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Military special operations unit of Japan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Special Forces Group (特殊作戦群, Tokushu-sakusengun) is the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's special forces unit established on March 27, 2004.
 | This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards, as the recent editing of this article uses a lot of photos as citations when they don't clearly cite the SFGp. The weapons/equipment needs to be summarized and the long explanations removed under the Manual of Style. (October 2023) |
 | This article may contain an excessive number of citations. (December 2023) |
| Special Forces Group | |
|---|---|
| 特殊作戦群 | |
| |
| Active | March 27, 2004–present |
| Country |  Japan |
| Branch |  Japan Ground Self-Defense Force |
| Type | Special forces |
| Size | Classified, estimated 300[1] |
| Part of | Ground Component Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Narashino Garrison, Funabashi, Chiba |
| Nickname(s) | SOG (Former) SFGp (Current) |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Takanori Hirata (Colonel) |
| Notable commanders | Takashi Araya |
Their mission is infiltration into enemy territory, reconnaissance, sabotage, and hostage rescue,[2] and conducting military operations against guerrillas or enemy commandos.[3][4] The unit is based in Camp Narashino in Funabashi, Chiba along with the 1st Airborne Brigade.[5]
The SFGp has been referred to as Japan's Green Berets,[6] due to their specialized role in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The initial operators were trained with Green Berets.[7]
The civilian counterpart of the SFGp is the Special Assault Teams of the prefectural police departments under the Japanese National Police Agency.
While current manpower is classified, an estimated 300 operators are known to serve in the SFGp.[1]
In 1998, the Defense Agency had proposed the formation of a unit within the JGSDF that would handle tasks such as counter-terrorism with a selected group of JGSDF soldiers from the 1st Airborne Brigade sent to the United States to be trained by Green Berets operators. At the same time, two platoons were created from the brigade to be the foundations for the new unit. These consisted of the G Platoon (Formation Unit) and the S Platoon (Research Unit).
The establishment of the unit's framework had been completed in 2003, after 3 years of training and organisation. The unit's structure is based on that of Green Berets, Delta Force,[6] SAS (Special Air Service), KSK (Kommando Spezialkräfte), and Australian Special Forces units.[8][9] Bilingual 1st Special Forces Group personnel were on hand to assist the JGSDF in creating their Table of Organization and Equipment (TO&E).[10] Takashi Araya once mentioned in an interview that he trained with Green Berets abroad for a year.[11]
On March 27, 2004, the Defense Agency activated the unit as the Special Operations Group with the mandate under the JGSDF as its counter-terrorist unit.
In 2005, the SOG had deployed four of its operators to serve as bodyguards for the commander of the JGSDF's contingent in Iraq under the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group.[6]
On March 28, 2007, the SOG, along with the 1st Airborne Brigade, the 1st Helicopter Brigade, and the 101st NBC Protection Unit, became part of the newly created Central Readiness Force.[12][13]
The unit changed its English name on March 26, 2008, from SOG to the SFGp.[14]
On page 14 of the January–March 2014 edition of「Special Warfare[15]」, authorized official bimonthly publication by the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School and Fort Bragg, the U.S. Army Green Berets 1st SOG(A) and the JGSDF SOG conduct a bilateral exercise "Silent Eagle," each fall at JBLM in Washington State.[16]
In 2016, the SFGp was placed on standby during the 42nd G7 summit in case their assistance is required to back up the Special Assault Team and the Anti-Firearms Squad.[17]
On page 83 of the October–December 2017 edition of「Special Warfare[15]」, authorized official bimonthly publication by the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School and Fort Bragg, the strongest relationship and history between the U.S. Army Green Beret 1st SOG(A) 1st Battalion stationed in Okinawa, and the SFGp, as well as the training conducted by the former USPACOM subordinated Green Berets CRF(Crisis Response Force) and JGSDF SFGp at Joint Combined Exchange Training(JCET) in Camp Narashino and Okinawa on various missions, including direct action(DA), hostage rescue(HR), urban movement and mobility on rotary wing and vehicle platforms.[18]
On January 18, 2018, the SFGp conducted one of their few exercises before the presence of the Australian and Japanese prime ministers.[19] At least one SFGp operator was an observer at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) 2018 exercises in Florida.[20] King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Japan and was given a demonstration by SOG operators on November 27, 2018.[21]
On February 18, 2019, unnamed SFGp operators were deployed to attend Flintlock military exercises in Africa.[22]
On November 5, 2021, the SFGp has trained in Guam with the Green Berets.[10] Exercises between the 1st Special Operations Group and the SOG are conducted yearly under the codename Silent Eagle.[23]
On June 29, 2021, then Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga visited maneuvers performed by SOG operators.[24]
On August 23, 2021, more than a dozen personnel, along with 100 JGSDF personnel, were deployed in 「Evacuation of Japanese Nationals and Others from Afghanistan」[25]
