Särskilda Operationsgruppen | SOG | Special Operations Task Group

Särskilda Operationsgruppen (English: Special Operations Task Group, abbreviated SOG, literal translation: Special Operations Group.) is the special operations force of the Swedish Armed Forces.

Särskilda operationsgruppen was formed in 2011 by merging the Special Protection Group (SSG) and the Special Reconnaissance Group (SIG).

The Special Operations Task Group answers directly to the Supreme Commander and the Director Special Forces. The unit, combined with the Special Forces Command (SFL) , comprises the Swedish Armed Forces Special Forces (FM SF).

SOG consists of two so-called response units (IE). IE1 is focused on Direct Action and IE2 is focused on intelligence gathering (Special Reconnaissance). IE2 is known to utilize female intelligence personnel to conduct certain HUMINT tasks.

Each SOG response unit is organized in squadrons, troops, and patrols. Three 4-man patrols make up a troop, and an unknown number of troops make up a squadron. Besides the operational elements of the unit, there is also a Training Wing, responsible for the selection and training of future and current operators.

Each special operator has a broader skill base than a regular soldier and one or two patrol skills at which he is exceptionally skilled. A typical SOG team consists of four operators: a team leader, a demolitions expert/breacher, a communicator, and a combat medic. Each patrol can be augmented with EOD technicians, JTAC-specialists, military working dog handlers, or snipers.

Furthermore, every operator has an infiltration specialty in either military free fall (HALO/HAHO) or combat diving. All operators are qualified as static line parachutists and combat swimmers.

In addition to this, there are several special forces support units (FM SOF). The personnel of which are specially selected, trained and equipped for air, sea and land infiltration, technical, logistical and medical support:
* The Special Helicopter Group (SHG)
* Special Boat unit (STE)
* Special Signals unit (SSE)
* Section for Operative Technology (SOT)
The unit maintains a high degree of readiness and can be deployed on short notice within a 6,000 kilometres (3,700 mi) radius of Stockholm and can operate in any environment, for example, jungle, desert, mountain/alpine, sub-arctic and urban.

SOG combat operations are of great strategic importance that cannot be accomplished by conventional forces or weapon systems. Combat missions can be to eliminate high-value targets or objects of great importance to the enemy, to conduct complex rescue operations of Swedish personnel held captive or hostage, or to gather time-critical intelligence through action. SOG can also, if needed and requested, augment the police counter-terrorism assets to intervene during domestic terrorism and/or hostage crisis due to new legislation implemented in 2006.

Special reconnaissance and intelligence gathering is intended to gather information of great tactical importance about the enemy´s activities, enemy personnel or other bits of information of operational significance.

Special Forces can also be tasked with advising and training foreign military units as part of an international peace-keeping military operation.

The unit is deployed on request by the UN, EU or NATO but must then be sanctioned on a political level. The most frequent usage of the SOG is during multi-national special operations such as ISAF in Afghanistan or Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.

The SOG's predecessors, the SSG and SIG, participated in operations in the Balkans, Congo, Tchad and the Central African Republic. Swedish special forces have also been continuously deployed in Afghanistan from the beginning of the conflict up until the withdrawal of ISAF forces in 2014.

From 2015 a contingent of around 30 operators from the SOG along with support elements has been participating in Operation Inherent Resolve, acting as advisors for Kurdish Peshmerga forces. By the end of 2020 a Swedish contingent consisting of 150 man strong special operations task force, made up of SOG elements as well as helicopters, is set to deploy to Mali as part of Task Force Takuba, a multinational French led counter terrorism task force part of Operation Barkhane set to operate in the border region of Mali and Niger. The contribution to Takuba is separate from the ongoing Swedish contribution to the UN mission MINUSMA.

Conposers & Artists:
Björn Isfält, Greg Edmonson and DJ Shadow

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