Texas special operations units

Established in 1823 and officially organized in 1835 by Stephen Austin and Moses Morrison, the Texas Rangers served as the first special operations unit of the Texas Military Department until 1935 when they were re-designated to the Texas Department of Public Safety as a State Bureau of Investigation.{{Cite web |last=Procter |first=Ben |date=January 11, 2023 |title=Texas Rangers |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/texas-rangers |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas State Historical Association}}{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Rachel |date=February 9, 2019 |title=Moses Morrison |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/morrison-moses |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas State Historical Association}} Their Special Operations Group was reestablished in 2011, consisting of six units.{{Cite web |title=Specialized Units |url=https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/texas-rangers/specialized-units |access-date=May 15, 2023 |website=Texas DPS}}{{Cite web |title=Special Operations Group |url=https://www.texasranger.org/texas-ranger-museum/texas-rangers/sog/ |access-date=May 15, 2023 |website=Texas Rangers Hall of Fame and Museum}} However, the Rangers did not begin conducting special operations until the Texas—Indian Wars via their Frontier Forces and Special Forces companies, among others.{{Cite web |last=Stopka |first=Christina |date=2019 |title=PARTIAL LIST OF TEXAS RANGER COMPANY AND UNIT COMMANDERS |url=https://www.texasranger.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/HISTORY_RangerCommanders2019.pdf |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum}}{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Mike |title=A Brief History of the Texas Rangers |url=https://www.texasranger.org/texas-ranger-museum/history/brief-history/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum}}{{Cite web |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Frontier Battalion |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/frontier-battalion |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas State Historical Association}}

The first special operations conducted by Texas Military Forces occurred during the Texas Revolution by ad-hoc units that executed reconnaissance, rescue, and demolition missions. They were primarily directed by Deaf Smith whom William Travis described as "the Bravest of the Brave in the cause of Texas" and Sam Houston as his "stay in my darkest hour...a man more brave, and honest, never lived".{{Cite web |last=Cutrer |first=Thomas |date=August 3, 2020 |title=Smith, Erastus [Deaf] (1787–1837) |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/smith-erastus-deaf |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas State Historical Association}} Smith was instrumental in advising Houston in the controversial strategy that mirrored Comanche guerrilla tactics in evasion and selective attacks against Santa Anna's forces.{{Cite book |last=Haley |first=James |title=Sam Houston |publisher=Norman : University of Oklahoma Press |year=2002 |isbn=9780806136448 |pages=148}}{{Cite web |title=Sam Houston's Notes Before San Jacinto, April 19, 1836 |url=https://www.tsl.texas.gov/exhibits/texas175/houston_sanjacinto.html |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas State Library and Archives Commission}}{{Cite news |last=Denton |first=Mansal |date=November 4, 2016 |title=3 Examples From the Battlefield of Discipline Succeeding In the Face of Adversity |work=CTPOST |url=https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/3-Examples-From-the-Battlefield-of-Discipline-10593378.php |access-date=May 5, 2023}} The strategy resulted in the Runaway Scrape, mutiny, and accusations of cowardice, but ultimately victory at the Battle of San Jacinto.{{Cite book |last=Haley |first=James |title=Sam Houston |publisher=Norman: University of Oklahoma Press |year=2002 |isbn=9780806136448 |pages=128–140}}

{{Main|Texas Army National Guard}}

• (Since 1989) Joint Counterdrug Task Force (Reconnaissance, Interdiction){{Cite web |title=The Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force |url=https://tmd.texas.gov/counterdrug |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas Military Department}}{{Cite news |last=Al-Shaikh |first=Sarah |date=October 12, 2022 |title=Texas National Guard speaks with Hays CISD elementary school about drug prevention |work=KXAN |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/hays/texas-national-guard-speaks-with-hays-cisd-elementary-school-about-drug-prevention/ |access-date=May 21, 2023}}
• Counterdrug Special Operations Detachment (SOD){{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Stephen |date=June 11, 1989 |title=Texas Guardsmen used in clandestine scouting - Two missions with Border Patrol aimed at drug smugglers |url=https://houstonchronicle.newsbank.com/doc/news/0ED7AF24A0BFD958?search_terms= |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306000000/https://houstonchronicle.newsbank.com/doc/news/0ED7AF24A0BFD958?search_terms= |archive-date=March 6, 2024 |work=Houston Chronicle |pages=1}} [https://archive.org/details/houston-chronicle-11-june-1989-1 Alt URL]
• (Since 1998) Homeland Response Force
• 6th Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction){{Cite news |last=Burns |first=Ashlee |date=August 11, 2022 |title=Nueces County first responders participate in Texas National Guard hazmat exercises |work=Caller Times |url=https://www.caller.com/story/news/local/2022/08/11/nueces-county-first-responders-participate-in-hazmat-exercises/65396232007/ |access-date=May 21, 2023}}
• (Since 2008) 19th Special Forces Group{{Cite web |title=Texas Special Forces |url=https://tmd.texas.gov/texas-special-forces |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas Military Department}}{{Cite news |last=Pena |first=Elizabeth |date=October 25, 2019 |title=Texas Guard Special Forces Soldiers awarded Medals by the Czech Republic |work=DVIDS |url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/349428/texas-guard-special-forces-soldiers-awarded-medals-czech-republic |access-date=May 21, 2023}}
• C Company, 1st Battalion
• A Company, 5th Battalion
• 197th Special Troops Support Company
• (Since 2012) Special Operations Detachment - Africa, 71st Troop Command{{Cite news |last=Meyer |first=Phillip |date=December 1, 2015 |title=Over There |work=Texas Monthly |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/over-there-3/ |access-date=May 21, 2023}}
• Deploys in CONUS and conducts Command and Control of Special Operations and sensitive interagency liaison missions in support of State and Federal Homeland Security Operations.{{Cite web |title=Special Operations Detachment - Africa |url=https://tmd.texas.gov/sod-a |access-date=May 5, 2023 |website=Texas Military Department}}