In August 2022, Joint counter-terrorism exercise「Exercise Dusk Samurai 2022」with the Australian Army 2nd Commando Regiment at Sydney Parramatta, Australia, was posted on the Australian Department of Defence (Australia) official website.[26]
On October 6, 2022, Posted on the JGSDF official website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter that the SFGp and the Australian Army Special Operations Command (Australia) conducted field training in Australia in August 2022.[27][28][29][30] This is the first official announcement by the JGSDF regarding SOG's training and joint training between SFGp and special forces units of other countries, and was the sixth joint exercise with the Australian Army Special Forces since 2015.[31][32]
Volume 19, number 1, 2023 of 「Veritas,[33] a publication published by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command History Office, contains a description of SFGp and details of joint exercise「Silent Eagle 2011」, a joint exercise between SFGp and the U.S. Army Green Berets 1st SOG(A).[34]
On March 16, 2023, Posted on the JGSDF official website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter that the SFGp and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (Green Berets) conducted field training in United States in January to February 2023.[35][36][37][38]
On March 17, 2023, posted on the U.S. Army Green Berets 1st Special Forces Group(A) official Facebook and Instagram that the SFGp and 1st SOG(A) with United States Special Operations Command(USSOCOM) conducted joint training in February 2023.[39][40][41][42]
On April 25, 2023, SFGp operators were deployed to Sudan alongside CRR soldiers to help Japanese and foreign nationals leave the country due to fighting between RSF and Sudanese military units.[43]
According to a 2017 Gendai Ismedia article, the SFGp is reported to compose of the following:[44]
Potential recruits to the SFGp are drawn from Ranger-qualified JGSDF soldiers and paratroopers of the 1st Airborne Brigade.[45] The unit's passing rate is said to be at 3% due to demanding physical fitness qualifications aside from a recruit's ranger or airborne qualifications.[44]
SFGp operators are required to study English in order to be bilingual, although they are trained to learn other languages like Arabic, Chinese and Russian.[44]
When the first soldiers were recruited, there was an effort for them to have foreign training due to a lack of experience.[46] According to Takashi Araya, he had to train with the Green Berets in order to be familiarized with modern special forces concepts since those who are Ranger-trained and those who are in the SFGp are not different in terms of their training.[46] Others were given training by various private military contractors when they have free time in either the US or in the UK with their own money.[47]
The SFGp does joint exercises with the SAT.[48]
Like the Special Forces of other countries, not only those listed here, but also all kinds of domestic and foreign small arms and equipment that are neither distributed nor disclosed to the general public are selected from catalogs and test samples for government agencies that are not open to the public, and are rumored to be procured in secret and in abundance through the ample budget or secret funds of the Japanese government. It is said that the unit is also characterized as a special operations and weapons/equipment development experimental unit, and there is a possibility that the results of equipment development experiments are fed back to the general units as well. (e.g. type 20 new rifle)
Due to the nature of their missions, the Special Operations Group is equipped with a variety of combat clothing and equipment. Depending on the mission, they wear camouflage uniform Type 3, combat uniform for urban areas, multicam camouflage, etc. Private items and equipment from the U.S. military and other foreign militaries are also seen.
Special Forces groups tend to be more diverse in their use of foreign rifles than the Japanese-made Type 89 and Type 20 rifles used by conventional units.
It is used to support troops, and depending on the mission, it can be mounted on a tripod, bipod, vehicle such as a Komatsu light armored vehicle, helicopter such as CH-47JA and UH-60JA, or aircraft and fired.
Pistols are highly concealable and, like Sub-machine guns, are highly portable and can be easily maneuvered indoors or in other confined spaces. They are also used for assassination and sabotage operations with suppressors and other equipment when the user's identity is concealed, such as when working as an agent and cannot be equipped with rifles or other weapons.
Personal equipment and equipment purchased with FMS (Foreign Military Sales) can be seen.
In addition to conventional combat, the Special Operations Group conducts special warfare such as Counterterrorism operations and mountain warfare, and is therefore equipped with a number of special personal effects tailored to its missions.
The SFGp has access to equipment used by the JGSDF, such as the Komatsu LAVs and Toyota Koukidoushas for transport and reconnaissance use. They also work in conjunction with the 1st Helicopter Brigade to provide mobility support, though they can be also deployed via C-130 Hercules aircraft.[56]
SFGp operators are known to wear camo uniforms when operating in urbanized areas.[57]
As part of regulating and protecting the identities of the various soldiers serving in the unit, their faces are hidden in balaclavas and cannot be revealed except with authorization from their commanding officers.[4][45][58] SFGp officers are exempted from the rule.[59]
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