Special Forces Support Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Special Forces Support Group


caption=Shoulder Flash of the SFSG
dates=3 April 2006-
country=United Kingdom
branch=UKSF
type= Special Operations Light Infantry
role=Special Forces Support/Counter-Terrorism
command_structure=UK Special Forces
size=One battalion
current_commander=
garrison=RAF Saint Athan
colonel_in_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
motto=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=The Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) is a special operations unit of the British Armed Forces. It was initially comprised of personnel exclusively from the British Army's Parachute Regiment, The Royal Marines and the RAF Regiment. The unit's selection process is now open to all infantry-trained personnel in the UK Armed Forces however, for Army Personnel, a tour with SFSG is regarded officially as an attachment to the Parachute RegimentFact|date=August 2008|it's in the DCI, but I don't have it to hand.

The SFSG was formed officially on April 3 2006 to augment other United Kingdom Special Forces units on large-scale missions and is part of the United Kingdom Special Forces along with the Special Air Service, Special Boat Service and Special Reconnaissance Regiment.

History

The unit's creation stems from the need to provide infantry support to the special forces which became evident after the SAS assault onto the al-Qaida and Taliban base in the Battle of Tora Bora which drew on the resources of two sabre squadrons [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/jul/05/september11.afghanistan Guardian reports, July 2002] ] . Previously, this was done on an ad hoc basis as infantry units assisted special forces teams when needed. Units like the Parachute Regiment were sometimes deployed in such a manner, such as for Operation Barras in Sierra Leone. [http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/SpecialForcesSupportGroupFormsInWales.htm "Special Forces Support Group forms in Wales"] . "Ministry of Defence" 20 April 2006.]

In December 2004, it was announced that a unit would be formalised for this role as part of the wider restructuring. It was initially coined as a battalion of Rangers in reference to the similar 75th Ranger Regiment of the US Army. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/17/nsas17.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/04/17/ixhome.html "Britain to double commitment to the war on terror with 'SAS Lite'"] . "The Daily Telegraph" 17 April 2005.]

Its creation was announced officially by the then Secretary of State for Defence John Reid in Parliament on 20 April 2006. [ [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060420/wmstext/60420m01.htm#60420m01.html_sbhd1 "Written Ministerial Statements"] " Hansard 20 April 2006.] Following the announcement, it was reported that a company of SFSG soldiers was operating in Iraq as part of the US-led Task Force 145. [ [http://abcnews.go.com/US/Terrorism/story?id=2056386&page=3 "The Men in the Shadows - Hunting al-Zarqawi"] ABC News" 24 April 2006.] [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/24/nparas24.xml "US calls in Paras for Baghdad secret war"] . "The Daily Telegraph" 24 April 2006.] [ [http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-1739387.php "SpecOps unit nearly nabs Zarqawi"] "Army Times" 28 April 2006.]

Formation

The SFSG was established to support UKSF units in battle overseas and on domestic counter-terrorist operations. For this, it may encompass such roles as providing diversionary attacks, cordons, fire support, force protection, and supporting training tasks.

The unit includes Parachute-Trained British Army Infantry soldiers, Royal Marine commandos, RAF Regiment gunners and other members of the armed forces who have carried out basic parachute training. As a result, all those selected for the SFSG have passed either the Airborne Forces Selection course run by The Parachute Regiment, the Royal Marines Commando course or the RAF Pre-Parachute Selection course. Members continue to wear their own cap badge. In addition, they wear a new shoulder emblem that depicts a silver dagger on a green background, with a red-lined black flash of lightning running through it.

Although intended as a tri-service formation, it was announced that the initial core would be formed from the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment, which was subsequently cut from the line infantry.

It is based at MOD St Athan near Cardiff, south Wales. News reports of its strength have varied between 450-1,200 personnel. [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2136722,00.html "SAS support unit uses badge with baggage"] . "The Times" 16 April 2006.]

Organisation

The SFSG is split into one support company and four strike companies; three British Army and one Royal Marines. The RAF Regiment provide a platoon in B Company and the Support Group's Forward Air Controllers. Fact|date=August 2008.

There is also a CBRN unit assigned to the SFSG to provide specialised knowledge and capability to military and civilian agencies in detection and handling of chemical,biological and radiological/nuclear weapons and materials Fact|date=August 2008.

ee also

*United States Army Rangers - equivalent unit
*4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment - equivalent unit
*Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) - equivalent unit

External links

*coord|51|24.331|N|3|27.123|W|type: Special Forces Support Group|display=inline,title

References