Joint Special Operations Command Task Force in the Iraq War was a joint American and British special operations unit, of which little is publicly known. It is described as a "hunter-killer team" with its core made up of the United States Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force or Delta) and the 75th Ranger Regiment, as well as the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six) and members of the United States Air Force's 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24 STS), all under Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and elements from the United Kingdom Special Forces, including the Special Air Service (22 SAS or SAS), Special Boat Service (SBS), Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR), 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment (18 SR) and the Special Forces Support Group (SFSG). The unit was reported to be responsible for the cross border raid into Syria from Iraq in October 2008 that resulted in eight deaths including Abu Ghadiya, along with several US operations in the Horn of Africa targeting al-Qaeda.
Etymology of Task Force designations
Since the invasion of Iraq, the unit went through a number of changes of designation. Task Force 20 was amalgamated with Task Force 5 (formerly Task Force 11/Task Force Sword) in Afghanistan in July 2003, and became Task Force 21. It was then redesignated Task Force 121, and later as Task Force 626, Task Force 145, and Task Force 88. Neville notes that he omitted the "current" (c. 2008, time of writing) designation of the unit. However, he did say that it was also known obliquely as Other Coalition Forces – Iraq (OCF-I), "a wry reference to the CIA unit of the moniker OGA". By the time General Stanley McChrystal took command, the force was known as Task Force 714. Whether intended or not, the obvious pun connection to Detective Joe Friday's badge number 714 from Dragnet drew many a smile and chuckle from older reserve augmentees newly assigned or detailed to the unit with some instantly saying or mouthing "Dragnet" on first learning the unit designation during The Surge phase in 2007–2008.
Post-invasion organization
Task Force 77 (formerly Task Force 145) – LSA Anaconda, Balad
TF Black/Knight – Elements, UK's SAS, SBS, SRR, 18 SR and the SFSG until 2006 – Based in headquarters known as MSS Fernandez a.k.a. 'the Station', in Baghdad TF North/Red rotating battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and a small element of Delta Force operators – Tikrit TF West/Blue rotating squadron, DEVGRU, supported by units from the 75th Rangers – Al Asad Airbase(company sized sub-unit) TF Center/Green rotating squadron, Delta Force, supported by an element of the 75th Rangers – LSA Anaconda and MSS Fernandez TF Orange – detachments of various intelligence agencies including the U.S. Intelligence Support Activity (ISA)
Organization as of October 2006
TF 145, or TF 88 as it may now be known, was commanded by a colonel (the commanding officer of Delta Force) and is based at five locations across Iraq. Its task organization drew on every unit of (JSOC) as well as on the CIA's Special Activities Division Special Operations Group (SAD/SOG) and British special operations forces.
The headquarters element, which included the majority of the task force's many aviation and intelligence assets, was based at Balad Air Base between Samarra and Baghdad; the four elements that it controlled, each commanded by a lieutenant colonel or equivalent, were spread across the country.
Task Force Center is probably co-located with TF 145's headquarters element at Balad, but it could also be based at Camp Liberty, since it is responsible for the Baghdad region. TF Center is based around a direct-action squadron; the three Delta Force squadrons and SEAL Team Six appear to rotate through this position. It is also supported by a rotating company-sized element of the 75th Ranger Regiment and elements of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160 SOAR). TF Center has taken casualties in the Yusufiya area, where one of its helicopters was shot down in spring 2006.
Task Force West is structured similarly to TF Center in that it has a company-sized force protection element from the 75th Rangers and is based around a battalion-sized direct action unit that can at any given time be a Delta Force squadron or SEAL Team Six. It seems that these units rotate every three to four months. TF West is responsible for operations in Anbar, where it is known to have been active at various times in Fallujah, Qaim, Husayba, and Ramadi; Delta Force lost nine operators during combat in Husaybah, Qaim and Ramadi. It is likely that TF West is based either at Camp Asad or Camp Taqaddum.