According to the United Nations, there are 193 countries in the world, plus two non-member observer states. Out of these countries, there are only 21 that do not have a military. Out of the remaining nations, the U.S. military is one of the largest in the world and has dozens of special forces groups. There are six branches of the U.S. military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, and the fairly new Space Force. Of these six branches, almost all have one or more extremely selective and elite squads, reserved for the highest priority sensitive missions.
Established in 1987 and headquartered in Florida, the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) oversees over 50 unique units, each with its own specialization, everything from special vehicle units to psychological operations groups, to reaction teams, and more. Amid these highly exclusive groups, some stand out as the best of the best. (Also see: 20 of the world’s most elite special forces)
24/7 Wall St. reviewed several lists, including those from the Armed Forces History Museum, CBSNews, Special Ops Magazine, and Military.com, to build the list of the 17 most elite American special forces units. Information about the units came from their websites or the American Special Ops site. Our list mostly includes units whose roles include direct action, hostage rescue, counterterrorism, covert operations, and reconnaissance. We also included the Central Intelligence Agency’s Special Activities Center — the CIA’s paramilitary special operations unit.
The Navy SEALs are one of the most well-known special ops forces. They are celebrated for their adaptability across air, land, and sea domains. The Naval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as DEVGRU or SEAL Team 6, falls under the purview of the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. This unit, recognized for eliminating the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks, Osama bin Laden, represents the pinnacle of excellence. Its members are chosen from among the ranks of SEAL teams. (This is every state’s most impressive medal of honor recipient.)
The U.S. Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets, are known for unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, and counterterrorism skills. Delta Force is the Army’s elite counterterrorism unit. It is highly skilled in sniping and close-quarters combat ability.
Within the Marine Corps, elite entities like Marine Force Recon operate as a subset of the Elite Reconnaissance Marines. They specialize in deep and amphibious reconnaissance endeavors to back up the Marines.
There are various air commando units within the Air Force, including several featured here, alongside distinct Special Operations Squadrons within the Air Force Special Operations Command, operating a diverse array of specialized aircraft. Their roles encompass supplying ground units and conducting aerial reconnaissance. Notable units, such as the Pararescue Jumpers (PJs), are charged with rescuing injured personnel from hostile or otherwise inaccessible areas.
The Coast Guard deploys assorted special operations forces, categorized under regional commands in the Atlantic and Pacific sectors. Among these is the Maritime Safety & Security Teams, a security unit established after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Its primary function revolves around safeguarding seaports and maritime facilities against potential terrorist threats.
Here are the most elite special forces in the United States
Special Activities Center
- Service branch: Central Intelligence Agency
- Also known as: Formerly Special Activities Division (SAD)
- Type: Covert paramilitary operations unit
- Role: Counterterrorism, deniable covert operations, direct action, espionage, targeted killing, hostage rescue, and more
Intelligence Support Activity
- Service branch: Army
- Also known as: Gray Fox, ISA, USISA, The Activity
- Type: Army intelligence unit
- Role: HUMINT (human intelligence), SIGINT (signals intelligence), direct action
Night Stalkers of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne)
- Service branch: Army
- Also known as: Night Stalkers, 160th SOAR
- Type: Special operations aviation
- Role: Insertion/extraction of special operations forces, reconnaissance
Special Reconnaissance (formerly Special Operations Weathermen)
- Service branch: Air Force
- Also known as: Formerly SOWT
- Type: Special reconnaissance airmen
- Role: Commando unit for multi-domain reconnaissance and surveillance
Maritime Safety & Security Teams
- Service branch: Coast Guard
- Also known as: (MSST)
- Type: Maritime security unit
- Role: Counterterrorism
US Army Special Forces
- Service branch: Army
- Also known as: Green Berets
- Type: Special operations forces
- Role: Counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, direct action, special reconnaissance, counterterrorism, security force assistance
Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen
- Service branch: Navy
- Also known as: SWCCs
- Type: Special operations forces
- Role: Insertion and extraction of personnel from Naval vessels, direct action, mobility in shallow water areas
Combat Controllers
- Service branch: Air Force
- Also known as: CCTs
- Type: Special operations force
- Role: Specialized airmen providing air control and combat support
DEVGRU / SEAL Team 6
- Service branch: Navy
- Also known as: Naval Special Warfare Development Group, DEVGRU, ST6
- Type: Special operation forces, special missions unit
- Role: Special operations, counterterrorism, hostage rescue, direct action, special reconnaissance
Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company
- Service branch: Marine Corps
- Also known as: ANGLICO
- Type: Allied and foreign support
- Role: Direct support to Joint, Allied, Coalition, and Special Operations forces and coordination and deconfliction required in air-to-ground support
Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team
- Service branch: Marine Corps
- Also known as: FAST
- Type: Security force
- Role: Part of Marine Corps Security Force Regiment (counterterrorism) and capable of rapid deployment
1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta
- Service branch: Army
- Also known as: Delta Force, 1st SFOD-D, Combat Application Group (CAG), “The Unit”
- Type: Special mission unit
- Role: Special operations including direct action, counterterrorism, hostage rescue, urban warfare, reconnaissance
Navy SEALs
- Service branch: Navy
- Also known as: SEALs
- Type: Special operations force
- Role: Special operations, special warfare, direct action, counterterrorism, special reconnaissance, amphibious reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, hostage rescue, underwater reconnaissance and demolition
Pararescuemen
- Service branch: Air Force
- Also known as: Pararescue Jumpers (PJs), STTs – AFSOC’s Battlefield Airmen
- Type: Special operations force
- Role: Combat search and rescue and medicine
75th Ranger Regiment
- Service branch: Army
- Also known as: Army Rangers
- Type: Light infantry special operations unit
- Role: Airborne/air assaults, direct action raids, counterterrorism
Marine Raiders Special Operations Command
- Service branch: Marine Corps
- Also known as: MARSOC
- Type: Special operations
- Role: Direct action, special reconnaissance, counterterrorism, foreign internal defense, security force assistance, counterinsurgency, support to combating weapons of mass destruction, support to unconventional warfare
Force Reconnaissance
- Service branch: Marine Corps
- Also known as: Force Recon
- Type: Special operations
- Role: Amphibious reconnaissance, deep reconnaissance, direct action, maritime interdiction, visit board search and seizure
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