19th Special Forces Group

Special Forces Group of the United States Army National Guard September 2026 December 2019 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 19sfg.png 19th SFG(A) beret flash 5 July 1942 United States 20px United States Army20px Army National Guard Special operations * Unconventional Warfare (UW) Foreign Internal Defense (FID) Direct Action (DA) Counter terrorism (CT)https://www.military.com/special-operations/army-special-forces-missions-and-history.html Army Special Forces: Mission and History military.com 2023 28 February 2023 https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/career-match/ground-forces/firearms-ammunition/18a-special-forces-officer.html Special Forces Officer goarmy.com 16 April 2020 28 February 2023 https://greenberetfoundation.org/who-we-serve/ THE UNITED STATES ARMY SPECIAL FORCES greenberetfoundation.org. 28 February 2023 https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-109hhrg33596/html/CHRG-109hhrg33596.htm ASSESSING U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND'S MISSIONS AND ROLES govinfo.gov 29 June 2006 28 February 2023 Counterinsurgency (COIN) Special reconnaissance (SR) Information operations (IO) Counterproliferation of WMD (CP) Security Force Assistance (SFA) Hostage Rescue Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) 4 battalions 16px 1st Special Forces Command and various state Army National Guard commands COL Brian Pazzaglia19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) welcomes new leadership, Utah National Guard Official Department of Defense Website, by SGT James Bunn, dated 19 September 2019, last accessed 15 November 2022 Staff Sgt. Aaron Rhett Butler Special Forces Readiness Center, Camp Williams, Bluffdale, Utah Green Berets, Quiet Professionals, Soldier-Diplomats, Snake Eaters, Operators Anything, Any Place, Any Time ; De oppresso liber(U.S. Army's translation: "To Liberate the Oppressed") World War II The First Special Service Force in the Italian Mountains. https://arsof-history.org/articles/v5n2_better_country_page_1.html , https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1344&context=cmh Global War on Terrorism Iraq War War in AfghanistanTurse Nick 6 September 2016 Keeping Track of U.S.S Special Ops in Africa http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-turse/keeping-track-of-us-special-ops_b_11874622.html https://web.archive.org/web/20210921164719/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/keeping-track-of-us-special-ops_b_11874622 21 September 2021 Huffington post Operation Freedom's SentinelDruzin Heath 7 January 2016 Green Beret killed in Afghanistan was new father http://www.stripes.com/news/green-beret-killed-in-afghanistan-was-new-father-1.387531 https://web.archive.org/web/20220117022858/https://www.stripes.com/news/green-beret-killed-in-afghanistan-was-new-father-1.387531 17 January 2022 Stars and Stripes 150px|center Former 19th SFG(A) recognition bar, worn by non-special operations qualified soldiers—in lieu of a beret flash—from the 1960s to 1984Rottman Gordon L. https://books.google.com/books?id=pLPvCwAAQBAJ&dq=us+army+recognition+bar&pg=PT65 US Army Special Forces, 1952-84 Osprey Publishing 2012 978-1782004462 London 813846700 29 March 2019 150px|center Background trimming 100px|center 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) Distinctive Unit Insignia, worn by all SFG(A)s and 1st SFC(A) 150px|center 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) shoulder sleeve insignia, worn by all 1st SFC(A) units U.S. Special Forces Groups 12th Special Forces Group 20th Special Forces Group The 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (19th SFG(A)) is one of two Army National Guard groups in the United States Army Special Forces, along with the 20th Special Forces Group.Special Forces https://nationalguard.com/special-forces Army National Guard 25 May 2026 The group is headquartered at Camp Williams, Utah, and has elements in California, Washington, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Ohio, Montana, Colorado, and Texas.Units https://guard.utah.gov/units/ Utah National Guard 25 May 2026 Like other Special Forces units, the 19th SFG(A) is trained for missions such as unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, direct action, special reconnaissance, and counter-terrorism.Special Forces Core Missions https://nationalguard.com/special-forces-core-missions Army National Guard 25 May 2026 The Utah National Guard describes the group as preparing and deploying special operations forces for missions around the world. As an Army National Guard unit, its elements may also respond to homeland threats, disasters, and other domestic missions when directed by their state governors. Current Army special operations doctrine states that Special Forces