The Barracks: TIER-1 Special Operations Units

We are experts in the application of violence...We possess the mindset and will to do what is necessary...we are Tier-1. That was the dialog spoken in the first real trailer for the reboot of  the Medal of Honor video game series, and since then, the term 'TIER-1' as been associated with American Special Operations units like DELTA Force and SEAL Team Six. Now that a sequel to the 2010 epic video game is being dropped in October where TIER-1 units work together in task forces made up of various global Special Mission Units (SMU), the term TIER-1 will further enter into the common lexicon. But, what does TIER-1 mean and how does it apply to the black operations unit, and what units fall under the banner of TIER-1? FWS will explore TIER-1 and show examples in science-fiction.

What does TIER-1 really mean?

I will freely admit that prior to the 2010 Medal of Honor, I'd never heard of the term TIER-1 associated with the more elite Special Forces units of the United States. At first, before I played Medal of Honor, I believed that Danger Close had coined a new term for an black operations group patterned after DELTA or DEVGRU, but then I played it and believe falsely that TIER-1 was a USSOCOM rating system for Special Operations groups, and it made sense that DEVGRU and DELTA were TIER-1. It was not until I began research on the topic for this very blogpost that I learned the truth from  http://sofrep.com/, and few other sites. It seems that TIER-ONE is not a rating system, like grading of beef, but a SOCCOM funding system, it just so happens that DELTA and DEVGRU fall under the top level of funding. Other groups within that same title of TIER-ONE is the Intelligence Support Activity (AKA GREY FOX), the Air Force's Combat Controllers and Parajumpers, along with the elite Joint Medical Augmentation Unit (JMAU) that medically supports JSOC activities. All of these units work together under JSOC with mixed teams, like Task Force 145 in Iraq when Al-Zarqawi was killed on June 7th, 2006, and ODA teams during the first days of operations in Afghanistan.

DELTA Force and SEAL Team Six: same kind of different?

When news broke about the death of UBL at the hands of TIER-1 special operators, most of us, including myself, believed it was unit similar to Task Force 121 or 145 that had been hunting in Iraq for HVTs. But, upon learning that it was Red squadron from DEVGRU, I was confused on why the SEALS got the mission over DELTA, and how similar these two TIER-1 groups were. So, I read an article over at  http://sofrep.com/, and learned the similarities and differences between DELTA and DEVGRU. The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D) known global as DELTA Force and now CAG was formed in 1977, while SEAL TEAM Six, now known as DEVGRU was formed in 1980. The two units were both created by two Vietnam War veterans that were known for their outspoken visionary nature, DELTA had their Colonel Charging Charlie Beckwith and ST6 had Richard "Dick" Marcinko. Beckwin had based large amounts of DELTA on the British SAS whom he served with during an exchange program in the 1960's. Both units have their identities forged in the failed attempted resuce of American hostages OPERATION EAGLE CLAW. While DELTA and Beckwith were directly involved with the operation, Richard Marcinko was part of the naval team consulting on the aborted mission at the Pentagon. In the aftermath, Marcinko lead the charge for his idea to form a special unit within the SEALs for maritime counter terrorism (boats, cruise ships, and oil platforms).

Both of the TIER-1 units have similar organizations, DELTA has around three quadrons of 75 operators that are named A through C, while ST6 uses colors, Red, Blue, Gold, Silver are all assault units, while Grey is Recon, and Black is the boat team, and the training troop is Green. One of the major areas where CAG and DEVGRU differ is in selection. The bulk of recruits into the fold of CAG is from the Army Rangers and the Green Berets, but is open to all members of the branches, and selection is held twice a year in the Appalachian Mountains, and with about 90% fail rate. Once again, the CAG selection process is heavily borrowed from the British SAS.
While over in Dam Neck, ST6 selection is much different, a picture of the applicant is posted on a wall, and current DEVGRU operators cast postive or negative votes on the applicant with a mark on the picture. If the applicant is selected, they are placed into the Green team for six months of training, with a 50% fail rate, after, the rest of the ST6 squads hold a draft to select new members.The ranks of ST6 recruits are from within the teams (a pool of about 2500 members), but some soures say that ST6 selection is open to members of the Marine Corps, only after passing BUD/s.

