OVERVIEW: The Green Berets (U.S. Army Special Forces) are elite U.S. Army special operations troops trained for unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, direct action, counterterrorism, and special reconnaissance. Identified by their signature green beret, they operate globally in small, linguistically and culturally capable teams.

DETAILS: Formally established on 19 June 1952, Army Special Forces trace their roots to the WWII-era OSS and First Special Service Force. They are organized into five active-duty and two National Guard Special Forces Groups, each focused on specific global regions. Green Berets complete rigorous selection—Special Forces Assessment & Selection followed by the 18–24 month Qualification Course, which includes language and cultural training, combat diving, military free-fall, and tactical operations. Members serve in 12-man Operational Detachment Alphas (A-Teams), cross-trained in weapons, communications, intelligence, medicine, and engineering, enabling independent, complex mission execution.

FUNCTION: Green Beret teams infiltrate denied areas—often by air, land, or sea—to train and assist allied forces, conduct reconnaissance, and execute precision direct action operations. They excel in partnering with foreign militaries, building regional capacity, and leveraging cultural knowledge to conduct long-duration unconventional warfare and counterinsurgency campaigns.

NOTE:
IOC: 19 June 1952
Operators: United States Army (USASOC, USSOCOM)
Platforms: Insertion via rotary/vertical-lift aircraft, fixed-wing airdrop, combat diving, and HALO-capable aircraft
Conflict used in: Vietnam War (1957+), Operation Eagle Claw (1980), Panama (1989), Gulf War (1991), Somalia (1993), War on Terror (2001+), multiple global counterinsurgency and training missions

SOURCE: Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Green-Berets ; Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Special_Forces ; Military.com: https://www.military.com/special-operations/army-special-forces-missions-and-history.html ; SOFREP: https://sofrep.com/sof-units/green-berets/