{{Main|Texas Air National Guard}}

• (Since 2009) 147th Air Support Operations Squadron, 147th Attack Wing{{cite web | url=https://www.147atkw.ang.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2000858119/ | title=147th ASOS exercises war-fighting capabilities domestically to save lives }}
• 147th Tactical Air Control Party Specialists{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Asiah |date=May 17, 2023 |title=Texas Air National Guard Trains in Hawaii |url=https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/3398845/texas-air-national-guard-trains-in-hawaii/ |access-date=May 21, 2023 |website=U.S. Indo-Pacific Command}}
• 147th Joint Terminal Attack Controllers

{{Main|Texas Ranger Division}}

• (1846-1848) Frontier Regiment (Reconnaissance and Guerilla Warfare during Mexican—American War).
• (1861-1865) State Troops
• (1870-1901) Frontier Forces
• (1874-1881) Special Forces

{{Main|Texas Brigade}}

• (1862-1864). Shock troops that received advanced training and equipment and conducted unconventional methods and tactics in direct action assaults.{{Cite web |last=Ural |first=Susannah |date=February 15, 2019 |title=Hood's Texas Brigade |url=https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Journals/Military-Review/MR-Book-Reviews/February-2019/Book-Review-005/ |access-date=May 6, 2023 |website=Army University Press}} When the first units reached Virginia, Jefferson Davis reportedly greeted them by declaring: "Texans! The troops of other states have their reputations to gain, but the sons of the defenders of the Alamo have theirs to maintain."{{Cite book |last=McComb |first=David |title=Texas, a modern history |publisher=Austin : University of Texas Press |year=1989 |pages=72 |url=https://archive.org/details/texasmodernhisto00mcco/page/72/mode/2up |format=PDF }}

{{Main|Texas Army National Guard}}

File:MARS Task Force Patch.jpg (SSI) worn by 124th Cavalry (Special) in Burma.|184x184px]]

File:G143Ranger.jpg (SSI) worn by the Rangers of G Co 143rd Infantry 1980-1987.|155x155px]]

