19th Special Forces Group (United States)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name = 19th Special Forces Group


caption = 19th SFG Flash insignia
dates = 1 May 1961-Present
country = United States of America
allegiance =
branch = United States Army National Guard
type =
role = Special Operations
size =
command_structure = Utah Army National Guard
current_commander =
garrison = Draper, Utah
ceremonial_chief =
colonel_of_the_regiment =
nickname =
patron =
motto =
colors =
march =
mascot =
battles =
notable_commanders =
anniversaries =

The 19th Special Forces Group is one of two National Guard groups of the United States Army Special Forces. Headquartered in Draper, Utah, with detachments in Washington, West Virginia, Ohio, Rhode Island, Colorado, California and Texas. The 19th SFG has responsibility over Southeast Asia (shared with 5th SFG), as well as the Pacific (shared with 1st SFG). citation
url = http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-05.pdf
title = FM 3-05: Army Special Operations Forces
publisher = US Department of the Army
date = September 2006] cite web
url = http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-05-102.pdf
title = FM 3-05.102 Army Special Forces Intelligence
date = 2001-07
format=PDF] citation
title = Joint Publication 3-05.5: Special Operations Targeting and Mission Planning Procedures
year = 1993
url = http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/new_pubs/jp3_05_5.pdf
accessdate = 2007-11-13
author = Joint Chiefs of Staff]

History

Activated on May 1, 1961 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the soldiers of the 19th SFG received their parachuting instruction at Fort Benning until the mid 1970s when the idea was born for a cost effective course to be taught for the 19th SFG, and other western U.S. based military components, in the western territory of the country. In keeping with the rigorous high standards of the Airborne, the Aerial Fire Depot, a Smokejumper base founded around 1940 in Missoula, Montana, was selected as the site, and the first course was completed there in May, 1978. The group, headquartered in Utah, draws soldiers from more than a dozen states across the country and is deployed in support of Special Operations in various places around the world. Their official motto is "De Oppresso Liber" (Latin: "To Liberate the Oppressed"), a reference to one of their primary missions to train and assist foreign indigenous forces.

Activation

On November 13, 2002, the following units of the 19th SFG were called to active duty:
*A Company, 1st Bn SFG - Fort Lewis, Washington
*C Company and Support Company, 2nd Bn/19th SFG - Kenova, West Virginia
*B Company, C Company, and Support Company 1st Bn/19th SFG - Utah
*A Company, 2nd Bn/19th SFG - Rhode Island
*B Company, 2nd Bn/19th SFG - Ohio
*A Company, B Company, C Company and Support Company from the 5th Bn/19th SFG - Colorado

Leadership

Currently, Lieutenant Colonel Randy Watt commands the 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group.

ee also

*United States Special Operations Command
**Green beret
**1st Special Forces Group
**5th Special Forces Group
*Guerrilla warfare
*Unconventional warfare

External links

* [http://www.groups.sfahq.com/19th/index.htm 19th Special Forces Group official website]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/5-19sfg.htm 5/19th SFG CO and CA]
* [http://www.militarymuseum.org/GWOT19SFGA.html Co A 5/19th SFG CA]
* [http://www.coloradoguard.army.mil/webpages/specialforces_home.htm 5/19th SFG CO]
* [http://www.groups.sfahq.com/19th/afghanistan.htm CBS reports on Special Forces activities]
* [http://www.military.com/ Military.com website]
* [http://www.calguard.ca.gov/sf/Pages/default.aspx A Co 5/19th SFG CA]
* [http://specialforces.washingtonarmyguard.org/ Co A 1/19th SFG WA]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/1-19sfg.htm 1/19th SFG UT]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/19sfg.htm 19th SFG Global Security]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/2-19sfg.htm 2/19th SFG OH, RI and WV]
* [http://www.specialoperations.com/Army/Special_Forces/default.html Special Operations.com website]
* [http://unitpages.military.com/unitpages/unit.do?id=101301 Military.com website]

References