Because of where TIER-1 units draw their recruits, builds the culture of the unit and the POV of them from other military units. While DEVGRU is drawn from the other SEAL teams, DELTA draws operators from two very different groups, the 75th Rangers and the Green Berets, giving CAG a greater international depth and skill sets in other operations besides direct action missions, which both the ST6 and DELTA operators excel at. On the other hand, if the op is in the water, than DEVGRU is authority.
Since at least the 1993 Mogdishu operation, CAG and DEVGRU have worked with one another in Task Force units, like TF-121, and the relationship between the two at one time was very hostile and frosty, due to the looming shadow of Marcinko habit of alienating people. This has improved when ST6 commanders working hard to change the culture of the unit, and today, the working relationship was described by Sean Naylor in his book Not a Good Day to Die, as being like "a bad marriage on the verge of breaking up." In the public eye, DELTA FORCE would received the lion's share of attention from the mass media, with films like DELTA FORCE, the TV show The Units and various books, however recently, with the death of UBL, the tables have turned, now everyone is talking about DEVGRU.
Here is the source for this material:

http://sofrep.com/5447/differences-delta-and-seal-team-6/

Black Ops? Special Mission Units? TIER-1?

Like most things in life, there are many terms for the same thing, and when it comes to the world of TIER-1 SMUs, the terms start flying. Okay, as near as I can figure it, TIER-1 is a funding system for USSOCOM, placing specialized elite units, like ST6 and DELTA at the top, which also share the title of 'Special Mission Units' or SMUs. While Black Operations is not a name of a specific unit, but a term used for deep cover, denial everything kind of mission, like the IMF units seen in the Tom Cruise Mission Impossible films. The best example of recent was OPERATION: NEPTUNE SPEAR, where a combined Special Mission unit mostly made up of the TIER-1 DEVGRU operators from Red Squadron, went on a completely classified Black Ops mission. 

Post-TIER-1 Life: CIA Special Activities Division (SAD)/Special Operations Group (SOG)

There are many names for the special agents of the CIA that carry out operations of all types in the field: Core Collectors, Paramilitary Operations Officers and Specialized Skills Officers. But, despite the fancy names, some of the sources for these CIA SAD/SOG agents is former TIER-1 operators. One of the best cases for the flow of former TIER-1 operators into the ranks of the CIA, was MSGT William "Chief" Carlson. I came to know Mr. Carlson after he was killed during an ambush in Shkin, Afghanistan on October 25, 2003 with an former ST6 operator, Chris Mueller, and displayed bravery of the highest caliber under enemy fire. Oddly, he was officially listed by the CIA as a contractor, which seems one way that the CIA puts former TIER-1 into the field.  

United States TIER-1 Special Operations Units

DELTA FORCE

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Year Established: 1977

-AKA: Combat Applications Group (CAG), 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), the Group, and the Unit.

-Number of Operators: 800-1000

-Unit Role: Counter terrorism, hostage rescue, covert strikes and training, Wetwork of HVTs, and CQC, close protection of VIPS.

-Recruits From: 75th Rangers, Green Berets, and the Army at large.

-Operation Known For: The battle of Mogadishu (1993)

SEAL TEAM SIX

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Year Established: 1980

-AKA:  Navy Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)

-Number of Operators: around 200 (?)

-Unit Role: Maritime Counter terrorism, hostage rescue, covert strikes and training, Wetwork of HVTs, and CQC. close protection of VIPS.



-Recruits From: SEAL Teams and rumored, Marine Corps.

-Operation Known For: Operation NEPTUNE SPEAR (2011)

Intelligence Support Activity

Year Established: 1981

-AKA: GREY FOX, the Activity, CENTRA SPIKE, Task Force Orange

-Number of Operators: Unknown

-Unit Role: The military intelligence service that provides actionable information for TIER-1 and CIA units.

-Recruits From: Unknown

-Operation Known For: The killing of Pablo Escobar and Operation Anaconda

-Notes: The origin of this unit began during the planning of another attempt to rescue the American hostafes in Teran in 1980, it was called Field Operations Group. This unit is mentioned in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, when  term "ISA Phone Snipers" is used during Team METAL's attempted rescue for Alena Borisovna in Berlin.

