Special Services (entertainment)

Special Services are the entertainment branch of the American military. The unit was created on 22 July 1940 by the War Department as part of the Army Service Forces. Special Services would not only use their own specially trained and talented troops but would often engage local performers.

Special Services were one of the few U.S. Army units to be integrated during World War II. Special Services opened their first Recreational Officer school at Fort Meade Maryland on 1 April 1942.

Military Occupational Specialties
Military Occupational Specialties of the Special Services were as follows-


 * 03B Entertainment Specialist
 * 03C Physical Activities Specialist
 * 03D Crafts Specialist
 * 03Z Recreation Service Senior Sergeant

Famous Special Service soldiers

 * Philip Ahn
 * Ken Berry
 * Sammy Davis Jr.
 * Maurice Evans
 * Clint Eastwood
 * Frank Gorshin
 * Nat Hiken
 * David Janssen
 * Werner Klemperer
 * Burt Lancaster
 * Martin Milner
 * Howard Morris
 * Robert Nichols
 * Leonard Nimoy
 * Jack Paar
 * Mitch Ryan
 * Carl Reiner
 * Hal Smith
 * Dick Van Dyke

US Marine Corps
The Special Services Division, the forerunner of today's Special Services Branch, was formed on 1 March 1943. Its mission was to provide recreational and informational services to Marine Corps personnel for the purpose of maintaining morale.

The MOS 9913, Special Services Officer supervises and coordinates special services activities involved with command morale, welfare, and recreation programs.