8th SFG Poster
 

As a 8th SFG vet, I wanted to make a poster commemorating the 8th Group. I made this for my own and a few of my pals enjoyment, back in 2006. I thought that maybe some of you may enjoy it as well.
Click the link for the full size version (1881x2363, 1.27 MB).
Click the thumb for a downsized version (398x500, 173 KB).

http://www.imagebam.com/image/aa60b94639897

That's great Brother! Excellent work. Many thanks.

Great! I thought you borrowed the SCUBA jump picture from my site but now remember the Group photographer gave me a set of prints.:lifter

Nice work on the poster.

Thanks fellas. Glad you enjoyed it. Here's one of a series of posters I made with different Group flashes.

Special Action Force
 

Nice work! I was wondering what the phrase "Special Action Force" meant?? Does this this pertain to a specific mission or task assigned to the Group? It sounds good anyway...

JDW

I believe the proper name is:"Security Action Force." Each major Theater Command had one.

ARRGH !! Failure to use search function... Moving out, drawing fire

JDW

According to the "Historical Supplement, Special Action Force Latin America, 8th Special Forces Group", printed by the 9th Psychological Operations Battalion and currently in my possession, the "Special Action Force Mission" was as follows:

1. To advise, train, and assist Latin American military forces in counterinsurgency activities.

2. To develop, organize, and equip, train and direct native forces in the conduct of guerrilla warfare.

3. To support the U.S. Armed Forces Southern Command contingency plans.

4. To assist Southern Command in developing plans to use the Special Action Force under varying conditions.

5. To accomplish civic action projects.

That was our mission but the phrase Special Action Force (SAF) ment the Special forces Group was augmented with additional assets.
The 8th SFGA was the only SAF ever fully staffed.
We had:
A Medical Co, 355th Med I believe.
A Phycological Operations company (they also printed the SAFLAN news letter)
A Civil Affairs company
An MP company
An Aviation company but no planes
An Engineer company
An ASA company (Army Security Agency for those too young to remember)
There may have been one or two others but my memory fails me.
Perhaps SFpanama's book has some data.

Our full title was:
8th Special Forces Group Abn, Special Action Force Latin america, 1st Special Forces

Indeed. See my previous post here:

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...37&postcount=8

John

Love your website!
 

QRQ 30,

Thanks for the great website. Though my time in 8th SFG was short, my time in Panama wasn't. Great duty! I loved the picture of Cpt Abbott, from whom I took a NAUI scuba class in the Ft. Gulick pool in prep for Scuba School - which never happened due to being reassigned out of Group after deactivation.

Tom

SAF
 

Yes, the manual talks about a special action force(i.e. group augmented by other non-SF units), but the sign leading into the 8th SFGA area on Fort Gulick leveraged the term into "Security Assistance Force (sic) for Latin America. I chuckled every time I saw the sign when I was driving to work from married housing on Fort Davis.

I believe it had to do with the DTG... the "Special Action Force" became the "Security Assistance Force" at some point. It sounds more 'cuddly'!

SAF units
 

There was also an MI unit on the second floor over the post office which was across from the parade field.