Information derived from the U.S. Army Center of Military History, current as of 3 October 2016
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 Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion, Second 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Ranger Infantry Battalion (organized 21 May 1943), and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces
Activated 5 December 1963 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
(Organic elements constituted 18 February-1 September 1964 and activated 10 March-25 September 1964)
Group inactivated 1 December 1969 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
(Former Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3d Ranger Infantry Battalion, withdrawn 3 February 1986, consolidated with former Headquarters and Headquarters Companies, 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th Ranger Infantry Battalions, former Headquarters, Headquarters and Service Companies, 2d Infantry Battalion, and Headquarters, 75th Infantry, and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters, 75th Ranger Regiment – hereafter separate lineage)
Activated 1 July 1990 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II
- Aleutian Islands
- Naples-Foggia
- Anzio
- Southern France (with arrowhead)
- Rhineland
Southwest Asia
- Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
- Cease-Fire
War on Terrorism
- Afghanistan: Consolidation I
(Additional campaigns to be determined)
Decorations
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2006-2007
Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1994-1995
1st Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered SOUTHERN AFGHANISTAN 2005-2006
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2014
- Company B, 1st Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Commendation, Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN JUL 2011-FEB 2012
2nd Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2004-2006
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2011-2012
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2013-2014
- Company B, 2d Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IRAQ 2007
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered CENTRAL IRAQ 2008
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ NOV 2010-JUN 2011
3rd Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2007-2008
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2005-2006
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2014-2015
- Company C, 3d Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN APR 2011-JAN 2012
4th Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered SOUTHEAST AFGHANISTAN 2010-2011
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2011-2012
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered EASTERN AFGHANISTAN 2012
Company C, Support Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN MAY-NOV 2014
Company D, Support Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN NOV 2013-APR 2014