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, 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 Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion (activated 1 September 1943), and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces
(Organic elements constituted 8 September 1961)
Group activated 21 September 1961 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
(Former Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Ranger Infantry Battalion, withdrawn 3 February 1986, consolidated with former Headquarters and Headquarters Companies, 1st, 3d, 4th, and 6th Ranger Infantry Battalions, former Headquarters and Service Company, 2d Infantry Battalion, and Headquarters, 75th Infantry, and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters, 75th Ranger Regiment – hereafter separate lineage)
Redesignated 1 October 2005 as the 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment
Campaign Participation Credit
World War II
- Aleutian Islands
- Naples-Foggia
- Anzio
- Rome-Arno
- Southern France
(with arrowhead) - Rhineland
Vietnam
- Advisory
- Defense
- Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase II
- Counteroffensive, Phase III
- Tet Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase IV
- Counteroffensive, Phase V
- Counteroffensive, Phase VI
- Tet 69/Counteroffensive
- Summer-Fall 1969
- Winter-Spring 1970
- Sanctuary Counteroffensive
- Counteroffensive, Phase VII
Southwest Asia
- Defense of Saudi Arabia
- Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
- Cease-Fire
War on Terrorism
- Afghanistan:
- Liberation of Afghanistan
(with arrowhead) - Consolidation I
- Liberation of Afghanistan
- Iraq:
- Liberation of Iraq
- Transition of Iraq
- Iraqi Sovereignty
- New Dawn
(Additional campaigns to be determined)
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1968
Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2001-2002
Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered IRAQ-KUWAIT 1991
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1964-1969
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969-1970
Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1970
1st Special Forces Battalion, additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2005-2006
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009-2010
- Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1992-1993
- Company A, 1st Special Forces Battalion, additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IRAQ 2004
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ AUG 2009-FEB 2010
- Company B, 1st Special Forces Battalion, additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN MAY 2011-FEB 2012
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN MAY-NOV 2014
2nd Special Forces Battalion, additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2010
- Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1992-1993
- Headquarters Detachment, 2d Special Forces Battalion, additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered HEART AND FARAH PROVINCES MAY-NOV 2013
3rd Special Forces Battalion, additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2007-2008
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2010-2011
- Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1992-1993
- Company B, 3d Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN FEB-OCT 2012
- Company C, 3d Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Valorous Unit Award, Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN AUG 2011-FEB 2012
4th Special Forces Battalion, additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2010
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2011
- Company A, 4th Special Forces Battalion additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ JAN-JUL 2009
Support Battalion, additionally entitled to:
- Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009