CIA Special Activities Division (SAD) / Special Operations Group

The Special Activities Division (SAD) is the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) covert paramilitary operations unit. They are one of America's most secretive and lowest profile special ops organizations.

The Special Activities Division, sometimes referred to as the 'Special Operations Group', is made up of Paramilitary Operations Officers. CIA Paramilitaries are typically ex-military personnel and veterans of military special operations units such as the Green Berets or Marine Force Recon. SAD also recruits from within the Agency. Regardless of background, SAD operators undergo extensive specialized training.

Special Activities Division - Role

Special Activities Division typically carry out deniable covert operations on foreign soil. CIA Special Operations Group Paramilitiaries are trained in

• sabotage • personnel and material recovery • kidnapping • bomb damage assessment • hostage resuce • counter terrorism

Special Activities Division - Organization

Part of the CIA's National Cladestine Service, the Special Activities Division is thought to include around 150 paramilitaries, pilots and other specialists. When deployed to the field, they typically operate in 6 man or fewer teams, with many a mission carried out by a solo SAD operative. CIA Special Operations Group Paramilitaries often work on joint operations alongside Delta, DevGru, Special Forces etc.

SAD is organized into several sections:

• Ground Branch SAD Ground Branch operatives are experts in field craft, surveillance, small arms, hostage rescue, CQB and advanced driving. Many former Army Special Forces soldiers and Delta Force operators find their way into Ground Branch.

• Maritime Branch As the name suggests, SAD Maritime Branch's focus is on amphibious operations and as such tends to recruit ex SEALs and Force Recon Marines as its operators.

• Air Branch SAD's aviation wing. more info : Air Branch

Special Activities Division - Notable Operations

• 2001 - present - Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom CIA Special Operations Group operatives were the first American forces to deploy into Afghanistan in September 2001. Multiple CIA teams, made up of a mix of case officers and SAD paramilitary officers, linked up with various anti-Taliban forces throughout Afghanistan. Their mission was to represent the US Government, gather intelligence on Al Qaeda and the Taliban and prepare the way for air strikes by coalition aircraft and the introduction of US Special Operations Forces into the country. CIA teams proceeded to make contact with Northern Alliance commanders, building relationships that were the key to ousting the Taliban regime. SAD Officers accompanied NA commanders and US Army Special Forces during several battles, including ousting the Taliban from the key Northern cities of Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif. more info : JAWBREAKER - the first CIA SAD team to enter Afghanistan after 9/11 CIA operatives were involved in the prisoner revolt at Qala-i-Janghi, a medieval fort being used to house captured Taliban soldiers, which claimed the life of Johnny Michael Spann, a SAD officer. A combination of US and UK SOF alongside NA forces eventually quelled the rebellion and retook the fort. CIA operatives worked closely with U.S. and British Special Operations Forces

throughout the campaign. The book Bloody Heroes by Damien Lewis, describes a British Special Boat Service (SBS - the UK equivalent of US Navy SEALs) recon mission in the mountains of Afghanistan. The SBS team, which included a SEAL on secondment to the unit, was accompanied by a CIA SAD Officer who's expertise in intelligence gathering was instrumental to the mission's success.

• 2003 - Pakistan March 1st - CIA Special Activities Division operatives, along with Pakistani forces, captured Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on of the architects of 911. SAD would go on to assist in his interrogation.

• 2003-present - Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom Months before the invasion of Iraq began, CIA SAD teams had covertly inserted into Iraq in order to gather intelligence on Saddam's WMD programs and on indigenous terror group, Ansar al Islam. During the invasion of Iraq, SAD Paramilitaries linked up with Army Special Forces and Kurdish forces in the North of the country. Their combined efforts tied up Iraqi forces, preventing them from moving south to counter the main coalition thrust. CIA teams also attempted to persuade Iraqi military units to defect. Following the initial invasion, CIA SAD operatives provided intel for SOF snatch and grab operations against Baath party leaders and, later, elements of the insurgency.