Other SOF units under the 'TIER-1' title

JMAU

-Year Established: Unknown

-AKA: Joint Medical Augmentation Unit

 -Number of Operators: Unknown

-Unit Role: In-flight trauma care

-Recruits From: The US Army

-Operation Known For: None

-Notes: According to limited information, the JMAU are specially outfitted MC-130 Combat Talon aircraft for in flight trauma care and surgeries. Some sources say that JMAU personnel collected DNA during the operation in Tora Bora to confirm if UBL was killed in 2001.

Air Force 24th Special Tactics Squadron

-Year Established: 1990

-AKA: 24 STS

-Number of Operators:

-Unit Role: Providing SAR operations (PJ), critical weather information (SOW), and CAS (CCT)

-Recruits From: Air Force

-Operation Known For:

-Notes: The 24th STS of the US Air Force is made up for three different types of special operators: Pararescue, combat controllers, and special operations weathermen, and normally place their operators within larger JSCO task forces, like Task Force Ranger (Somalia '93), Task Force 121 (Iraq 2003-2007) and Task Force 145, who killed Al-Zarqawi on June 7th, 2006. I've read a few accounts of the Parajumpers training, and honestly, I think it ones of the hardest selections and training in the whole of JSOC units.

International TIER-1 Units

Like America, the global community faces terrorism and the need for black operations, and to response there is a long list of specialized  units. US TIER-1 operators do train and work with other nation's TIER-1 units, like the British Special Boat Service in A-Stan during Tora Bora in 2001.Part of the upcoming sequel to 2010's Medal of Honor, Warfighter, will be involvement of international TIER-1 units. Those units are listed below are confirmed in the game, and in keeping with the real-world approach to the game, our TIER-1 groups have worked with these units, what is interesting, is the absence of the French GIGN CT unit, which was featured in COD:MW3.

• British SAS (one of the oldest SOF units in the world)
• South Korean UDT
• Polish GROM
• The Canadian JTF-2
• The Norwegian FSK/HJK
• The Swedish S SOG
• The Aussie SASR
• Deutschland KSK
• The Russian Spetznas
• The IDF Sayeret Units (thanks to reader Angry Bell for the heads up!)

The TIER-1 Groups of The Israeli Defense Force

Despite the smaller size of the Israel, it as been able to amass the world's best military, and has no less than 24 Special Forces units called 'Sayeret' or RECON in Hebrew. Some are similar to US SOF units, like Unit 669 and Sayeret Shaldag of the IAF is about the same as the Air Force Parajumpers, and the CCT, along with the Israeli Navy having their SEAL-like unit, the Shayetet 13. When it comes to TIER-1 SMUs, the IDF seems to have about five, and it was seven until more recently when some TIER-1 SMUs that performed CT operations in the Gaza Strip were disbanded. The Israeli mirror of DEVGRU seems to be Shayetet 13 (pictured left) that performs maritime CT/assault operations, and the closest to CAG is the Sayeret Matkal, who became famous after airplane rescue mission in Africa, Operation Thunderbolt in 1976. This unit even takes the same motto and elements after the British SAS, who DELTA Force is also patterned after. Even the CIA SAD/SOG unit has an several IDF mirror units, the recently formed Maglan Unit, that is involved with operations behind enemy lines, and the Egoz Recon Unit, and secretive Kidon unit which is the "offensive assassination" arm of the Mossad. These units only reinforce the plain and simply fact that you don't fuck with Israel.


TIER-1 Groups in Science Fiction 

Most of the current generation of science-fiction creators, like me, have grown up during the rein of the Rambo/Schwarzenegger types of elite special soldiers, and this has colored our view of how the best-of-the-best are suppose to be like.

