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http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/SpecialForcesSupportGroupFormsInWales.htm
Special Forces Support Group forms in Wales
20 Apr 06
The new UK Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) has been formed in St Athan, near Cardiff, the Secretary of State for Defence, John Reid, announced to Parliament today, Thursday 20 April 2006.
The unit will provide direct support to UK Special Forces intervention operations around the world and will provide the UK with an additional counter-terrorist capability,
The selection of individuals to the SFSG has been made from the Parachute Regiment, the Royal Marines, and the RAF Regiment. The group falls under the operational command of the Director of Special Forces and is part of the UK Special Forces Group.
Members of the SFSG will retain the cap badges of their parent units and will also wear the SFSG insignia. All individuals within this specialist group have passed either the Royal Marines Commando course, the Airborne Forces Selection course run by the Parachute Regiment or the RAF Pre-Parachute Selection course.
Each of these selection courses involves arduous physical selection and high quality infantry training. The personnel are then equipped and provided with additional training to fit their specific specialist role on joining the SFSG.
The main role of the SFSG is to provide direct support to UK Special Forces intervention operations around the world. They will be prepared to operate in war-fighting, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations at short notice.
Their roles may include provision of supporting or diversionary attacks, cordons, fire support, force protection and supporting training tasks. Prior to the creation of the SFSG, these tasks have been carried out by other units on an ad hoc basis.
One example of this specialist role was Operation Barras in Sierra Leone in 2000, where a company of 1 Para attacked one rebel camp as Special Forces units rescued hostages from a separate camp, thus preventing any rebel reinforcements disrupting the hostage rescue. By regularly training with the Special Forces, the SFSG will provide a more effective and available support capability.
"The new Special Forces Support Group will enhance the capability of the UK Special Forces to operate around the world and will provide the UK with an additional counter-terrorist capability."
John Reid
In a statement to the House of Commons today, the Secretary of State for Defence, John Reid, said:
"The new Special Forces Support Group will enhance the capability of the UK Special Forces to operate around the world and will provide the UK with an additional counter-terrorist capability. I am pleased to be able to inform the House that the new Special Forces unit stood up, as planned, in St Athan, near Cardiff on 3 April."
This is the first official confirmation of the formed Special Forces Support Group (SFSG). It is the first time that the location of the group's base has been revealed. The new SFSG insignia will be worn by members of the group.
The creation of two new Special Forces units to enhance the overall capabilities of the Special Forces and to improve the UK's ability to fight terrorism was announced by the then Secretary of State for Defence Geoff Hoon on 16 Dec 2004. The first unit, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, became operational on Apr 2005. The SFSG is the second unit, which became operational on 3 Apr 2006.The SFSG is part of the UK Special Forces Group.
Written Ministerial Statement: Secretary of State for Defence Dr John Reid
Special Forces Support Unit
The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr John Reid): On 16 December 2004 (Official Report, column 1798), as part of the wider programme to modernise the UK’s defence capabilities, the then Secretary of State for Defence, the rt hon Geoff Hoon MP, announced to the House the Government’s intention to create two new units that would significantly improve the specialist support to the Special Forces and enhance our global capacity to fight terrorism.
The first of these new units, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, became operational in April 2005 and is already delivering a globally deployable special reconnaissance capability to the UK Special Forces.
The second new unit is the ‘Special Forces Support Group’. SFSG is an enhanced capability that will directly support UK Special Forces intervention operations around the world and will provide the UK with an additional counter-terrorist capability.
I am pleased to be able to inform the House today that the SFSG has now stood up in St Athan, near Cardiff, and achieved Initial Operating Capability as planned on 3 April.
Personnel for the new unit have been drawn from the Parachute Regiment, the Royal Marines, and the Royal Air Force Regiment. The unit will be part of the UK Special Forces Group.
The principal role of the SFSG is to provide direct support to UKSF intervention operations, as well as reinforcing UKSF in other key capability areas such as provision of specialist training and support to domestic CT operations. It will have a specific specialist infantry role and personnel will be equipped and trained accordingly.
