The Special Forces Operational Detachment-A, or A-Team, is the fundamental building block for all Special Forces Groups. There are six A detachments in each Special Forces company.
A captain leads the 12-man team. Second in command is a warrant officer. Two noncommissioned officers, or NCOs, trained in each of the five SF functional areas: weapons, engineer, medical, communications, and operations and intelligence comprise the remainder of the team. All team members are SF qualified and cross-trained in different skills, as well as being multi-lingual.
Capabilities of the highly-versatile A-team include: plan and conduct SF operations separately or as part of a larger force; infiltrate and exfiltrate specified operational areas by air, land, or sea; conduct operations in remote areas and hostile environments for extended periods of time with a minimum of external direction and support; develop, organize, equip, train and advise or direct indigenous forces up to battalion size in special operations; train, advise and assist other U.S. and allied forces and agencies; plan and conduct unilateral SF operations; perform other special operations as directed by higher authority.
In the SF company, one of the six A-teams is trained in combat diving and one is trained in military free-fall parachuting. Both are used as methods of infiltration.
The detachment can serve as a manpower pool from which SF commanders organize tailored SF teams to perform specific missions.
In general, A-teams are equipped with communications, i.e. tactical satellite communications, high-frequency radios, and global positioning system. Medical kits include laboratory and dental instruments and supplies, sterilizer, resuscitator-aspirator, water-testing kits and veterinary equipment. Other key equipment includes individual and perimeter defense weapons as well as electric and non-electric demolitions and night-vision devices. Equipment distribution may be geared to conform to specific missions.
For underwater or waterborne infiltration, scuba teams are equipped with open-circuit twin 80s SCUBA tanks, closed-circuit Dragger (rebreather) Lar-V, Zodiac boat and Klepper kayaks. Military free-fall parachuting teams use ram-air parachutes and oxygen systems.
SF MOS's:
18A - SF Detachment Commander. Training includes: Teaching the officer student the planning and leadership skills he will need to direct and employ other members of his detachment. Training is conducted at Fort Bragg, NC and is 26 weeks long.
180A (Chief Warrant Officer (W-1 thru W-3)--Assistant Detachment Commander - He commands in the absence of the detachment commander; serves as technical and tactical authority in all aspects of Special Forces operations; supervises all staff activities; is the psychological operations (PSYOPs) and Civil Affairs authority; has cultural, regional, and linguistic abilities; manages the mid-term and long-term planning. He can recruit, organize, train, and supervise indigenous combat forces up to battalion size.
18B - SF Weapons Sergeant. Training includes: Tactics, anti-armor weapons utilization, functioning of all types of U.S. and foreign light weapons, indirect fire operations, man portable air defense weapons, weapons emplacement, and integrated combined arms fire control planning. Training is conducted at Fort Bragg, NC and is 26 weeks long.
18C - SF Engineer Sergeant. Training includes: Construction skills, field fortifications, and use of explosive demolitions. Training is conducted at Fort Bragg, NC and is 26 weeks long.
18D - SF Medical Sergeant. Training includes: Advanced medical procedures to include trauma management and surgical procedures. Training is conducted at Fort Bragg, NC and is approximately 59 weeks long.
18E - SF Communications Sergeant. Training includes: Installation and operation of SF high frequency and burst communications equipment, antenna theory, radio wave propagation, and SF communication operations procedures and techniques. Training culminates with an around the world communications field performance exercise. Training is conducted at Fort Bragg, NC and Camp Gruber, OK and is 34 weeks long.
18F (SFC/E-7--Detachment Intelligence Sergeant). - Assists the Team Sergeant in operating the Team. Plans, coordinates, and directs the A-Team's intelligence, collection, analysis, production and dissemination. He field interrogates and processes enemy prisoners of war. He briefs and debriefs friendly patrols. He can train, advise, or lead indigenous combat forces up to company size.
18Z (MSG/E-8--Detachment Team Sergeant) - The Team Sergeant is the senior enlisted man on the Team. He is responsible for overseeing all Team operations and managing all enlisted personnel on the Team. Sometimes known as the "Team Daddy", he is usually the person who actually runs the Team. He can recruit, organize, train, and supervise indigenous combat forces up to battalion size.
An A-Team cannot deploy or operate without the support of the B Team-
The B-Team consists of 11 personnel and is the headquarters element of the Special Forces company. It acts as the command and control of the A-Teams within the company.
The B-Team establishes and operates the AOB, or Advanced Operational Base.
The B Team can and does -
Plan and conduct SF operations separately or as part of a larger force.
Train and prepare SF A-Teams for deployment.
Infiltrate operational areas by air, land, or sea.
Conduct operations in remote areas and hostile environments for extended periods of time with minimal external direction or support.
Develop, organize, equip, train, and advise or direct indigenous combat forces up to regimental size in Special Operations (SO).
Train, advise, and assist other U.S. and allied forces and agencies.
SPECIAL FORCES COMPANY COMMANDER (CO)
Rank: 0-4, Major
The Company Commander exercises command of the personnel and elements assigned or attached to the company. When the company establishes an AOB, he serves as the AOB commander.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER (XO)
Rank: 0-3, Captain
He directs the company staff and assigns specific responsibilities. He coordinates with the company sergeant major to direct and supervise company administrative and logistical procedures.
COMPANY TECHNICIAN
Rank: W0-1 and up, Warrant Officer
He has staff responsibility for all matters pertaining to the organization, training, intelligence and counterintelligence (CI) activities, and combat operations of the company and it's detachments.
18 Zulu- COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR
Rank: E-9, Sergeant Major
He is the senior enlisted person in the company and the commander's principal advisor on matters pertaining to enlisted personnel. He supervises the daily training, operations, and administration of the company.
18 Zulu - SPECIAL FORCES OPERATIONS SERGEANT
Rank: E-8, Master Sergeant
He assists the XO and Company Technician in accomplishing their duties. When the company and it's detachments are uncommitted, they manage the company's training program for the company commander.
18 Fox - ASST. OPERATIONS SERGEANT
Rank: E-7, Sergeant First Class
He assists the Operations Sergeant in the accomplishment of his duties.
18 Delta - SPECIAL FORCES MEDICAL SERGEANT
Rank: E-7, Sergeant First Class
He provides routine, preventative, and emergency medical care to the company and any indigenous forces. He also trains allied and indigenous forces in basic emergency and preventative medical care. He gathers medical information and advises the company staff on all health care matters.
18 Echo - SPECIAL FORCES COMMUNICATIONS SERGEANT
(2 per "B Team")
Communications Sergeant (Rank: E-7, Sergeant First Class)
Asst. Communications Sergeant (Rank: E-6, Staff Sergeant)
The commo sergeants advise the Company Commander on communication matters, and prepares communication plans. They install, operate, and maintain all the company's communication equipment. They also train detachment members and indigenous forces in signal equipment procedures.
SUPPLY SERGEANT
Rank: E-6, Staff Sergeant
He is the principal logistical planner. He coordinates closely with the battalion S-4 and service detachment commander to meet the unique needs of the company and it's detachments.
NBC NCO
Rank: E-5, Sergeant
He supervises, operates, and maintains the company's NBC detection and contamination equipment. He also assists in establishing, administering, and applying NBC defensive measures.