To me, the archetype of all TIER-1 operators was created the moment Snake Plissken entered into our lives. This tough-baked, burned-out badass was borrowed from the 'Man with no Name' of the Serigo Leone appeared to be able to handle most threats all while playing it cool. For better or worse, this is how most TIER-1 operators have been projected into science fiction as a general role, and mostly show the 'one-man-against-an-army' popular in the 1980's action films. To 'future-up' the central idea of the most elite special operators, sci-fi uses the idea of genetic alternated and/or cybernetic enhancements to create super-soldiers, seen in with the SPARTAN-II program and FOXHOUND. There has yet to be a realistic portrayal of TIER-1 based on the current real-world examples in a science-fiction novel or film. Then we come to the other sin that most sci-fi writiers committ about TIER-1 units, the names. No real SMU is going to name themselves, "Black Ops" or "Whiskey Company", oddly, I always thought that Escape from New York got it right with Special Forces units like 'Texas Thunder'.

Examples in Sci-Fi

Noble Team from HALO: Reach

It is no secret that I love the HALO universe, and my second favorite game of the series was 2010's REACH. Unlike much of the HALO games, save for HALO WARS, where there was only one SPARTAN-II, John-117, in Reach, we see an entire team. Noble team was highly specialized  comprised of experienced operators that are able to operate in the field with minimum support, and this was a mix of SPARTAN-II/III supersoldiers work together with different skills to achieve difficult missions. This is one of the better examples of a military sci-fi TIER-1 team, however, it does fall into the pattern of MSF creators using supersoldiers as the most elite SOF operators instead of 'normal' highly trained soldiers.

 Delta Squad from Star Wars: Republic Commandos

This is yet another supersoldier SPECOPS unit, however, like Noble Team, this clone trooper unit works together in a small team that has greater depth than its fewer commandos.

Despite Delta squad having a dumb name, each one of these commandos behave like a team, and use different skills to achieve impossible objectives in various conditions, like VBSS and direct assault.During these clones development on Kamino, Jango Fett asked for the Cuy'val Dar, one hundred Mandalorian warriors to come to Kamino and train the new Grand Army of the Republic, along with 75 commandos of the new army. Another interesting points about Delta Squad was that Star Wars created a continuing history of the unit after the events of the game, taking Delta through the Galactic Empre. I was impressed by this game for the original XBOX, and still have it to this day, I enjoyed the RAINBOW 6 level squad AI and commands, and having a real Star Wars shooter game with an elite SMU. Oh, and their armor was bitching. There has been rumors for years that Star Wars: Republic Commandos will get a next-gen remake or even a sequel.

MACOs from Star Trek: Enterprise

 There is no much in the way of canon history for the Military Assault Command Operations and its operators that were seen in the season 3 and 4 of Star Trek: Enterprise. When the Star Trek wiki, Memory Alpha first started up, I created a fictional history of the EM-33 Plasma Pistol where the first use of the MACOs and the EM-33 was during a hostage rescue in 2145. I am thinking of posting it...
Anyways, it is assumed that the MACOs came the United Earth military, which is separate from Starfleet, and were trained in both endo and exo atmospheric combat on Earth and on Luna. Their skillset, what was gleaned from the show, was focused on CQC, hostage rescue, assault, and demolition. Unlike the Starfleet piss ant security personal, the MACOS wielded special DEW EM41 modular carbines, and the EM-33 pistol with a stun setting, along with batons for melee fighting, and a future stun grenade. Also, in contrast to the Starfleet personal, MACOs wore some sort of fatigues in a all-terrain digital camo pattern, and trained hard in hand-to-hand and marksmanship. I was deeply impressed by the decision of the producers of Enterprise to show such a hardline military unit on a Star Trek show, and to do it so well. The MACOs were a well-done example of a futuristic TIER-1 unit complete with realistic tensions between them and the pussy Starfleet security officers. There is no information on the MACOs after the formation of the Federation in  2161.

7th Kommando from the Battletech universe

Within the ranks of 'Mech units in the vast Battletech universe, few are better known than the Wolf' Dragoons mercenary unit. Not only was the Wolf's Dragoon featured the pen-and-paper game but, in the two Xbox Mechwarrior video games. Within the large mercenary unit is the 7th Kommando special mission unit,which works with Wolfnet, the intelligence arm of the Wolf's Dragoons, but also operates lone wolf (couldn't resist!) as the special forces arm of the larger unit performing intelligence gathering missions, targeted strikes, and infiltrations.
A big thank you to reader Angry Bell gave FWS for the heads up on this one.  I hate to admit it, I had forgotten about the more infantry and Special Oeprations side of the Battletech universe!

