Special Forces Group (Japan)

The Japanese Special Forces Group (特殊作戦群) is the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's counter-terrorist unit established by the former Japanese Defense Agency to counter terrorist activities and deter guerrilla-style attacks on Japanese soil and to conduct military operations, like the 1st Airborne Brigade, against guerrillas or enemy commandos. The unit is based in Narashino, Chiba garrison in Funabashi, Chiba with the 1st Airborne Brigade. The unit was formerly known as the Special Operations Group.

The SFGp has been referred to as Japan's Delta Force, due to their specialized role in the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force. Delta Force personnel had been responsible for assisting the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force in raising the SFGp's foundations prior to its establishment.

The civilian counterpart of the SOG is the Japanese National Police Agency's Special Assault Team.

History
In 1998, the Japanese Defense Agency had proposed the formation of a unit in the JGSDF that would handle tasks such as Counter-terrorism with a selected group of JGSDF soldiers from the 1st Airborne Brigade sent to the United States to be trained by Delta Force operators. At the same time, two platoons were created from the brigade as a means of creating the unit's foundations. These consist of the G Platoon (Formation Unit) and the S Platoon (Research Unit).

The establishment of unit's framework had been completed in 2003, after 3 years of training and organization. The unit's structure is based on Delta Force and the Green Berets.

On March 27, 2004, the Japanese Defense Agency had activated the unit as the Special Operations Group with the mandate under the JGSDF as its Counter-terrorist unit.

In 2005, the SOG had deployed four of its operators to serve as bodyguards for the Japanese commander of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's contingent in Iraq under the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group.

On March 28, 2007, the SOG merged with the 1st Airborne Brigade, the 1st Helicopter Brigade and the 101st NBC Protection Unit to create the Central Readiness Force.

The unit changed its name on March 26, 2008 from SOG to SFG or the Special Forces Group.

Formation

 * Commander (Led by a Colonel)
 * Executive Officers (Led by a Lieutenant Colonel)
 * Headquarters
 * 1st Department (General Affairs)
 * 2nd Department (Intelligence)
 * 3rd Department (Planning)
 * 4th Department (Supply)
 * Headquarters Administration Unit (Led by 3 Majors)
 * 1st SFGp Company
 * Company Headquarters
 * 1st Platoon (Freefall)
 * Specialized squads (e.g. Assault, Sniper)
 * 2nd Platoon (Maritime)
 * 3rd Platoon (Mountain)
 * 4th Platoon (Urban Warfare)
 * 2nd SFGp Company
 * 3rd SFGp Company
 * Training Unit

Training
Potential recruits to the SFG are drawn from Ranger-qualified personnel from the 1st Airborne Brigade. As such, all SFG soldiers are airborne qualified.

For specialized training, the 1st Platoon have their freefall training under the 1st Airborne Brigade with the 2nd Platoon under the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces.

The SFG has a training facility inside the JGSDF Narashino, Chiba camp to conduct training on various techniques, especially on CQB tactics.

Assault rifles

 * Colt M4A1 SOPMOD Block I: Armed with M203s and QDSS-NT4 suppressors.
 * Howa Type 89

Submachine guns

 * HK MP5SD6
 * Heckler & Koch MP7
 * Minebea PM-9

Pistols

 * Heckler & Koch USP

Sniper rifles

 * Remington M24

Others

 * Type 91 MANPADS
 * Type 01 Anti-Tank missile
 * Howa 84RR recoilless rifle
 * Various Hand grenades

Equipment
The SFGp has access to equipment used by the JGSDF, such as the Komatsu LAVs and Toyota Koukidoushas for transport and reconnaissance use. They also work in conjunction with the 1st Helicopter Brigade to provide mobility support, though they can be also deployed via C-130 Hercules aircraft.

Unit features
As part of regulating and protecting the identities of the various soldiers serving in the SFGp, their faces are hidden in balaclavas and cannot be revealed except with authorization from their commanding officers. It is said that personnel cannot enter certain areas of their Narashino camp, such as the SFGp barracks, unless they have the proper identification with them.