Summary and Key Points: Delta Force, officially known as Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, is the U.S. Army's premier counterterrorism and hostage rescue unit, created in the late 1970s by Green Beret officer Charlie Beckwith. Modeled after the British SAS, Delta is divided into four Sabre Squadrons specializing in various special operations mission sets.

-Joining Delta requires passing one of the toughest selection processes in the world, including grueling physical tests and navigation challenges.

-Successful candidates then undergo a six-month Operator Training Course (OTC), focusing heavily on close-quarters combat (CQB). Even after completing training, operators remain under continuous scrutiny.

Delta Force: Masters of Counterterrorism and Hostage Rescue

Right now, as you sit and read this article, there is a special operations unit ready to respond to any terrorism or hostage rescue incident around the world at a moment’s notice. 

Although the unit would prefer to remain in the shadows, from where it does its job best, its exploits over the years and the public’s desire for accounts of daredevilry make it nigh impossible. 

The Special Forces Operational Detachment-D

Delta Force, or the Special Forces Operational Detachment-D, is the Army’s direct action special missions unit tasked with the counterterrorism and hostage rescue mission sets.

Created in the late 1970s by legendary Green Beret officer Charlie Beckwith, Delta Force was a response to repeated terrorist incidents around the world in the 1970s and 1980s. Modeled after the British 22nd Special Air Services (SAS), Delta Force comprises four Sabre Squadrons (A, B, C, and D), each of which has three troops (two assault, one sniper/reconnaissance). 

Delta Force has participated in almost every large and small U.S. military involvement in the past 50 years. 

Beyond its expertise in counterterrorism and hostage rescue, Delta Force specializes in a wide range of other special operations mission sets, including special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, unconventional warfare, counter-proliferation, and counter-weapons of mass destruction. Its bread and butter, however, is taking down bad guys or rescuing hostages anywhere around the world. 

The first real hurdle of joining Delta Force is the selection process. Assessment & Selection, or A&S, is one of the most difficult special operations selections in the world. It takes place in the lovely mountains of West Virginia, and it involves increasingly longer navigation routes with tens of pounds of gear. The process culminates with a timed 40-mile ruck march over rugged, mountainous terrain. Although most of the candidates who apply to join the elite ranks of Delta Force come from the special operations community, especially Rangers and Green Berets, only a very small number manage to finish A&S. 

The journey doesn’t end there. 

The Operator Training Course, or OTC, comes next. It lasts around six months and puts candidates through the rigors of being a Delta Force operator. Extremely heavy emphasis is placed on close quarters combat, or CBQ, skills that the unit uses in its counterterrorism and hostage rescue missions. Those few who make it to the end – it is not uncommon to have classes with one or two graduates – are assigned to a Sabre Squadron. But scrutiny does not end there. New operators are on probation until they can prove that they have the necessary skills and attitude to serve at the tip of the spear. As Delta Force operators often say, “selection is a continuous process.”

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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