The 3rd SFG(A)Â was activated on 3 Dec 1963.
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The 3rd SFG(A) was organized under TO&E 33-105D, dated 21 Mar 60. This new TO&E brought the Special Forces units in line with the US Army unit organizations and terminology.Â
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3rd SFG(A) designated Area of Responsibility (AOR) was AfricaÂ
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 3rd SFG(A) Commander: Colonel James B. Bartholomees
A Co Commander:
B Co Commander:
C Co Commander:Â
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COL James B Bartholomees
From Blue Springs, MO, West Point Graduate. LT Bartholomes was assigned to the 27th ID in Hawaii. CPT Bartholomees served in the invasion of Saipan and Tinian in the Pacific during WW2. LTC Bartholomes served in the Korean War, with the 2nd Infantry Div. LTC Bartholomees served with the 77th SFG(A). After leaving 3rd SFG(A), he went to Vietnam as an advisor to the ARVN Airborne BDE
3rd SFG(A) Gallery
3rd SFG(A) Commander COL James Bartholomees
US Army Image
3rd SFG(A) Team marching in President Lyndon B. Johnson Inauguration Parade
COL Jesse Ugalde
From Greeley, CO LT Uglade fought with the 3rd ID in Africa, Sicily and Italy. 1943, while fighting in Sicily, LT Ugalde was personally given an on-the-spot promotion to Captain from General Patton. LTC Uglade was assigned to 77th SFG(A) in 1955 and later served as an Adviser to 25th Div ARVN Army. COL Uglade was 3rd SFG Commander in 1967.
3rd SFG(A) Exercises-1964
  3rd SFG(A), HHC and A Company simultaneously with reconditioning the long-unused barracks area assigned them, unit personnel initiated training immediately. By April, language training was underway for all operational detachments, and it continued throughout the year. In June, an operational training mission to Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina was planned and executed in phases covering infiltration and exfiltration, small unit tactics, rapelling, and MOS cross-training. Also conducted at various times during the year were MOS training for assigned medics, radio men and demolitions personnel; maneuverable parachute training for the entire unit small boat training; underwater training at Fort Bragg and Key West, Florida for selected individuals; and submarine training off the coast of Virginia.
 B and C Companies would be activated Oct 1964.
FTX CHEROKEE TRAIL 3rd SFG(A) supported the Special Warfare School's with counterinsurgency advisors, guerrilla chiefs, and cadres for guerrilla bands.Â
3rd SFG(A) Team on patrol
US Army Image
3rd SFG(A) Mobile Training Teams-1964
Company A, 3rd SFG(A) Sent 4 A-teams TDY for 6-months to Ethiopia, during the Ethiopian–Somali Border War, also known as the First Ogaden War. Ethiopian Infantry units were given training in small arms, marksmanship, demolitions and small units tactics.
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3rd SFG(A) Teams with US Ambassador
3rd SFG(A) Exercises-1965
Exercise BIG OAKIE 3rd SFG(A) conducted extensive unconventional warfare training in the swamps of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. This was a joint effort with the Air Commandos of the Tactical Air Command, this exercise was conducted in February and included infiltration of Special Forces detachments by air into operational areas, and guerrilla warfare operations.Â
Exercise CHEROKEE TRAILS 3rd SFG(A) supported the three of the Special Warfare School's with counterinsurgency advisors, guerrilla chiefs, and cadres for guerrilla bands.Â
Exercise CORE BANKS 3rd SFG(A) participated in U.S. Navy and Marine Corps joint amphibious training exercise conducted in November 1965 on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
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3rd SFG(A) team working with guerrillas
3rd SFG(A) Mobile Training Teams-1965
Company B and C, 3rd SFG(A) sent teams TDY for 6-months to Ethiopia. Ethiopian Infantry units were given training on small arms, marksmanship and small units tactics.
Company A, 3rd SFG(A) a sent team TDY for 4-months to Ethiopia. Ethiopian Infantry units were given training on Air-Ground Operations
Company A, 3rd SFG(A) a sent team TDY for 5-months to Congo, to teach Counter-insurgency operations to the Congolese Army.
Company B, 3rd SFG(A) a sent team TDY for 4-months to Congo, to teach Counter-insurgency and Unconventional Warfare operations to the Congolese Army.
