Information derived from the U.S. Army Center of Military History, current as of 23 March 2017
DUI Symbolism
The insignia is the crossed arrow collar insignia (insignia of branch) of the First Special Force, World War II combined with the fighting knife which is of a distinctive shape and pattern only issued to the First Special Service Force. The motto is translated as “From Oppression We Will Liberate Them.”
DUI Background
The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 8 July 1960. The insignia of the 1st Special Forces was authorized to be worn by personnel of the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) and its subordinate units on 7 March 1991. The wear of the insignia by the U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) and its subordinate units was cancelled and it was authorized to be worn by personnel of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) and their subordinate units not authorized a distinctive unit insignia in their own right and amended to change the symbolism on 27 October 2016.
Constituted 5 July 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 4th Company, 2nd Battalion, First Regiment, 1st Special Service Force, a combined Canadian-American organization
Activated 9 July 1942 at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana
Disbanded 6 January 1945 in France
Reconstituted 15 April 1960 in the Regular Army; concurrently consolidated with Company A, 2d Infantry Battalion (activated 1 April 1943), and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces
Consolidated 30 September 1960 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group (constituted 19 May 1952 in the Regular Army and activated 11 June 1952 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina), and consolidated unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 10th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces (organic elements concurrently constituted, and activated beginning 20 March 1961)
(Former Company A, 2d Infantry Battalion, withdrawn 3 February 1986, consolidated with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Infantry, and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment – hereafter separate lineage)
Group redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 10th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II
- Aleutian Islands
- Naples-Foggia
- Anzio
- Southern France (with arrowhead)
- Rhineland
Southwest Asia
- Defense of Saudi Arabia
- Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
- Cease-Fire
War on Terrorism
Iraq:
- Liberation of Iraq (with arrowhead)
- Transition of Iraq
- Iraqi Governance
(Additional campaigns to be determined)
3rd Special Forces Battalion entitled to:
War on Terrorism
- Afghanistan: Transition I
Decorations
1st Special Forces Battalion entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2010-2011
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2012-2013
- Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1995-1996
- Company C, 1st Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered CENTRAL IRAQ 2008-2009
2nd Special Forces Battalion entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2004-2005
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IRAQ 2007
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009-2010
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2010-2011
- Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1997-1998
- Company B, 2d Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ JAN-JUL 2009
3rd Special Forces Battalion entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered NORTHERN IRAQ 2003
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered NORTHERN IRAQ 2007
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered CENTRAL IRAQ 2008-2009
- Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1995-1996
- Company A, 3d Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ SEP 2010-APR 2011
- Company B, 3d Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 2009-2010
Support Battalion entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2008