The Special Forces Association (SFA) is a non-profit fraternal organization for current and retired

U.S. Army Special Forces The United States Army Special Forces (SF), colloquially known as the "Green Berets" due to their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force of the United States Army. The Green Berets are geared towards nine doctrinal m ...

soldiers, also known as "Green Berets." Established in 1964, the association is based at Fort Bragg,

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

, with 84 chapters located in the United States as well as Panama, South Korea, Germany, Thailand, Philippines and

Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

. Chapters meet in their respective areas and conduct meetings, hold reunions and host social functions for their members. Membership is open to any person who is or has been a member of Special Forces, including those in the

U.S. Army Reserve The United States Army Reserve (USAR) is a reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the Army element of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces. Since July 20 ...

and Army National Guard. Those wishing to join must apply, providing certified documentation proving past or current assignment with a special forces unit. Associate membership is also available to individuals who do not meet this criterion, but who have "contributed significantly to the support of Special Forces, or its lineage, in the accomplishment of its mission." The Association publishes ''The Drop'', a quarterly magazine providing news and information about its members, and sponsors an annual convention.

Notable members

*LTG William P. Yarborough, commander of the US Army Special Warfare Center/School for Special Warfare and "Father of the Modern Green Berets" *MG John K. Singlaub, OSS/Jedburgh in WW II, MACV-SOG Commander in Vietnam *COL Aaron Bank, founder and first commanding officer of U.S. Army's first Special Forces unit *LTC

William Francis Buckley William Francis Buckley (May 30, 1928 – June 3, 1985) was a United States Army officer in the United States Army Special Forces, and a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) station chief in Beirut from 1984 until 1985. His cover was as a politica ...

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

officer and

CIA The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ), known informally as the Agency and historically as the Company, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the federal government of the United States, officially tasked with gathering, processing, ...

officer *COL Roger Donlon,

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...

recipient *SSG

Franklin D. Miller Franklin Douglas "Doug" Miller (January 27, 1945–June 30, 2000) was an American and United States Army Special Forces (United States), Special Forces staff sergeant during the Vietnam War who was awarded the United States military's highest ...

recipient *

Robin Moore Robert Lowell Moore Jr. (October 31, 1925 – February 21, 2008) was an American writer who wrote '' The Green Berets'', '' The French Connection: A True Account of Cops, Narcotics, and International Conspiracy'', and with Xaviera Hollander and ...

, author of '' The Green Berets'' *MAJ

John Plaster John L. Plaster (born 1949) is a former United States Army Special Forces officer regarded as one of the leading sniper experts in the world. A decorated Vietnam War veteran who served in the covert Studies and Observations Group (SOG), Plaster ...

, veteran of MACV-SOG and author of ''

The Ultimate Sniper ''The Ultimate Sniper: An Advanced Training Manual for Military and Police Snipers'' is a non-fiction book written by John Plaster and published in 1993. An expanded and updated version was published in 2006. Background Plaster, a retired U.S. Ar ...

'' *

Martha Raye Martha Raye (born Margy Reed; August 27, 1916 – October 19, 1994), nicknamed The Big Mouth, was an American comic actress and singer who performed in movies, and later on television. She also acted in plays, including Broadway. She was honored ...

, entertainer and honorary "Green Beret" *SFC Randall Shughart, Medal of Honor recipient *SGM Billy Waugh, former

NCO and

officer *SFC Jesse "DOC" Gonzales Look Magazine,

Chapters

Notes

External links

Official SFA website
{{US Army SFG Special Operations Forces of the United States