groups are regionally oriented and aligned to support combatant commanders and theater Army objectives.FM 3-05: Army Special Operations https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=1031320 Department of the Army 24 June 2025 25 May 2026 History World War II lineage The 19th Special Forces Group traces its official parent-unit lineage to the First Special Service Force, a joint American-Canadian special operations unit formed during World War II. The parent unit was constituted on 5 July 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 1st Company, 1st Battalion, Third Regiment, First Special Service Force. It was activated on 9 July 1942 at Fort William Henry Harrison, Montana, and disbanded on 6 January 1945 in France.19th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Regiment https://history.army.mil/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=nqbvhstKOho%3D&portalid=143 U.S. Army Center of Military History 25 May 2026 The First Special Service Force was organized as a combined American-Canadian force trained for special operations in difficult terrain and winter conditions. U.S. Army Special Forces groups trace their official lineage to the First Special Service Force, whose wartime service included operations in the Aleutian Islands, Italy, southern France, and the Rhineland.Velazquez Eli 75th Anniversary of First Special Service Force at Monte La Difensa https://www.army.mil/article/214610/75th_anniversary_of_first_special_service_force_at_monte_la_difensa U.S. Army 4 December 2018 25 May 202619th Special Forces Group: Lineage and Honors https://arsof-history.org/lineage_and_honors/19th_special_forces_group.html ARSOF History 25 May 2026 Constitution and Army National Guard organization 50px no USANG 19th SFG Overview-Circa 1961.ogv 19th SFG(A) Overview, circa 1961 U.S. Army overview of the 19th SFG(A), at the time of the unit's stand-up right The headquarters of the modern 19th Special Forces Group was reconstituted on 15 April 1960 in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 19th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. On 1 May 1961, it was withdrawn from the Regular Army, allotted to the Army National Guard, and organized from existing units in Utah with headquarters at Fort Douglas. During the 1960s and 1970s, the group was repeatedly reorganized as Special Forces units were aligned across several state Army National Guards. In 1963, the group consisted of elements in the Utah and Montana Army National Guard, and its headquarters location changed to Salt Lake City. By 1966, it included elements in Utah, Montana, Maryland, Rhode Island, New York, and West Virginia. In August 1967, the group was reported to be conducting training at Camp W. G. Williams for members of the Salt Lake County Jeep Posse, including instruction in guard work and escape-and-evasion procedures.Study Guerrilla War Deseret News and Telegram 11 August 1967 A11 Utah Digital Newspapers A further reorganization between December 1967 and March 1968 added Colorado. During Exercise Wildcat in July 1968, about 1,300 members trained at Camp W. G. Williams and in nearby mountain areas, including night parachute infiltration, raids, ambushes, weapons, demolitions, communications, medical aid, intelligence, and air operations training.Green Berets 'Hit Silk' In Attack Deseret News 8 July 1968 6B Utah Digital Newspapers Later that week, the group hosted National Guard Special Forces soldiers from Maryland, Montana, and Rhode Island for unconventional-warfare training in Wasatch, Utah, and Summit counties.Mock War Rages Over Three Utah Counties Deseret News 12 July 1968 2B Utah Digital Newspapers The group continued to change structure during the 1970s. Between September 1972 and February 1973, it consisted of elements in Utah, Montana, New York, West Virginia, and Colorado. In 1975, it was reorganized to consist of elements in Utah, Montana, West Virginia, and Colorado. Rhode Island was again included in 1979, and later that year the group was reorganized to consist of elements in Utah, West Virginia, Colorado, and Rhode Island. On 1 September 1996, the 19th SFG was reorganized to consist of elements in the Utah, California, Colorado, Ohio, Rhode Island, Washington, and West Virginia Army National Guards. Global War on Terrorism After the September 11 attacks, elements of the 19th SFG(A) supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The U.S. Army Center of Military History identifies the 19th Special Forces Group as part of the special operations forces operating in Afghanistan during the early phase of the war, alongside the 5th Special Forces Group and the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.Operation Enduring Freedom: March 2002–April 2005 https://history.army.mil/Portals/143/Images/Publications/Publication%20By%20Title%20Images/O%20titles%20PDF/operation-enduring-freedom-1.pdf U.S. Army Center of Military History 25 May 2026 The same history states that the 19th SFG(A), a National Guard unit from several states, later replaced the 5th Special Forces Group in Afghanistan. Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th SFG(A), also supported operations connected to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. After deploying to Kuwait in 2002 in support of Operation Desert Spring, the company trained with Kuwaiti forces and later prepared to support combat operations in Iraq. During the invasion, its operational detachments served primarily as Special Forces liaison elements with U.S. and coalition conventional forces, including the I Marine Expeditionary Force, 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Infantry Division, and British forces.Jones Robert W. Jr. Value Added: A/1/19th SFG in Iraq https://arsof-history.org/articles/v1n1_value_added_page_1.html ARSOF History 2005 25 May 2026 On 1 October 2005, the 1st Special Forces was redesignated as the 1st Special Forces Regiment. On 28 October 2005, 2nd Battalion, 19th SFG(A), was ordered into active federal service at home stations; it was released from active federal service and reverted to state control on 27 October 2006. The group was reorganized again on 1 September 2007 to include elements in the Utah, California, Colorado, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia Army National Guards. A second federal mobilization of 2nd Battalion began on 19 September 2008 and ended on 18 September 2009. Members of the 19th SFG(A) also served in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Resolute Support. In April 2016, nine members of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 19th SFG(A), were recognized for valor during their recent deployment to Afghanistan. The awards included one Silver Star, two Bronze Star Medals with "V" device, and six Army Commendation Medals with "V" device.Special Forces soldiers who 'get the job done' recognized with valor awards https://www.army.mil/article/167359/special_forces_soldiers_who_get_the_job_done_recognized_with_valor_awards Army.mil 6 May 2016 25 May 2026 Several of the awards were connected to the 5 January 2016 battle in which Sergeant First Class Matthew Q. McClintock of Alpha Company was killed in action in Afghanistan.PRESS RELEASE: Soldier killed in Afghanistan https://www.army.mil/article/160660/press_release_soldier_killed_in_afghanistan Army.mil 7 January 2016 25 May 2026 Domestic support operations During the George Floyd protests in June 2020, members of the 19th SFG(A) were among the National Guard forces sent to Washington, D.C., for civil-support operations. A National Guard Bureau spokesman confirmed that Utah Army National Guard Special Forces soldiers were present in the city and said they were selected because they were already prepared for deployment, not because of their Special Forces skill set.Rempfer Kyle No, those weren't active duty troops on the streets of DC last night, officials say https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2020/06/04/no-those-werent-active-duty-troops-on-the-streets-of-dc-last-night-officials-say/ Army Times 4 June 2020 25 May 2026 The deployment drew public attention after soldiers wearing Special Forces shoulder patches and tabs were photographed near the White House; National Guard commanders later directed the soldiers to remove the Special Forces identifiers from their uniforms to avoid sending an unintended message.Hennigan W. J. Standing Guard, Picking Up Trash and Getting Booted From a Hotel. Inside a Special Forces Unit's Controversial Deployment to D.C. https://time.com/5852608/standing-guard-picking-up-trash-and-getting-booted-from-a-d-c-hotel-inside-a-special-forces-units-controversial-deployment-to-dc/ Time 12 June 2020 25 May 2026 Headquarters facility The group headquarters is located at the Staff Sgt. Aaron Rhett Butler Special Forces Readiness Center at Camp Williams, Bluffdale, Utah. The facility was dedicated on 9 August 2019 in memory of Staff Sgt. Aaron Rhett Butler, a Utah Army National Guard Special Forces soldier assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 19th SFG(A), who was killed in Afghanistan on 16 August 2017 while supporting Operation Freedom's Sentinel.DoD Identifies Army Casualty https://www.war.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/1282180/dod-identifies-army-casualty/ United States Department of Defense 17 August 2017 25 May 2026SSG Aaron R. Butler https://arsof-history.org/fallen/2017_butler_aaron.html ARSOF History 25 May 2026 Butler was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart, and was also recognized posthumously as a 2018 recipient of the Bronze Minuteman Award by the Honorary Colonels Corps of Utah.Army Staff Sgt. Aaron R. Butler https://thefallen.militarytimes.com/army-staff-sgt-aaron-r-butler/6568719 Military Times: The Fallen 25 May 20262018 Annual Report https://guard.