Recognizing and honoring the Special Forces Association for its outstanding work and advocacy on behalf of the U.S. Army Special Forces community and for providing a network of brotherhood for those soldiers who served our nation in the U.S. Army Special Forces.

WHEREAS, The United States Army Special Forces are a

special operations force

tasked with seven doctrinal missions:

Unconventional Warfare

(the original and most important mission of Special Forces),

Foreign Internal Defense

,

Special Reconnaissance

,

Direct Action

, Combating Terrorism, Counter-proliferation, and Information Operations. Other duties include combat

search and rescue

(CSAR),

counter-narcotics

,

counter-proliferation

,

hostage rescue

,

humanitarian assistance

, humanitarian

demining

,

information operations

,

peacekeeping

,

psychological operations

, security assistance, and

manhunts

; and

WHEREAS, The motto of the Special Forces is De Oppresso Liber meaning “To Free the Oppressed”; and

WHEREAS, U.S. Army Special Forces, commonly known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear approved by President John F. Kennedy, is an elite military force which traces its historical roots from the elite Army formations of World War II and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS); and

WHEREAS, The extraordinary military capabilities and effectiveness of the U.S. Army Special Forces soldier has been made famous by Hollywood beginning with the 1968 film, “The Green Berets”, starring John Wayne, and continuing with other films and television shows such as, “First Blood”, “Rambo”, “The 'A' Team”, “Lethal Weapon” and “Clear and Present Danger”; and

WHEREAS, 1964, the Special Forces Association was formed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina by a group of Special Forces soldiers and approved byhich the 18th Airborne Corps; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Special Forces Association is to serve as the voice for the Special Forces Community; perpetuate Special Forces traditions and brotherhood; advance the public image of Special Forces and promote the general welfare of the Special Forces community; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Special Forces Association have service dating from 1942 through present day and have served in times of peace and war; and

WHEREAS, The Special Forces Association has grown from a group of 20 soldiers at its first meeting in 1964 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina to an organization with 105 Chapters worldwide by 2013; and

WHEREAS, On July 1, 2012, Colonel Jack Tobin (retired) was elected President and Captain Nick Panarella, Jr. (retired) was elected Assistant Secretary, both of whom have ties to Philadelphia and this region; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes and honors the Special Forces Association for its outstanding work and advocacy on behalf of the U.S. Army Special Forces community and for providing a network of brotherhood for those soldiers who served our nation in the U.S. Army Special Forces.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Special Forces Association as evidence of the respect and admiration of this legislative body.

End