U.S. Marshals Service Special Operations Group (SOG): Everything You Need to Know
What if we told you there was an elite civilian special operations unit that was trained to be similar to SOF forces? We would be talking about the United States Marshals Special Operations Group, or SOG for short.
The U.S. Marshals SOG is a specially trained and highly disciplined tactical unit capable of responding to emergencies anywhere in the United States or its territories.
Keep reading, as this blog post is going to go over what SOG is, what it does, its missions, capabilities, training, and much more.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): HISTORY
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): PRESENT DAY AND MISSION
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): ORGANIZATION
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): LOADOUT
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): SELECTION AND TRAINING
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): CONCLUSION
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): HISTORY
USMS SOG happens to be the nation's oldest federal tactical unit. This should come as no surprise, as the U.S. Marshals Service as a whole is the country’s oldest law enforcement agency. Founded in 1971, SOG was created as a response to the increasing number of hostile situations that the Marshals had to face on a daily basis. To explain these situations, leading up to its creation, the Marshals found themselves dealing with an increasingly violent populace.
They were routinely called on to respond to large scale, and sometimes extremely violent, anti government protests; to apprehend heavily armed criminals and terrorists; and to provide additional protection at vulnerable federal facilities. Wayne Colburn, the director of the Marshals Service at the time, conceived the idea of SOG to combat these issues, and had it approved by Attorney General John Mitchell. The rest is history.
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): PRESENT DAY AND MISSION
SOG is currently based at the William F. Degan Tactical Operations Center, which is located on the grounds of Camp Beauregard near Alexandria, Louisiana. Deputy Marshals in the SOG are disbursed through various offices around the nation, remaining on call 24 hours a day for any missions that may pop up. Most SOG operators continue on with their daily tasks as U.S. Marshal, but there is a small, full-time team in Camp Beauregard.
SOG is a flexible, modernized unit with a diverse skill set that conducts specialty federal law enforcement operations in any environment, both within and outside the United States. SOG’s specialty operations span the range of federal law enforcement missions. The five main overarching missions of SOG are: Enforcement Operations, Court Security & Judicial Protection, Asset Seizures, Witness Security, and Prisoner Transportation. Amongst these five main missions, SOG conducts service of high threat arrest and search warrants, deals with the Marshals Service Top 15 most wanted, high threat extradition, offers perimeter security for court facilities and judicial residences, has an on-site tactical operations team, a counter assault team for high threat vehicle movement of judges, juries, and prisoners, and provides tactical support for crowd control situations.
U.S. Marshals SOG also deals with national emergencies, civil disorders, protecting at-risk health facilities, actions against anti-government and militia groups, international stability and reconstruction efforts, and other missions ordered by the Attorney General.
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): ORGANIZATION
The U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group packs a powerful punch, especially for the number of personnel they have. How many SOG personnel are there? As of 2020, the number has been omitted because USMS deemed this information to be sensitive.
What we do know, though, is that SOG is currently divided into four separate teams, with the four primary teams being subdivided into twelve man assault teams. All SOG members receive training in helicopter insertions, rappelling, use of diversionary/distraction devices, close quarters battle, tactical field training, tactical movement, and other skills necessary to execute their missions.
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): LOADOUT
SOG members receive extensive firearms proficiency training and precision shooting techniques, including the possibility of becoming snipers. And speaking of firearms, what kind of stuff does SOG have in its arsenal? SOG uses a variety of specialty weapons, munitions, and explosives, including fully-automatic machine guns; projectile launching devices and less lethal projectiles; chemical agents; flash bang grenades; and explosive breaching charges.
Their main sidearm is the 9mm STI Staccato-P pistol.
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): SELECTION AND TRAINING
In order to join SOG, you have to be a U.S. Marshal first. The Marshals undergo a numerical scoring system in their initial selection list. Those who make the initial cut are then invited to an interview with the training cadre. If the training cadre likes what they see, then they are invited to their selection course. SOG selection is a rigorous 27 day course, with several 15-17 hour days. In training, candidates will undergo several physical, mental, and academic challenges, with little time to sleep.
Candidates conduct training on a 12 station obstacle course; a leaders reaction course that’s designed to test their problem solving, teamwork, and leadership skills, and also receive training in the various skills we mentioned earlier: rappelling, CQB, tactical movements, etc. Their training center has a 40 acre tactical training area, several ranges, a warehouse with movable walls, and an urban center. Those who make the cut wind up in their respective offices throughout the country and resume their regular marshal duties. SOG’s routine training sessions will occur around every 6 months, lasting for around three weeks, where members refresh their shooting and assault skills through various training and field exercises.
U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP (SOG): CONCLUSION
As we said before, in order to join the U.S. Marshals SOG, you have to be a U.S. Marshal first. What are the U.S. Marshals all about? Lucky for you, we explain that in our U.S. Marshals blog post. Make sure to give that a look if you’re interested in learning about this excellent career field!
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