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018-Annual-Report-web.pdf Utah National Guard 25 May 2026 The readiness center is a more than 140,000-square-foot facility built to support the headquarters and 1st Battalion with administrative, classroom, training, and operations space.Ribbon Cutting for Utah Guard's New Special Forces Readiness Center https://soldiersystems.net/2019/08/11/ribbon-cutting-for-utah-guards-new-special-forces-readiness-center/ Soldier Systems Daily 11 August 2019 25 May 2026 Structure The 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is headquartered at Camp Williams, Utah, and includes elements in California, Washington, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Ohio, Montana, Colorado, and Texas.2021 Annual Report https://guard.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021-Annual-Report-web.pdf Utah National Guard 25 May 2026 The Utah National Guard's 2021 annual report lists the group's major force-structure elements as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Group Special Troops Company, Advanced Skills Detachment, Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems Platoon, Military Intelligence Company, Group Support Battalion, 1st Battalion, 2nd Battalion, and 5th Battalion. Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) – Camp Williams, Utah Group Special Troops Company – Utah Advanced Skills Detachment – Utah Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems Platoon – Utah Military Intelligence Company, 19th Special Forces – Utah Group Support Battalion – Utah Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Group Support Battalion – Utah Companies A, B, C, and D, Group Support Battalion – Utah 1st Battalion – Utah, Washington, and Texas Headquarters and Headquarters Company and Battalion Support Company – Utah Company A – Washington Company B – Utah Company C – Texas 2nd Battalion – West Virginia, Ohio, and Rhode Island 5th Battalion – Colorado, California, and Texas 190th Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment – Montana Army National GuardMontana Army National Guard 190th Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment Recruiting Video https://www.dvidshub.net/video/761837/montana-army-national-guard-190th-chemical-reconnaissance-detachment-recruiting-video DVIDS 12 July 2020 25 May 2026 Gallery 19th Special Forces Group 180 180 File:19th SFG Training.jpg Soldiers from the 19th Group "Fast Roping" from an Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter at the Utah Test and Training Range in November 2007, during CSAR integration exercises. Image:Spops2004afghanm60.jpg A 19th Group soldier on a Ground Mobility Vehicle variant Humvee provides security with a turret mounted M60 machine gun during a convoy stop in Asadabad, Afghanistan in 2004. An AT4 can be seen in the foreground. File:Slovenian Army Special Operations Soldiers and Soldiers of 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, Colorado Army National Guard, practice explosive breaching techniques.jpg Slovenian and 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group soldiers practice explosive breaching techniques during a three-week Joint Combined Exchange Training exercise in Slovenia. File:19th Group soldier instructs Serbian soldier on 240B.jpg A soldier of from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group instructs a Serbian soldier on the M240B File:19th Special Forces Group Land Navigation Training.jpg Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group check their course with compasses during a foot patrol while training at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Indiana File:Special Forces in DC - 49970479326.jpg Utah National Guardsmen from the 19th SFG on riot control duty in front of the White House on June 3, 2020 References External links Official US Army National Guard website of the 19th Special Forces Group (SFG) ** "It All Starts Here" | SF and Recruiting Information page for the 19th Special Forces Group (A) in Utah California and the Global War on Terrorism, Company A, 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Afghanistan http://californiamilitaryhistory.org/GWOT19SFGA.html usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20180218074159/http://californiamilitaryhistory.org/GWOT19SFGA.html 18 February 2018 CaliforniaMilitaryHistory.org The California State Military Museum 11 September 2018 gov.archives.arc.2569756 Big Picture: Silent Warriors Category:Groups of the United States Army National Guard Category:Military units and formations established in 1942 Special Forces 019