Information derived from the U.S. Army Center of Military History, current as of 24 January 2022
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 2nd 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; concurrently consolidated with Company B, 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion (activated 1 September 1943), and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters, 20th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces
Withdrawn 8 July 1961 from the Regular Army and allotted to the Army National Guard; concurrently group organized from existing units in Alabama with Headquarters at Homewood
Reorganized 15 February–22 September 1963 to consist of elements in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi; location of Headquarters changed 15 April 1963 to Birmingham, Alabama
Reorganized 15 January–1 March 1966 to consist of elements in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and North Carolina
Reorganized 1 December 1967–1 August 1968 to consist of elements in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi
Reorganized 1 September–1 October 1972 to consist of elements in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Maryland
Reorganized 15 September 1978–1 April 1979 to consist of elements in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Maryland
(Former Company B, 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion, withdrawn 3 February 1986, consolidated with Company I, 75th Infantry, and consolidated unit redesignated as Company I, 75th Ranger Regiment–hereafter separate lineage)
Ordered into active Federal service 20 February 1991 at home stations; released from active Federal service 23 May 1991 and reverted to state control
Reorganized 1 September 2000 to consist of elements in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Virginia
Ordered into active Federal service 5 August 2002 at home stations; released from active Federal service 25 June 2003 and reverted to state control
(1st Special Forces Battalion ordered into active Federal service 15 August 2002 at home stations)
(2nd Special Forces Battalion ordered into active Federal service 27 January 2003 at home stations)
(1st Special Forces Battalion released from active Federal service 15 August 2003 and reverted to state control)
(2nd Special Forces Battalion released from active Federal service 26 January 2004 and reverted to state control)
Reorganized 1 September 2004 to consist of elements in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, and North Carolina
(2nd Special Forces Battalion ordered into active Federal service 24 September 2005 at home stations)
(1st Special Forces redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 1st Special Forces Regiment)
(2nd Special Forces Battalion released from active Federal service 23 September 2006 and reverted to state control)
(2nd Special Forces Battalion ordered into active Federal service 20 March 2009 at home stations; released from active Federal service 23 April 2010 and reverted to state control)
(3rd Battalion ordered into active Federal service 1 May 2010 at home stations)
Ordered into active Federal service 1 November 2010 at home stations
(1st Special Forces Battalion ordered into active Federal service 9 December 2010 at home stations)
(3rd Battalion released from active Federal service 4 June 2011 and reverted to state control)
Released from active Federal service 5 December 2011 and reverted to state control
(1st Special Forces Battalion released from active Federal service 12 January 2012 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
- Afghanistan: Consolidation III
(additional campaigns to be determined)
Headquarters Detachment (Huntsville, Alabama), 1st Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Korean War
- First UN Counteroffensive
- CCF Spring Offensive
- UN Summer-Fall Offensive
- Second Korean Winter
- Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
- Third Korean Winter
- Korea, Summer 1953
Company B (Mobile, Alabama), 1st Special Forces Battalion, additionally entitled to:
- World War II
- Ardennes-Alsace
- Central Europe
2nd Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- War on Terrorism
- Afghanistan: Consolidation I
- Afghanistan: Consolidation II
Decorations
Headquarter, Detachment (Huntsville, Alabama), 1st Special Forces Battalion, entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered KOREA
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1952
- Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, Streamer embroidered KOREA 1951-1954
2nd Special Forces Battalion entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2006
3rd Special Forces Battalion entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2011-2012