Why Delta Force Was Created in the 1970s

by SOFREP

The Birth of Delta Force: A Response to Terrorism

In the 1970s, a series of high-profile terrorist incidents convinced the US government to establish a dedicated counterterrorism unit. Colonel Charlie Beckwith, a Special Forces veteran inspired by the British SAS (Special Air Service), championed the creation of such a force.

After years of lobbying and overcoming resistance, the Pentagon and top Army brass finally tasked Beckwith to head the unit. He and his team developed the “Robert Redford Paper,” a document outlining a four-phase selection and training process to justify the time needed to build a fully functional and formidable unit. The Special Forces veteran estimated it would take two years to complete.

Delta Force was officially established on November 19, 1977.

However, to bridge the gap until soldiers completed the rigorous selection process, Colonel Bob “Black Gloves” Mountel of the 5th Special Forces Group was tasked with setting up a temporary unit.

In 1978, Mountel selected volunteers and put them through a six-month course involving land navigation and rucking with heavy loads in rugged, mountainous environments. The purpose was to thoroughly test these candidates physically and mentally.

Delta Force was finally fully stood up in the fall of 1979, just in time for the Iran Hostage Crisis. This event, and the subsequent failed Operation Eagle Claw (1980), highlighted the need for further development of specialized units like the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), also known as The Night Stalkers and SEAL Team Six to support Delta Force and enhance its capabilities.

The name Delta Force, also known as the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D), is synonymous with elite special operations within the United States Army.