[Jack Moroney (RIP)]

Back in the 60s it was doctrinal to form a Special Action Force (SAF) for the command and control of counter-insurgency operations. It was built around a SF group and had various units attached directly to it under the command and control of the Group CDR. MPs, MI, EN and other units provided a comprehensive force with which to address counter-insurgency issues providing trainers, combat troops, combat support and combat service support to work all aspects with and for the host nation under the control of the ambassador. At the time it was felt that it gave the SF Group Cdr all the tools he needed under his control to design and execute a counter-insurgency campaign without having to go out and beg for supporting troops to help in the execution of a strategy for which he was best qualified to plan, organize and execute. That concept faded away over the years as SF missions matured and the doctrine became more solidified. It was just one way of task organizing for mission accomplishment prior to the branch and the various command structures that have evolved over the years. The same sort of task organization happens today for various missions and deployments with the primary difference being that these organizations do not belong as assigned personnel and organic units of the group but are "chopped" to the group for specific purposes, under various command and control lash ups, but remain part of their organic organizations from which they were chopped.