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special-operations forces strategic formations and units of the armed forces, whose role is to conduct sabotage, reconnaissance, subversive and other special operations on the territory of foreign countries. In wartime they may also be assigned tasks such as intelligence-gathering, the seizure or destruction of key installations, the conduct of ...
The station officially opened as RAF (Royal Air Force) St Athan on 1 September 1938 and the first unit to take up residence was No. 4 School of Technical Training (4SofTT). [2] In 1939, the station's activities were expanded with the arrival of a fighter group pool, the School of Air Navigation, and a maintenance unit. [3]
The directorate has since been expanded by the creation of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, and the Special Forces Support Group. [15] In 2015, the Royal Marines reported that approximately 40% of all UK Special Forces personnel were recruited from the Royal Marines. [16]
Special Forces Support Group, at MOD St Athan [96] 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment, at Stirling Lines [97] Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, at RAF Odiham [98] No. 7 Squadron RAF, at RAF Odiham, (Chinook HC6) [99] No. 658 Squadron, AAC, at Stirling Lines, (AS365 Dauphin) [100] Special Forces Flight, No. 47 Squadron RAF, at RAF Brize Norton
The Special Forces Support Group Inaugural Parade at RAF St Athan on 11 May 2006. The unit's creation stems from the need to provide infantry support to the United Kingdom Special Forces, which became evident after the Battle of Tora Bora during which two Special Boat Service (SBS) squadrons assaulted the al-Qaeda cave complex. [6]
The initial order was for up to 100 [3] and it was announced on 27 June 2008 that the MOD would be ordering a further 72. [4] On 23 Jun 2010 it was announced by the Ministry of Defence that 140 additional Jackal 2 vehicles were being ordered, and this would bring the number of Jackals in service up to 500.
During an interview with the (then) Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, the rangers will be "special forces" and will "go beyond training, advising, and assisting" to "support local operations". He also stated the Ranger's functions will be similar to the United States Army's "Green Berets", a nickname for the US Army Special ...
United States special operations forces (SOF) are the active and reserve component forces of the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force within the US military, as designated by the Secretary of Defense and specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations.