Tag Archives: 7th SFG

Feet Wet

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These recent shots of Army SF and Marines doing the small boat/frogman thing, complete with Dräger LAR rebreathers and CRRCs. (Components of images have often been blurred for Persec).

U.S. Army Special Forces, from the 7th Special Forces Group, perform an amphibious assault demonstration during the Hyundai Air and Sea Show and U.S. Army SaluteFest, Miami Beach, Fla., May 26, 2024. The events, were held throughout Memorial Day Weekend, (U.S. Army Photos by Master Sgt. Justin P. Morelli).

Coming in hot! Of course, almost any operational landing would be at oh-dark-30, and would be weapons secure until the last possible minute, but you have to show off for the crowds

The 7th SFG’s Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes Latin America, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and parts of the Atlantic Ocean

Note the Gen 3 Glock in the Safariland holster of the SF M240 man

Yup, Gen 3 Glock. Probably a G19, which were always popular in SF

Meanwhile, he’s rocking a SIG M17– you can tell by the distinctive spare mags. Also, note the blank firing device faux suppressor

Another Glock, third-gen judging by the finger grooves on the grip

Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conduct underwater operations in Key West, FL from Nov. 12-19, 2024. The training was a chance to rehearse realistic missions in a maritime environment using a specialty infiltration technique.

Remember, folks each of the 12 companies within each of the five active Special Forces Groups mans, trains, equips, and deploys a full 12-man Special Forces Underwater Operations (SFUWO) ODA, meaning there are supposed to be something on the order of 60 dive-rated “A teams.”

The 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (5th SFG (A)) is responsible for the Middle and Near East.

A swim with an M240 has to be a chore

Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, train to conduct small boat raids as part of a course hosted by Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Pacific (EWTGPAC) at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California. U.S. Marine Corps photos by Cpl. Kyle Chan

U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, pilot combat rubber raiding craft during an infantry company small boat raid course hosted by Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Pacific at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, California, Nov. 14, 2024. During the course, Marines trained to plan and execute swimmer reconnaissance for a small boat raid company in preparation for deployment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kyle Chan)

That view, though.

And in related news, how about this deep dive into a Recon Marine’s VBSS kit. 

The 5th Special Forces Group is headed back to its Southeast Asia roots.

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5th SFG(A) was activated on 21 September 1961 and traced its roots to the old “Black Devils” of the U.S./Canadian 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, 1st Special Service Force in WWII, hence the black in its unit patch.

The all-black U-shaped shield it has worn on its Green Berets since the mid-1980s is now being retired in favor of the Vietnam-era flash that was both a nod toward the Republic of Vietnam as well as the two Special Forces groups that preceded the 5th into the war.

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“We are going to be reverting back to what we wore during the Vietnam conflict,” Sgt. Jacob Mahaffey, a spokesman for the group, told Military.com. “It may be in the April or May time frame.”

An announcement posted Nov. 18 on Facebook noted the change would occur during a March 23, 2016 ceremony at Gabriel Field on Fort Campbell.

The flash commemorates both the flag of the Republic of Vietnam, where the old 5th cut its teeth, and that of the old-school groups that preceded it. The Yellow diagonal band represented the 1st SFG (A) and the Red diagonal band represented 7th SFG (A).