19th Special Forces Group flash

19th Special Forces Group

Lineage & Honors

Information derived from the U.S. Army Center of Military History, current as of 2 September 2011

Distinctive Unit Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI)
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.

Parent unit constituted 5 July 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 1st Company, 1st Battalion, Third 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 as Headquarters, 19th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces

Withdrawn 1 May 1961 from the Regular Army and allotted to the Army National Guard; group concurrently organized from existing units in Utah with Headquarters at Fort Douglas

Reorganized 1 April-1 May 1963 to consist of elements in the Utah and Montana Army National Guard; location of Headquarters changed 1 April 1963 to Salt Lake City

Reorganized 3 January-25 February 1966 to consist of elements in the Utah, Montana, Maryland, Rhode Island, New York, and West Virginia Army National Guard

Reorganized 1 December 1967-1 March 1968 to consist of elements in the Utah, Montana, Maryland, Rhode Island, New York, West Virginia, and Colorado Army National Guard

Reorganized 1 September 1972-1 February 1973 to consist of elements in the Utah, Montana, New York, West Virginia, and Colorado Army National Guard

Reorganized 1 April 1975 to consist of elements in the Utah, Montana, West Virginia, and Colorado Army National Guard

Reorganized 28 February-1 March 1979 to consist of elements in the Utah, Montana, West Virginia, Colorado, and Rhode Island Army National Guard

Reorganized 1 October 1979 to consist of elements in the Utah, West Virginia, Colorado, and Rhode Island Army National Guard

Reorganized 1 September 1996 to consist of elements in the Utah, California, Colorado, Ohio, Rhode Island, Washington, and West Virginia Army National Guard

(1st Special Forces redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 1st Special Forces Regiment)

(2nd Battalion ordered into active Federal service 28 October 2005 at home stations; released from active Federal service 27 October 2006 and reverted to state control)

Reorganized 1 September 2007 to consist of elements in the Utah, California, Colorado, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia Army National Guard

(2d Battalion ordered into active Federal service 19 September 2008 at home stations; released from active Federal service 18 September 2009 and reverted to state control)

Campaign Participation Credit

  • World War II
    • Aleutian Islands
    • Naples-Foggia
    • Anzio
    • Rome-Arno
    • Southern France (with arrowhead)
    • Rhineland
  • War on Terrorism
    • Campaigns to be determined

Headquarters Company (Riverton, Utah) additionally entitled to:

  • World War II
    • Bismarck Archipelago
    • Luzon (with arrowhead)
    • Southern Philippines

Company A (North Providence Rangers, Middletown, Rhode Island), 2d Battalion, additionally entitled to:

  • Revolutionary War
    • Rhode Island 1777
    • Rhode Island 1778
  • Civil War
    • Bull Run
    • Peninsula
    • Manassas
    • Fredericksburg
    • Chancellorsville
    • Gettysburg
    • Wilderness
    • Spotsylvania
    • Cold Harbor
    • Petersburg
    • Shenandoah
    • Appomattox
    • Virginia 1863

Company B (Columbus, Ohio), 1st Battalion, additionally entitled to:

  • War on Terrorism
    • Iraq: National Resolution

Decorations

Headquarters Company (Riverton, Utah) entitled to:

  • Philippine Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered 17 OCTOBER 1944 TO 4 JULY 1945