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American Special Operations Forces

New Info

MC-12W Liberty Twin-engine spy plane flown by AFSOC view: MC-12W Liberty

CCH SEALION Combatant Craft Heavy (CCH) SEALION long range vessel view: CCH SEALION

Combatant Craft Assault Info on the Special Boat Team's CCA view: CCA more new stuff:

• Combatant Craft Medium • MH-60M Black Hawk • Boeing C-32B • Delta Force Syria Raid • J. Buchanan Rescue By DEVGRU • GPNVG Info • Failed DEVGRU Somalia Raid • Delta Force Benghazi Capture Op • Diver Propulsion Systems • SEALs storm MV Morning Glory

This site features detailed info on the Special Operations Forces (SOF) of the United States Of America.

The units on this site are:

U.S. Army Special Operations Forces

• U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) The quiet professionals. Masters of unconventional warfare.

• Delta Force (CAG) The Army's elite counter-terrorism experts.

• 75th Ranger Regiment Army Rangers lead the way.

• 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment The Night Stalkers - elite helicopter flyers

• Intelligence Support Activity Top secret intelligence gatherers

• see all U.S. Army Special Operations Forces

Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Units

• Navy SEALs America's renowned naval commandos

• SEAL Team Six The US Navy's secretive special mission unit, otherwise known as DEVGRU

• Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewman (SWCC) Elite sailors who operate a range of surface boats

• see all U.S. Navy Special Operations Forces

USMC Special Operations Forces / Elite Units

• US Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC) Marine SOF under a new command structure

• Force Recon Elite Reconnaissance Marines who carry out deep reconnaissance operations

• Division Recon Highly trained Recon Marines

• see all USMC Special Ops Units

U.S. Air Force Special Operations Forces

• Special Operations Squadrons Operators of AC-130 Gunships and other specialized planes and helicopters

• Special Tactics Teams Combat Controllers, Pararescuemen, TACPs and Special Operations Weather Teams

• see all USAF Special Operations Units

Coast Guard Special Ops

• Deployable Operations Group Coast Guard Specialized Forces

CIA Special Forces

• CIA Special Activities Division Central Intelligence Agency Special Operations Group

Military Law Enforcement / Security

• Military SWAT / Security Overview Overview and links to units

Civilian Law Enforcement

• SWAT Special Weapons & Tactics - overview

• FBI HRT The elite hostage rescue team of the FBI

• FBI SWAT The FBI's Special Weapons and Tactics teams

Special Operations - Video

A selection of video clips featuring American Special Operations Forces

U.S. Army Special Forces A collection of footage of U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Berets) in action.

USMC Special Operations Videos featuring MSOBs, Force Recon, Special Reaction Teams etc.

TRF Training USAF Tactical Response Force (TRF) undergoing training.

USCG DSF Training Video showing the basic tactical operators course (BTOC) undertaken by USCG Deployable Specialized Forces.

ATF Special Response Team A look at the ATF SWAT team, the SRT

NASA SWAT Package featuring NASA's SWAT team, the Emergency Response Team (ERT)

Special Tactics Airmen USAF Special Tactics Airmen training U.S. Army soldiers.

USCG Deployable Specialized Forces B-roll of various Coast Guard special ops units.

USCG Deployable Operations Group 2007 package featuring the USCG DOG and its various components in action.

CV-22 Osprey Refueling 352d Special Operations Group perform mid-air refueling between CV-22 Osprey aircraft and MC-130P tankers.

U.S. / Aussie SOF Special Operations Forces from the U.S.A. and Australia conducting joint training.

Combat Rescue Training Pararescumen undergo combat rescue training.

SWAT Team Training Police SWAT Team training at military facility.

CV-22 Osprey - AFSOC Package on the CV-22 Osprey and its use by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

Navy SEALs - Demo Video report featuring Navy SEALs putting on a demo.

Inside AC-130 Footage taken inside an AC-130 gunship.

SWAT Teams Civilian and Military Police SWAT teams train at Fort Bragg

Emerald Warrior 2012 Package on Emerald Warrior 2012, a large scale SOF exercise.

