ARSOF Lineage or Legacy

When discussing past Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF) units and functions, words like “lineage” and “legacy” are frequently used interchangeably. Both words signify a connection between present-day units and historical predecessors that contributed to their identity, culture, and esprit de corps. But do the words “lineage” and “legacy” mean the same thing? This short article will clarify the meaning and appropriate usage of each word as they relate to historic relationships between ARSOF units.

Army Regulation (AR) 870-5: Military History: Responsibilities, Policies, and Procedures (September 2021) defines “lineage” as: “The line of descent of an MTOE [Modified Table of Organization and Equipment] unit from its origin, stated in terms of events that have changed its status.”1 Based on this regulatory definition, lineage is an official connection between specific TOE Army units, as recognized by the Department of the Army and managed by the U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH).2 Therefore, as a general rule, official Army lineage does not apply to or include:

• Table of Distribution and Allowances (TDA) organizations (see “TOE and TDA Units” article)

• Non-Army organizations (such as sister services, joint commands, or other government agencies)

• Mission-specific programs, task forces, or non-units

In some cases, a unit’s lineage begins with its initial constitution and continues to the present day under the same designation. An example of this is the 4th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Group (POG), a current unit whose lineage begins with its own constitution on 7 November 1967.3 In other cases, the Army assigns a newly activated unit a lineage to a historic TOE unit based on similar functions or name. For example, when the 7th PSYOP Battalion (POB) was activated on 16 October 2011, CMH assigned it lineage to the World War II-era 3rd Mobile Radio Broadcasting Company, a tactical PSYOP unit constituted on 24 December 1943.4

When a unit is assigned lineage to a past TOE unit, it carries with it the honors and campaign credits earned by that predecessor unit. For instance, the World War II-era First Special Service Force (FSSF) is the original parent lineage unit for all Special Forces Groups (SFGs). Therefore, all SFGs now carry the campaign participation credit (CPC) of the specific FSSF element to which they are connected by lineage. For example, the 1st SFG was activated in 1957, but it assumed the lineage of 2nd Company, 1st Battalion, First Regiment, FSSF, so it is entitled to CPC for the Aleutian Islands, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France (with arrowhead), and Rhineland campaigns from World War II.5

“Legacy” is an unofficial term which conveys a current unit’s identification with non-lineal predecessors. This can be based on similar names, functions, or a symbolic connection. Units often recognize certain organizations as part of their legacy for their real or perceived impact on their development, capabilities, identity, and/or esprit de corps. One key legacy element for modern SOF is the World War II Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a joint intelligence and unconventional warfare service that was independent of the Army. Veterans of and lessons learned from the OSS unquestionably contributed to ARSOF training, capabilities, and culture in the post-World War II era, making the OSS an enduring part of the SOF legacy. However, by regulation, the OSS cannot be in the official lineage of any ARSOF TOE unit because it was not an Army organization.6

Unlike lineage, the Army does not prescribe criteria for what constitutes a legacy organization; rather, that is often decided by individual units or unit members. Units may modify their views of what (or who) their legacy is based on evolving missions, designations, or organizational structure. A unit’s lineal predecessors are always part of its legacy, but the inverse is not always true. Below is a chart depicting select U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) units, their original parent lineage units, and some non-lineage organizations which are generally considered part of their legacies. The list of legacy units is not exhaustive and remains subject to change.