Delta Force, officially known as the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment–Delta (1st SFOD-D), is the United States Army's premier Tier 1 special mission unit.
It operates under the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and specializes in counterterrorism, hostage rescue, direct action raids, and special reconnaissance, often targeting high-value individuals or dismantling terrorist networks.
Founded on November 19, 1977, by Colonel Charles Beckwith (inspired by his experience with the British SAS), the unit was created in response to rising global terrorism in the 1970s.
It is headquartered at Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty), North Carolina, and is known by various cover names, including Combat Applications Group (CAG), Army Compartmented Elements (ACE), and Task Force Green.
Delta Force is one of the most secretive and elite units in the U.S. military, alongside counterparts like DEVGRU (SEAL Team 6).
Operators are highly selective, typically drawn from experienced personnel in the 75th Ranger Regiment or U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets), and undergo an extraordinarily rigorous assessment and selection process.
Notable operations include:
- The failed 1980 Iran hostage rescue (Operation Eagle Claw)
- The 1993 Battle of Mogadishu (Black Hawk Down)
- Capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003
- Raid on Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019
- A reported 2026 operation capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro
The unit's existence is not officially acknowledged in detail by the U.S. government, with public knowledge derived from declassified information, books by former operators, and media reports.
Delta Force remains versatile, capable of covert missions with the CIA and VIP protection in high-threat environments.