Special Ops CAPEX B-roll of special operations forces from the U.S. and partner countries perfoming a capabilities demo

Special Ops Demo Assorted special operations units putting on a demonstration in Tampa Bay, 2012

MSST - Vertical Insertion USCG Maritime Safety & Security Team conducting fast-rope training

Maritime Security Response Team Footage of the Coast Guard's elite MSRT.

MSRT - Oil Rig Take Down The USCG's elite counterterrorism unit storm an oil rig during a training exercise.

Navy SEALs 8-part series of footage featuring the Navy SEALs

SWCC video US Navy feature on the SWCC.

Ranger Training Brigade - Demo Skills demo by Army Rangers

Rangers - Afghanistan Parachute Jump DoD footage of Rangers jumping into Afghanistan, 2001

Army Rangers Army Rangers taking part in Ranger Rendezvous 2011

CV-22 Osprey B-Roll B-roll of AFSOC CV-22 Ospreys

AFSOC Air Force Special Operations Command Special Tactics units conduct training

CV-22 Osprey News report on the new CV-22 Osprey and its introduction into AFSOC service.

MH-53 Retirement Pentagon report on the retirement of the venerable MH-53 helicopter from AFSOC service.

AFSOC Aircraft Footage of MH-53 Pavelow helicopters and AC-130 Gunships

Air Commandos Report on the Air Commandos - USAF Special Tactics Teams - CCTs, PJs, SOWTs.

Iraq - hostage rescue Officially released footage showing Delta Force operation to free Polish and Italian workers who had been kidnapped in Iraq.

Special Forces - 160th SOAR Footage of 1st Special Forces Group, Korean Special Forces and 160th SOAR MH-47s

160th SOAR Little Birds Stunning footage of SOAR MH-6 helicopters inserting SOF onto rooftops in Iraq.

160th SOAR DAP Gunship Clip of a MH60L DAP gunship firing at ground targets during operations in Iraq.

160th SOAR DAP Gunship - extended clip Much longer clip of MH-60L DAP and AH-6J gunships carrying out close air support (CAS) in urban Iraq.

160th SOAR - Insurgents Takedown Amazing clip of SOAR MH-60 Blackhawks swooping down on insurgents in Iraq.

160th SOAR - Little Birds - Iraq MH-6 helicopters and US SOF intercept a car in Iraq

160th SOAR - NASCAR Video of Night Stalkers and other SOF preparing for a NASCAR demo

AC-130 Gun Camera Footage Outstanding footage shot through the gun camera of a AC-130 Gunship over Afghanistan.

AC-130U Spooky Package showing the AC-130U Spooky gunship in flight and engaging targets.

Special Operations - Weapons

The following details the array of weaponry used by America's elite military units.

Assault Rifles / Carbines:

M4A1 ubiquitous US Army carbine available with a selection of accessories more info : M4A1 carbine

M4 CQBR also known as the MK 18 Mod 0, this shortened version of the M4A1 is a favorite within the NSW community more info : CQBR

M16A4 fourth-generation, full-size AR-15 variant in use with USMC units more info : M16A4

HK416 specially developed for Delta Force by German gunsmiths, Heckler and Koch more info : HK416

MK16 Mod 0 SCAR A newly-developed series of 5.56mm assault rifles, carbines and light sniper rifles more info : MK 16 Mod 0

MK17 Mod 0 SCAR A family of 7.62mm carbines, assault rifles and light sniper rifles more info : MK 17 Mod 0

MK 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle A modernized M-14 rifle in use with the SEALs. more info : MK 14 Mod 0

M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle The USMC use this variant of the HK416 in the automatic rifleman role. more info : M27 IAR

Sub Machine Guns:

HK MP5 Compact, accurate and versatile, the 9mm Mp5 comes in a number of flavors more info : MP5

HK MP7 A compact smg used by DEVGRU / SEAL Team 6 more info : MP7

M3a1 Grease Gun vintage Delta Force .45 smg

more info : M3 Grease Gun

Walther MP vintage Delta Force 9mm smg more info : Walther MP

Pistols:

M9 Beretta The US Army's standard sidearm, the 9mm beretta is used by Rangers and other SOF units. more info : M9 Beretta

