Compared to our nation's military history, Delta is relatively young, having been formed in November 1977 by its first commander, Colonel Charles Beckwith. With the growing threat of terrorism around the world, Beckwith saw a need for a precision strike force within the Army after working with the British Special Air Service (SAS) in the early 1970's. Beckwith was tasked to form the new unit and pulled largely from the Special Forces Groups. The type of missions the Delta has been involved with over the past few decades are classified but some have been declassified and noted publicly in media reports and books written by Delta Operators.



Commanding Officers:



1977 - 1980 COL Charles Alvin "Chargin' Charlie" Beckwith (1929 -1994)

1980 - 1982 COL James R. "Rod" Paschal

1982 - 1985 COL (later BG) Sherman H. Williford

1985 - 1989 COL (later MG) William F. "Bill" Garrison

1989 - 1992 COL (later General) Peter J. Schoomaker

1992 - 1994 COL (later LTG) William G. Boykin

1994 - 1996 COL Bernard J. McCabe, Jr.

1996 - 1998 COL (later MG) Eldon A. Bargewell

1998 - 2000 COL (later MG) Gary L. Harrell

2000 - 2002 COL (later BG) James H. Schwitters





From November 1977 to 31 September 1982, Delta personnel were authorized to wear JFK Special Warfare Center and School shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI), distinctive unit insignia (DUI), beret flash, and parachute background trimming.





From 1 October 1982 to 30 November 1989, Delta personnel were authorized to wear the Army's 1st Special Operations Command (Airborne) (Provisional) shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI), distinctive unit insignia (DUI), beret flash, and parachute background trimming.





From 1 December 1989 to the present, Delta personnel are authorized to wear Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI), distinctive unit insignia (DUI), beret flash, and parachute background trimming.





Send any corrections or additional information to SGM Mike R. Vining (USA Retired), email: sgmmvining@gmail.com. I served in the unit from 24 March 1978 to 5 June 1985. I graduated from Operator Training Course One (OTC-1) and was assigned to B Squadron. I was TDY to unit from 20February to 5 April 1986, and returned to the unit on 31 July 1986. From August 1992 to January 1999, while assigned to the unit, I was attached to Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).

