargin' Charlie" Alvin Beckwith (22 January 1929 – 13 June 1994 career Delta Force
• Haney, Eric L. (2002). Inside Delta Force. New York: Delacorte Press, 325. ISBN 9780385336031.
• Bowden, Mark (1999). Mark Robert Bowden (born July 17, 1951) is an American Writer. Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War. Atlantic Monthly Press. Berkeley, California (USA). ISBN 0-87113-738-0 about operation Gothic Serpent
• Bowden, Mark (2001). Operation Gothic Serpent was a Military operation conducted by special operations forces of the United States with the primary mission of capturing Mark Robert Bowden (born July 17, 1951) is an American Writer. Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World's Greatest Outlaw. ISBN 0-87113-783-6 about the hunt for Pablo Escobar
• Bowden, Mark (2006). Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria', aka El Patrón or El Doctor ( December 1, 1949 – December 2, 1993) gained Guests Of The Ayatollah: The First Battle In America's War With Militant Islam. Atlantic Monthly Press. ISBN 0-87113-925-1.  
• Bowden, Mark (May 2006). The Desert One Debacle. The Atlantic Monthly. The Atlantic (formerly known as The Atlantic Monthly) is an American Magazine founded in Boston in 1857
• Naylor, Sean (2005). "Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda", Penguin Group, New York about Operation Anaconda
• Griswold, Terry. Penguin Group is the second largest trade book Publisher in the world behind Random House. Operation Anaconda is the code name for an operation in early March 2002 in which the United States military, along with allied Afghan military forces attempted to "DELTA, America's Elite Counterterrorist Force", ISBN 0-87938-615-0
• Robinson, Linda, Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces
• National Geographic Documentary: Road to Baghdad
• Pushies, Fred J. , et al. (2002). U. S. Counter-Terrorist Forces. Unknown: Crestline Imprints, 201. ISBN 0760313636.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Bowden, Mark (1999), Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War, Berkeley: Atlantic Monthly Press, ISBN 0-87113-738-0 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Haney, Eric L. (2002). Mark Robert Bowden (born July 17, 1951) is an American Writer. Command Sergeant Major Eric L Haney (US Army Ret is a former member of the United States Army 's Counter-terrorist unit the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta Inside Delta Force. New York: Delacorte Press, 325. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous ISBN 9780385336031.  
3. ^ Special Weapons for Military & Police #34
4. ^ ^{a b} Vickers, Larry (2006), A brief history on the development of the HK416, <http://www.vickerstactical.com/about/HK416.htm>. Larry Vickers is a former member of the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta (1st SFOD-D commonly referred to as Delta Force) Retrieved on 14 February 2008 
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Cox, Matthew (2007-03-01), “Better than M4, but you can’t have one”, Army Times, <http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/atCarbine070219/>. Retrieved on 14 February 2008 
6. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} Naylor, Sean (2006), Not a Good Day to Die: The Untold Story of Operation Anaconda, Berkeley, ISBN 0425196097 
7. ^ Mountaineer. SFOD-D seeking new members. Fort Carson, Colorado: Mountaineer (publication). January 16, 2003.
8. ^ Fort Bragg's newspaper Paraglide, recruitment notice for Delta Force. Retrieved on June 28, 2007. Events 1098 - Fighters of the First Crusade defeat Kerbogha of Mosul. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
9. ^ Adams, James (1987). Secret Armies. Hutchinson, 102.  “The course itseld was loosely based on what Beckwith, Meadows (who had also served at Hereford) and others had learned from the British and Germans” 
10. ^ ^{a b} Beckwith, Charlie A (1983). Delta Force. Harcourt.  
11. ^ Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta
12. ^ News: Delta's down with it (Seattle Weekly)
13. ^ September 2003 Engineer Update
14. ^ W:\pmtr\ventura\#article\noonan.vp
15. ^ [1]
16. ^ Hasenauer, Heike. A Special Kind of Hero. United States Army Publishing Agency: Soldiers. November 1995. Volume 50, No 11.
17. ^ Office of the Chief of Staff of the US Army
18. ^ DefenseLink News Article: Bush Nominates Retired General for Army Chief of Staff
19. ^ Army Chief of Staff
20. ^ Shape Biographies: Major General Gary L. Harrell
21. ^ The Raw Story | Delta Force founder: Bush may have started World War III
22. ^ The Unit on CBS
23. ^ Consulting

External links

• http://www.defenselink.mil/ The official website of the United States Department of Defense, US Department of Defense, DoD
• http://www.army.mil/ US Army
• United Warrior Survivor Foundation, Supporting Families of Fallen Special Forces Members
• http://www.infantrymen.net/ Infantrymen. net, Military reference focusing on the infantry (The secondary-MOS that Delta falls under)
• http://www.specialoperations.com/Army/Delta_Force/default.html
• http://www.aei.org/events/filter.all,eventID.1030/transcript.asp Transcript of Sean Naylor's speech to American Enterprise Institute
• http://www.shadowspear.com/sfod.htm ShadowSpear. com Special Operations]
• http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/sfod-d.htm 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment (Airborne) DELTA

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