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5th Special Forces Group

Home > Groups > 5th SFGA

Basing. The 5th Special Forces Group was based in South Vietnam for much of the Vietnam War. It was transferred to Fort Bragg in the early 1970s as the United States began its drawdown from Vietnam. It would later move to Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Regional Focus. In the 1960s the 5th Special Forces Group was based and operated in South Vietnam. Later, once based at Fort Bragg it would be responsible for other regions of the world. It currently is responsible for the Central Command area of responsibility.

Vietnam. 5th SFGA would receive members of other groups - 7th Group, 10th Group, etc. for one year tours and service in Vietnam. Upon completion of their tours they would return to an SF Group based stateside or perhaps to 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group.

Desert Storm. 5th SFGA participated in the invasion Kuwait and southern Iraq during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. It was augmented by elements of 3rd SFGA and a company from 10th SFGA. A small element of 10th SFGA conducted CSAR missions from Turkey into Northern Iraq.

Afghanistan (2001-2002). After 9/11 the 5th Special Forces Group sent command, staff, and support personnel as well as 'A' detachments to K2 in Uzbeckistan from where detachments would infiltrate into northern Afghanistan. Ultimately 5th Group would set up a base at Bagram Air Field (BAF). It was relieved by the 3rd Special Forces Group and returned home to Fort Campbell, Kentucky to begin preparations for the invasion of Iraq in the spring of 2003.

Iraq War (2003-2011). 5th Special Forces Group took part in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. Subsequent to that invasion it would stand up the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - Arabian Peninsular (CJSTOF-AP). It would rotate in and out of this assignment with the 10th Special Forces Group.

Syrian Conflict. The 5th Special Forces Group had a battalion-sized element working with the Kurds of northeastern Syria. The Kurds formed up the Syrian Democratic Front (SDF) which was primarily composed of Kurds but also had Syrian Arabs as well.

Other Facts and Trivia

Nickname. At some point in the group began referring to itself as "The Legion". It is believed to have started in the late 80s but didn't really take until the mid-90s.


 

 


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