Colt 1911 This venerable .45 was Delta's favorite pistol for many year. more info : Colt 1911

MEU(SOC) pistol Modified version of the Colt 1911, developed for the USMC info : MEU(SOC) pistol

Sig Sauer P226 / P228 9mm pistols carried by Navy SEALs and SWCCs. info : Sig Sauer P226 / P228

Sig Sauer P239 Sub-compact 9mm pistols used by SEAL Team 6 info : Sig Sauer P239

HK45CT Compact .45 handgun used by Navy SEALs info : HK45CT

Glock Pistols in a range of sizes and calibres info : Glock pistols

Shotguns:

M870 Shotgun Military version of the Remington 870 more info : M870 Shotgun

M500 / M590 Shotgun 12-gauge pump-action shotgun based on Mossberg M500 more info : M500 Shotgun

M1014 Shotgun 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun based on the Benelli M4 Super 90 more info : M1014 Shotgun

Machine Guns:

M249 SAW A 5.56mm light machine gun in wide use throughout the US military with variants developed for special ops forces. info : M249 SAW

Mk 46 Machine Gun A special ops variant of the M249 SAW

info : Mk 46 Machine Gun

Mk 48 Machine Gun A scaled-up variant of the Mk 46, chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO info : Mk 48 Machine Gun

M240 machine gun Versatile 7.62mm belt-fed medium machine gun that can be carried or mounted on tripods, vehicles, boats and helicopters. info : M240

M2 heavy machine gun .50 caliber gun fired often mounted on SOF boats, vehicles and helicopters. more info : M2

minigun multi-barrelled 7.62mm electrically-operated gatling gun mounted on boats, helicopters and vehicles. info : Minigun

Sniper Rifles:

SR-25 (MK 11 / M110) A medium range 7.62mm sniper rifle used by units such as the Rangers more info : SR-25

MK 20 Mod 0 Sniper Support Rifle Designated marksman's rifle based on the SCAR-H info : MK 20 Mod 0 Sniper Support Rifle

M14 DMR The Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) - a 7.62mm medium sniper rifle based around the M14 rifle info : Designated Marksmanship Rifle

M39 EMR The Enhanced Marksmanship Rifle (EMR) - a 7.62mm medium sniper rifle used by MARSOC and other USMC units more info : Enhanced Marksmanship Rifle

SPR (MK 12) 5.56mm sniper rifle used by the SEALs, Rangers and Special Forces more info : SPR

M24 SWS US Army bolt-action 7.62mm sniper rifle more info : M24 SWS

XM2010 enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR) New and improved U.S. Army sniper rifle configured to use the .300 Win Mag cartridge more info : XM2010 ESR

M40A3 Bolt-action 7.62mm sniper rifle used by USMC Special Ops, among others more info : M40A3

M40A5 A new 7.62mm sniper rifle in use with the USCM more info : M40A5

M91A2 Navy SEAL variant of the Remington 700 long action more info : M91A2 sniper rifle

MK 13 Mod 5 .300 WinMag sniper rifle used by the US Navy SEALs more info : MK 13 Mod 5

McMillan TAC-338 long range .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifle more info : McMillan TAC-338

M82a1 / M107 Barrett devastating .50 caliber long range sniper rifle used by SEALs, Delta etc. more info : Barret rifle

MK 15 Mod 0 SASR .50 caliber long range sniper rifle used by US Navy SEALs more info : MK 15 Mod 0 SASR

Grenade Launchers:

M203 Grenade Launcher 40mm underslung weapon more info : M203

M320 Grenade Launcher 40mm grenade launcher in attached and stand-alone configurations more info : M320

M79 Grenade Launcher Vietnam-era 40mm grenade launcher still used by US SOF more info : M79

MK 13 Mod O Grenade Launcher 40mm grenade launcher for the new MK 16 and MK17 rifles more info : MK 13 Mod 0

M32 Grenade Launcher Multishot 40mm grenade launcher used by SOF and US Marines more info : M32 MGL

