What's the logic behind the SF Groups structure?

SPC David S. — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 03:32:56 -0400

I understand how ODA's (A-Team) designations are assigned. As the SF Group is the 1st part of this what's up with the odd order.

1st 3rd 5th 7th then 10th? and then for NG its 19th and 20th.
As there are 5 AOR's I would expect SF Groups 1st thru 5th. Is there a method to this non sequential madness or is this just how the Army counts?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2014 5:54 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 05:54:17 -0400

The first SF Group formed was the 10th in 1952. It was numbered the 10th to give the impression we had more than one or multiple. Col. Aaron Bank was it's first commander a former OSS member. Now we have had groups that were disbanded or merged through the times. Hope that helps answer a bit. See some of us still remember promotion board questions , lol.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2014 7:22 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:22:01 -0400

Many times the Army does use the numbers to define unit. For example in the Airborne world most are in the 500's. Like the 501st, 504th, 505th, and the 507th. They are all parachute infantry. In the case of the 325th Infantry they were glider.

From what I understand I don't believe there was any method behind. When the Army starts new type of unit with no lineage it is fairly commonly to start with numbers. That would explain when the numbers are low. An example of this is the 82nd and the 101. The army had over 90 divisions in WWII. They just started at 1 and worked their way up.

There was also 11th and 12th group up till the 90's. They were Army reserve but they were deactivated and the 19th and 20th were established in the National Guard.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Oct 1 at 2014 7:56 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 07:56:11 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member MSG Wade Huffman CPT Private RallyPoint Member -- for additional context for this thread and for your comments thus far, here is a link to view the entire organizational structure of US Army Special Forces Command (USASFC). It's here in a part of RP called RP Universe. Check it out! Are we missing anything?

Note: must view on desktop. Link: https://www.rallypoint.com/universe?unit_id=usasfc-us-army-special-forces-command-fort-bragg-nc

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