Emperor's Royal Guard from Star Wars

To this day, besides Boba Fett, the Royal Imperial Guard is my favorite figure of the Star Wars universe, and if I were to dress up in cosplay, than this would be these elite warriors of the red.the Imperial Guard were designed for one purpose, the close protection detail of the Imperial Emperor, and only a few were needed to assure protection. These badasses in red are not carbon copies of that Mandalorian, but drawn from the ranks of normal human Imperial military units later after the Empire was formed, but originally were formed out of the Red Guard, successor to the Senate Guard seen in the Phantom Menace.  The Guard were heavily trained on Yinchorr in all formers of combat, including piloting a TIE fighter, and were loyal to the Emperor to a fault. It is rumored that Royal Guardsmen are deployed to combat Stormtrooper units in special red armor to keep up their combat kills. The steer amount of money lavished on the Royal Guard alone would make them a TIER-1 unit.

The Rebel Alliance SpecForce Infiltrators from the Star Wars RPG

This is the only ground military unit of the Rebel Alliance that the Stormtroopers fear, according to the West End Games Sourcebook for the Star Wars RPG, and unlike a number of other elite TIER-1 groups, the SpecForce Infiltrators are biologically unmodified. This group seems based on the French resistance of World War II, the CIA SAD teams, and the close quarters battle skills of CAG or DEVGRU coupled with excellent marksmen skills. Much is made about the nearly legendary ( not a reference to Barney Stinson) skill of these operators to kill stormtroopers, however, it seems from the films, that they can't for shit...odd. The Star Wars wiki mentions that the Infiltrators were disbanded after the Battle of Endor, and the Fall of the Imperials.

FOXHOUND from the Metal Gear games

Elements of the very elite ninja-like black-ops FOXHOUND unit are bordering on fantasy and completely unrealistic for a TIER-1 SOG, however, its presentation and popularity make it one of the more well known fictional TIER-1 units.
The big issue I have with FOXHOUND and the Metal Gear in general is, while Solid Snake is very cool and has some real-world SPECOPS skill, the vast majority of FOXHOUND's operators are completely non-military. With colorful characters like Vulcan Raven, and Psycho Mantis, FOXHOUND  would be closer to the Manson family than elite black-ops unit!

Ghost Brigades from the Old Man's Universe

I give John Scalzi much credit for his followup to the Old Man's War, he explored the most elite unit in all of the Colonial Defense Force, the SPECOPS Ghost Brigades in full loving detail. From the text, the Ghost Brigade members are inducted differently than the normal recruits into the CDF, the Ghosts are nearly completely reliant on the Brain-Pal for communication, due to it speed over tradition oral. Unlike the elderly recruits of the normal military service, the Ghosts are 'born' into military service, with bodies created from former CDF members that died in training, and their DNA is used to construct new soldiers without the benefit of knowing their past lives, hence the name. It is an interesting point that Scalzi brings up, even within a  military organization of supersoldiers and nano-based weaponry, there still is the need for SPECOPS, and this speaks to the hostilities of the Universe that Scalzi has created. He needs to write more Old Man War books.


The Storm Troopers of the Imperial Guard from Warhammer 40K

Even with the Space Marines and the vast legions of the Imperial Guard, there is a specialized unit of normal human soldiers, the Storm Troopers. These warriors are drawn from the orphanages of the Schola Progenium, and brainwashed to the highest degree to worship the cult of the Emperor. Unlike the millions of Imperial Guardsmen, the Stormtroopers are from every world of the Imperium, and are a much lighter force than the heavy elements of the Imperial Guard or the Space Marines, using jumpships for lightning quick-strike tactics outfitted in light powered armor. Adding to uniqueness of the Stormtroopers, is their use of the Hellgun, a much more powerful Lasgun not normally issued to standard Guardsmen, and can draw power from a backbag. Given the oddness of the Warhammer 40K universe,   

The TIER-1 Interviews for the Medal of Honor game

Part One "Wolfpack":