MK 19 Grenade Launcher belt fed, automatic grenade launcher more info : MK 19

MK 47 Striker Grenade Launcher advanced, computer-assisted 40mm automatic grenade launcher info : MK 47

Rocket / Missile Launchers:

M72 LAW vietnam-era 66mm rocket launcher still in use with US SOF info : M72 LAW

Carl Gustav Recoilless Rifle versatile rocket launcher in use with SOCOM units info : Carl Gustav

M136 AT4 84mm one-shot rocket launcher info : M136

FGM-148 Javelin fire-and-forget anti-tank missile system info : FGM-148 Javelin

FIM-92 Stinger man-portable anti-aircraft systems info : FIM-92 Stinger

Special Operations Aircraft

U.S. special operations aviation units use the following aircraft...

CV-22 Osprey

Air Force special ops tilt-rotor aircraft... more info : CV-22 Osprey

AC-130H/U Gunship

AFSOC gunship with a deadly array of weapons... more info : AC-130H/U Gunship

MC-130E/H Combat Talon I/II

Modified C-130s that fly in support of US special operations... more info : MC-130E/H Combat Talon I/II

MC-130P Combat Shadow

AFSOC tanker aircraft, based on the C-130 Hercules... more info : MC-130P Combat Shadow

MC-130J Commando II

AFSOC's latest special ops trasnport plane... more info : MC-130J Commando II

AC-130J Ghostrider

Gunship variant of the Commando II... more info : AC-130J Ghostrider

MC-130W Combat Spear

A recent addition to AFSOC's fleet of special ops transport planes... more info : MC-130W Combat Spear

MC-130W Dragon Spear

MC-130W Combat Spears turned into gunships when fitted with a modular weapons system... more info : MC-130W Dragon Spear

EC-130J Commando Solo

A flying psyops broadcasting station... photo : EC-130J Commando Solo

U-28A

Surveillance planes operated by AFSOC Special Operations Squadrons photo / more info : U-28A

MC-12W Liberty

Surveillance aircraft based on the Beechcraft 350 King Air photo / more info : MC-12W Liberty

M-28 / C145A Skytruck

Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) transport aircraft operated by AFSOC photo / more info : M-28 Skytruck

C-146A Wolfhound

turboprop transport plane used by AFSOC units more info : C-146A Wolfhound

AFSOC Non-standard Aviation

Info on the various light and medium aircraft operated by AFSOC intra-theater airlift fleet more info : AFSOC Non-standard Aviation

Boeing C-32B

Modified Boeing 757 used on covert USAF special operations more info : Boeing C-32B

MH-53J/M Pavelow

Recently decommisioned AFSOC helicopter... more info : MH-53J/M Pave Low

MH-60 Black Hawks

Transport helicopters flown by the elite Night Stalkers... more info : MH-60K/L/M Black Hawk

MH-60L DAP Gunships

Heavily armed Black Hawks flown by the 160th SOAR... more info : MH-60L Direct Air Penetrator (DAP)

AH-6 / MH-6 Little Bird

Small and nimble transport and attack helicopters operated by the 160th... more info : AH-6 / MH-6 Little Bird

MH-47 Chinook

Heavy-lift special operations helicopters flown by Night Stalkers... more info : MH-47E/G Chinook

HH-60H Rescue Hawk

Naval Special Operations helicopter... more info : HH-60H Rescue Hawk

CIA Special Operations Aircraft

Info on the various aircraft operated by the CIA Speciial Activities Division... more info : CIA SAD Air Branch aircraft

Special Operations Aircraft - Resources

• USAF special ops aircraft photo gallery • 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment photo gallery

Special Operations - Missions

Here you can find a master list of all the accounts of operations / missions detailed on this site.

