Delta Force

1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Airborne)
USASOC CSIB worn by 1st SFOD-D, depicting a Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife
Founded	19 November 1977; 39 years ago (1977-11-19)
Country	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Type	Special operations force
Role	Special operations
Size	Classified see below
Part of	U.S. Special Operations Command Joint Special Operations Command U.S. Army Special Operations Command
Garrison/HQ	Fort Bragg, North Carolina, U.S.
Nickname(s)	Delta, The Unit, Task Force Green
Engagements	Operation Eagle Claw Operation Urgent Fury Operation Just Cause  • Operation Acid Gambit Gulf War Somali Civil War  • Operation Restore Hope  • Operation Gothic Serpent  • Battle of Mogadishu Operation Uphold Democracy Yugoslav Wars  • NATO intervention in Bosnia  • Kosovo War Global War on Terrorism War in Afghanistan Iraq War  • Operation Red Dawn War on ISIL  • Operation Inherent Resolve  • May 2015 raid on Deir Ezzor Mexican Drug War  • Operation Black Swan
Commanders
Notable commanders	Charles Alvin Beckwith

The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), commonly referred to as Delta Force, Combat Applications Group/"CAG", "The Unit", or within JSOC as Task Force Green, is an elite Special Mission Unit of the United States Army, under operational control of the Joint Special Operations Command. It is used for hostage rescue and counterterrorism, as well as direct action and reconnaissance against high-value targets. Delta Force and its U.S. Navy counterpart, DEVGRU "SEAL Team 6", are the United States military's primary counter-terrorism units and fall under the operational control of the Joint Special Operations Command. Delta Force and DEVGRU perform many of the most highly complex and dangerous missions in the U.S. military, often highly classified as well. These units are also often referred to as special mission units by the U.S. government.

Most Delta operators come from the United States Army Special Operations Command's elite 75th Ranger Regiment and Special Forces Groups as well as from the special operations units of other branches of the military, though also occasionally from conventional forces. The Central Intelligence Agency's highly secretive Special Activities Division (SAD) and more specifically its elite Special Operations Group (SOG), often works with – and recruits – operators from Delta Force.

Delta Force was formed after numerous, well-publicized terrorist incidents in the 1970s. These incidents led the U.S. government to develop a full-time counter-terrorism unit.