Delta Force

Special Forces are military units dedicated to small-scale, clandestine, unorthodox, and high-risk operations, often behind enemy lines. Delta is the U.S. Special Forces unit dedicated to counterterrorist activities and hostage rescue operations.

Created as the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta under the command of Colonel Charles Beckwith in 1977, it was highly controversial with some military leaders who were skeptical about the need for an independent counterterrorist unit. The support of General Edward C. Meyer was critical to Delta's creation and development. Beckwith, who had flown long-range clandestine reconnaissance missions inside South Vietnam with Delta Project, looked back to that experience when naming the unit. Beckwith used another of his earlier experiences: an exchange program with the British Special Air Services (SAS) in the early 1960s. While planning the new force, he closely followed SAS selection procedures, training methodology, and organization. For greatest flexibility, Beckwith chose an organizational structure based on modules of four-man patrols.

Delta engaged in its first operation, Operation Eagle Claw, in April 1980. The aim was to rescue U.S. embassy staff being held hostage in Tehran, Iran. The mission, conducted in cooperation with other military units including the Rangers, was a failure; the operation was aborted because of mechanical problems with helicopters. Later, a helicopter collided with a transport plane killing eight crew members and severely burning four others. Contributing to the disaster were the lack of specialized, dedicated equipment for the mission and the lack of combined training for the disparate groups of the rescue team.

Legislators and the military subsequently reassessed and reorganized the Special Forces. In 1987, all Special Forces units were placed under a single command (U.S. Special Operations Command [USSOCOM]), under the direction of the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low intensity conflict.

Delta is currently based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. All members are volunteers from other branches of the armed forces. Few candidates make it through the selection process, which tests their physical and mental abilities, military skills, and performance under pressure. Thought to number no more than 2,000, the unit maintains low visibility and is averse to publicity. Training includes nighttime hostage rescue from buildings and hijacked planes. Delta maintains close relationships with foreign counterterrorist units and has trained Eastern Europe counterterrorism units.

Delta activities tend to reach the attention of the media mainly when members are killed or something goes wrong in public view. Missions have included snatching an American businessman from a Panamanian prison, taking part in the invasion of Grenada, and destroying Scud missile launchers in Iraq during the Gulf War. Delta was present with Army Rangers in Somalia when one Malaysian and 18 American soldiers were killed during a daylight raid in Mogadishu while attempting to arrest lieutenants of the warlord Aideed. More recently, Delta [Page 106]has been involved in the search for Al Qaeda members in Afghanistan.