160th SOAR - Operation Prime Chance The Night Stalkers join a Navy task force in the Persian Gulf features : 160th SOAR, Navy SEALs more info: 160th SOAR - Operation Prime Chance 160th SOAR - Operation Just Cause The 160th fly attack and insertion/extraction missions in Panama features : 160th SOAR, Delta Force, Navy SEALs, Rangers more info: 160th SOAR - Operation Just Cause SCUD Hunting Delta Force and British SAS hunt Saddam's missiles in the desert, 1991 features : Delta Force, SOAR, AFSOC more info: SCUD Hunting SOF - Operation Enduring Freedom In-depth feature on US SOF during the early months of OEF, Afghanistan features : CIA SAD, 160th SOAR, Delta Force, Navy SEALs, Rangers, Special Forces, AFSOC

more info: SOF - Operation Enduring Freedom Delta Force / Rangers - October 2001 Delta and the Rangers carry out airborne raids into the heart of Taliban country features : Delta Force, Rangers, CCTs, Psyops more info: Delta Force / Rangers - October 2001 Delta Force - Hunt For Bin Laden A look at the 2001 Delta Force mission to find and kill Osama Bin Laden features : Delta Force, CIA SAD, Special Forces more info: Delta Force - Hunt For Bin Laden SOF - Operation Iraqi Freedom A report on the activities of the various US SOF that took part in the 2003 liberation of Iraq features : special forces, rangers, navy seals, swcc, special tactics, delta force, usaf special ops, isa more info: SOF - Operation Iraqi Freedom Delta Force - Baghdad Airstrike An attempt in the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom to cut off the head of the snake features : delta force, usaf special ops, isa more info: Delta Force - Baghdad Airstrike WMD complex A task force swoops on a suspected WMD site in the Iraqi desert during Operation Iraqi Freedom features : JSOC special mission teams, rangers, 160th SOAR more info: WMD complex Delta Force - Saddam capture A bloodless but expertly handled operation to take the ousted Iraqi dictator into custody features : delta force, usaf special ops more info: Delta Force - Saddam capture Iraq Hostage Rescue US SOF swoop on a compound in Iraq to rescue 4 foreign hostages features : unspecified SOF, 160th SOAR, isa

more info: Iraq Hostage Rescue SEALS - Operation Red Wing An ill-fated SEAL recon mission in the mountains of Afghanistan features : SEALs, 160th SOAR, Rangers, Special Forces more info: SEALS - Operation Red Wing Syria Commando Raid The controversial incursion into Syria, October 2008 features : Special Mission Units, 160th SOAR more info: Syria Commando Raid SEALs Rescue Capt. Phillips April 2009 - Navy SEALs rescue a US ship's Captain from pirates features : SEALs more info: SEALs Rescue Capt. Phillips Operation Celestial Balance September 2009 - A SOAR / SEAL Team 6 raid into Somalia nabs a wanted terrorist features : 160th SOAR, DEVGRU more info: Operation Celestial Balance Failed Hostage Rescue - Afghanistan October 2010 - the attempt by DEVGRU to rescue Scottish aid worker Linda Norgrove goes badly wrong features : DEVGRU, 160th SOAR, Rangers more info: Linda Norgrove Rescue Bid Hostage Rescue - Somalia January 2012 - DEVGRU rescue 2 western hostages, including American, Jessica Buchanan, from Somali pirates in a daring desert raid features : DEVGRU, 160th SOAR, FBI HRT, AFSOC more info: Somali Hostage Rescue Abu Anas al-Libi Capture October 2013 - Delta Force, along with FBI Hostage Rescue Team and CIA operators, capture an Al Qaeda terrorist in Tripoli features : Delta Force, FBI HRT, CIA SAD

more info: Abu Anas al-Libi Capture DEVGRU Barawe Operation October 2013 - DEVGRU attempt, and fail, to capture an al-Shabaab commander from his house in Barawe, on Somalia's east coast features : DEVGRU more info: DEVGRU Barawe Operation MV Morning Glory March 2014 - Navy SEALs intercept an oil tanker held by Libyan militia features : SEALs more info: MV Morning Glory Abu Khattala Capture June 2014 - Delta Force lead a multi-agency operation to capture one of the 2012 Benghazi attack masterminds features : Delta Force, FBI HRT more info: Abu Khattala Capture Abu Sayyaf Killed May 2015 - Delta Force carry out a raid in Syria that kills a senior IS financier features : Delta Force, Night Stalkers, AFSOC more info: Abu Sayyaf Operation

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