3rd SFG(A) Team arrives in Ethiopia
3rd SFG(A) Operation NICE GUY-NASA Gemini Mission Support-1965
In 1965, 3rd SFG(A) sent UH-lB’s and crews, from their aviation detachment, and A-teams from all three line companies and HHC, to Nigeria and Arabia in support of NASA missions Gemini III, IV, V, VI,and VII. Â
3rd SFG(A) Team supporting NASA Gemini Mission
US Army Image
NASA Gemini Mission flight trajectory
NASA Image
3rd SFG(A) Exercises-1966
Exercise UWHARRIE In Jan 1966, 3rd SFG(A) conducted extensive unconventional warfare training exercise in Uwharrie National Forest.
FTX REDCON READY In May 1966, 3rd SFG(A) team deployed to Camp Drum NY to conduct counter-insurgency training with the 196th Light Inf Brigade, prior to the Brigade's deploy to Vietnam.
Exercise CHEROKEE TRAILS IX and X In June and Oct, the 3rd SFG(A) supported the Special Warfare School's exercises with counterinsurgency advisors, guerrilla chiefs, and cadres for guerrilla bands.Â
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In Feb 1966, 3rd SFG(A) was tasked, along with other TOE units, with conducting a Basic Combat Training Cycle, as the US Army training centers were being coming overloaded with trainees. The Training started the end of February and finished in April.Â
Special Forces Instuctors patrolling
3rd SFG(A) Mobile Training Teams-1966
Teams from the 3rd SFG(A) supported 12 MTTS in 6 different countries in 1965 .Â
Mali January, Parachute operations and Judo
RVN January, Classified
Mali January, Engineer operations
Congo January, Medical training
Mali February, Parachute operations
Thailand February, Engineer Operations
RVN March, Classified
Pakistan April, Instruct parachute operations
Congo April, Medical training
Guinea (Africa) September, Engineer Operations
Jordan November, Ranger training.Â
Troops jumping from C-47
3rd SFG(A) Vietnam TDY-1966
In Mar 1966, a 4-man team from 3rd SFG(A), SGT Mike Bagley, SGT Leroy Dake, and SGT Guy Giuffre and a civilian tech brought an experimental AN/PPS-5 portable battlefield surveillance radar unit, to Camp Cai Cai. Two other teams took systems to Dak Pek and Duc Co, both in II Corps. The teams were attached to each camp to help operate the radar unit under combat conditions. The AN/PPS-5 systems were able to detect and locate individuals up to almost 3 miles, and groups of people or small vehicles up 6 miles. The system was able to locate several squad-sized probes on camp perimeters in total darkness. The tests proved so successful that MACV later ordered 80 of the units, to be issued to 5th SFG(A) camps.
3rd SFG(A) Ground Surveillance Radar team in Vietnam, Cai Cai 1966
From SSG Richard "Slurp" James Collection
3rd SFG(A) Operation NICE GUY-NASA Gemini Mission Support-1966
In 1966, 3rd SFG(A) deplyed UH-lB’s and crews, from their aviation detachment, and A-detachments to Aden Nigeria, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Libya Wheelus Air Base in support of NASA’s worldwide coverage of Gemini VIII, IV, V, VI, VII missionsÂ
3rd SFG(A) Team supporting NASA Gemini Mission
US Army Image
NASA Gemini Missions sign
NASA Image
3rd SFG(A) Project Notes
1 This is phase 1, of a 2-phase plan, that will cover from activation in 1963 to today.
    a. Phase 1: Beginning until 69
    b. Phase 2: 1990s-2000s
          c. Phase 3: 2000s-GWOT
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2. I am looking for the following from the 3rd SFG(A):
   a. Photos-preferably with story-dates
   b. Stories-that need to be told/remembered
  c. Documents
        i. Orders, recruiting flyers / posters, unit rosters...etc.
        ii. Yearbooks
   d. FA / ODA Detachment numbers and location
        i.  Ft Bragg
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3. I am looking for this specific information
  a. More Photos and info on the 3rd SFG Gemini support missions
  b. Infomation on the 2 x Classified 3rd SFG MTTs to Vietnam in 1966
  c. More information of the early MTTs to Jordan, Congo
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