• (2010-2012) Southwest Border Task Force{{Cite web |title=Border Operation - Operation Phalanx |url=https://tmd.texas.gov/border-operation |access-date=May 15, 2023 |website=Texas Military Department}}
• (1980-1987) Company G (Ranger), 143rd Infantry "Houston Light Guards", Houston, TX{{Cite journal |last=Cole |first=Merle |date=Spring 1985 |title=Mountaineer Green Berets: Special Forces Units in the West Virginia Army National Guard |url=https://archive.org/details/6-minute-dinners-by-karen-nochimowski/6MountaineerGreenBerets/page/34/mode/1up?view=theater |journal=The Journal of the West Virginia Historical Association |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=34}}{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Bruce |date=February 1, 1995 |title=Houston Light Guards |url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/houston-light-guards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630194822/https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/houston-light-guards |archive-date=June 30, 2023 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |website=Texas State History Association}}{{Cite web |last=Bahmanyar |first=Mir |date=April 27, 2004 |title=Airborne Ranger Companies (Army National Guard), 1981 |url=http://www.suasponte.com/history/modern/9.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040427020659/http://www.suasponte.com/history/modern/9.shtml |archive-date=April 27, 2004 |access-date=April 27, 2004 |website=suasponte.com}}{{Cite book |last1=Rottman |first1=Gordon |title=US ARMY RANGERS & LRRP UNITS 1942-87 |last2=Volstad |first2=Ron |date=1987 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=1987 |isbn=0850457955 |location=UK |pages=39,44-46,49 |lccn=87214020}}{{Cite web |last=Lemmer |first=Paul |date=August 18, 2001 |title=The Houston Light Guard, A Narrative |url=http://members.aol.com/cog143in/Narrative.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021022023125/http://members.aol.com/cog143in/Narrative.html |archive-date=October 22, 2002 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |website=Company G 143d Infantry}}{{Cite news |last=Walton |first=Bill C. |date=March 1, 1982 |title=Ranger Museum Gives Unit's History |url=https://archive.org/details/the-columbus-ledger-1982-03-01-page-4 |work=The Columbus Ledger |pages=B4}}{{Cite news |last=Stolenberg |first=Dan |date=May 1983 |title=CREATING PROVISIONAL LRRPS: It's Possible But Difficult In Today's Army |url=https://archive.org/details/soldieroffortunemagazine/Soldier%20of%20Fortune%20%5B1983%2705%5D/page/n63/mode/1up?view=theater |work=Soldier of Fortune Magazine Ω |pages=61}}
• (1944-1945) 124th Cavalry (Special) "Marsmen", 5332rd Brigade (Provisional), Long Range Penetration(LRP), "MARS Task Force"{{Cite web |last=Sacquety |first=Troy |date=2009 |title=RANGERS HISTORY- Over the Hills and Far Away: The MARS Task Force, the Ultimate Model for Long Range Penetration Warfare |url=https://arsof-history.org/articles/v5n4_over_the_hills_page_1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104033128/https://arsof-history.org/articles/v5n4_over_the_hills_page_1.html |archive-date=January 4, 2024 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |website=U.S. Army Special Operations Command History Office}}{{Cite web |last=Bahmanyar |first=Mir |title=Ranger WWII Burma History |url=http://www.suasponte.com/history/wwII/35.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040427011659/http://www.suasponte.com/history/wwII/35.shtml |archive-date=April 27, 2004 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |website=suasponte.com}}{{Cite book |last1=Rottman |first1=Gordon |title=US ARMY RANGERS & LRRP UNITS 1942-87 |last2=Volstad |first2=Ron |date=1987 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |year=1987 |isbn=0850457955 |location=UK |pages=21–23 |lccn=87214020}}

{{Main|Texas Air National Guard}}

• (1996-2017) 181st Special Operations Weather Team, 136th Airlift Wing. Fort Worth, TX{{cite web | url=https://www.dvidshub.net/video/542841/181st-weather-flight-conducts-static-line-jumps-over-corpus-christi-texas | title=181st Weather Flight conducts Static Line Jumps over Corpus Christi, Texas }}{{Cite news |last=Overton |first=Kristina |date=May 23, 2017 |title=Taking weather to new heights |url=https://tmd.texas.gov/taking-weather-to-new-heights |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021103906/https://tmd.texas.gov/taking-weather-to-new-heights |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |department=Texas Military Department}}{{Cite news |last=Gilbert |first=Elizabeth |date=September 30, 2011 |title=181st Special Ops Weather Flight - Mild mannered or 'thrill junkies |url=https://www.136aw.ang.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/446746/181st-special-ops-weather-flight-mild-mannered-or-thrill-junkies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505210235/https://www.136aw.ang.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/446746/181st-special-ops-weather-flight-mild-mannered-or-thrill-junkies/ |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |department=136th Air Wing}}{{Cite web |last=Sumner |first=Dominique |date=1998 |title=Special Operations Weather Teams ( SOWT ) |url=http://www.specwarnet.net/americas/CW2.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010203065500/http://www.specwarnet.net/americas/CW2.htm |archive-date=February 3, 2001 |access-date=January 21, 2024 |website=SpecWarNet}}

• Special Warfare Training Detachment Airborne — Camp Bullis, Texas

Special Forces Day is an annual memorial holiday on June 28 that "honors the men and women who have served in the special operations forces..to be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies." It was established on May 16, 2023, during the Eighty-eighth Texas Legislature in House Bill 2499 sponsored by Cecil Bell and Brandon Creighton.{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Cecil |date=May 16, 2023 |title=A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT |url=https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HB02499S.pdf |access-date=May 27, 2023 |website=Texas Legislature Online}}

• 2015: Texas Rising, a 10-hour miniseries based on the Texas Revolution. Depicts the Texas Rangers.

• Texas Task Force 1
• Texas Task Force 2
• Texas A&M Forest Service
• United States special operations forces
• List of military special forces units
• List of conflicts involving the Texas Military
• 71st Airborne Brigade
• 36th Airborne Brigade

• [https://archive.org/details/soldieroffortunemagazine/Soldier%20of%20Fortune%20%5B1980%2704%5D/page/n47/mode/1up "Ready to Go, Ready to Fight." Soldier of Fortune Magazine Ω. p. 46-52, 80. Vol. 5 No. 4. April 1980.]
• [http://www.texasarchive.org/library/index.php?title=2010_01812 71st Airborne Brigade Video Documentary, 1968]

{{Reflist}}

Category:Texas Military Forces

Category:Texas Military Department