Photo 1) SFSG insignia
[Picture: MOD]
Special Forces Support Group forms in Wales
20 Apr 06
The new UK Special Forces Support Group (SFSG) has been formed in St Athan, near Cardiff, the Secretary of State for Defence, John Reid, announced to Parliament today, Thursday 20 April 2006.
The unit will provide direct support to UK Special Forces intervention operations around the world and will provide the UK with an additional counter-terrorist capability,
The selection of individuals to the SFSG has been made from the Parachute Regiment, the Royal Marines, and the RAF Regiment. The group falls under the operational command of the Director of Special Forces and is part of the UK Special Forces Group.
Members of the SFSG will retain the cap badges of their parent units and will also wear the SFSG insignia. All individuals within this specialist group have passed either the Royal Marines Commando course, the Airborne Forces Selection course run by the Parachute Regiment or the RAF Pre-Parachute Selection course.
Each of these selection courses involves arduous physical selection and high quality infantry training. The personnel are then equipped and provided with additional training to fit their specific specialist role on joining the SFSG.
The main role of the SFSG is to provide direct support to UK Special Forces intervention operations around the world. They will be prepared to operate in war-fighting, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations at short notice.
Their roles may include provision of supporting or diversionary attacks, cordons, fire support, force protection and supporting training tasks. Prior to the creation of the SFSG, these tasks have been carried out by other units on an ad hoc basis.
One example of this specialist role was Operation Barras in Sierra Leone in 2000, where a company of 1 Para attacked one rebel camp as Special Forces units rescued hostages from a separate camp, thus preventing any rebel reinforcements disrupting the hostage rescue. By regularly training with the Special Forces, the SFSG will provide a more effective and available support capability.
"The new Special Forces Support Group will enhance the capability of the UK Special Forces to operate around the world and will provide the UK with an additional counter-terrorist capability."
John Reid
In a statement to the House of Commons today, the Secretary of State for Defence, John Reid, said:
"The new Special Forces Support Group will enhance the capability of the UK Special Forces to operate around the world and will provide the UK with an additional counter-terrorist capability. I am pleased to be able to inform the House that the new Special Forces unit stood up, as planned, in St Athan, near Cardiff on 3 April."
This is the first official confirmation of the formed Special Forces Support Group (SFSG). It is the first time that the location of the group's base has been revealed. The new SFSG insignia will be worn by members of the group.
The creation of two new Special Forces units to enhance the overall capabilities of the Special Forces and to improve the UK's ability to fight terrorism was announced by the then Secretary of State for Defence Geoff Hoon on 16 Dec 2004. The first unit, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, became operational on Apr 2005. The SFSG is the second unit, which became operational on 3 Apr 2006.The SFSG is part of the UK Special Forces Group.
Written Ministerial Statement: Secretary of State for Defence Dr John Reid
Special Forces Support Unit
The Secretary of State for Defence (Dr John Reid): On 16 December 2004 (Official Report, column 1798), as part of the wider programme to modernise the UK’s defence capabilities, the then Secretary of State for Defence, the rt hon Geoff Hoon MP, announced to the House the Government’s intention to create two new units that would significantly improve the specialist support to the Special Forces and enhance our global capacity to fight terrorism.
The first of these new units, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, became operational in April 2005 and is already delivering a globally deployable special reconnaissance capability to the UK Special Forces.
The second new unit is the ‘Special Forces Support Group’. SFSG is an enhanced capability that will directly support UK Special Forces intervention operations around the world and will provide the UK with an additional counter-terrorist capability.
I am pleased to be able to inform the House today that the SFSG has now stood up in St Athan, near Cardiff, and achieved Initial Operating Capability as planned on 3 April.
Personnel for the new unit have been drawn from the Parachute Regiment, the Royal Marines, and the Royal Air Force Regiment. The unit will be part of the UK Special Forces Group.
The principal role of the SFSG is to provide direct support to UKSF intervention operations, as well as reinforcing UKSF in other key capability areas such as provision of specialist training and support to domestic CT operations. It will have a specific specialist infantry role and personnel will be equipped and trained accordingly.
Photo 1) SFSG insignia
[Picture: MOD]
