While the unit’s existence was officially a secret, several key figures were instrumental in its formation and served as its first operators:
In early 1978, the first screening for volunteers began. The process was designed to break men mentally and physically:
The genesis of Delta Force lies in the frustration of Colonel "Chargin’ Charlie" Beckwith. Following an exchange program with the British Special Air Service (SAS) in the early 1960s, Beckwith recognized a critical gap in the U.S. Army. While the Green Berets were excellent at unconventional warfare and training indigenous forces, the U.S. lacked a dedicated "special mission unit" for counter-terrorism and direct action. For over a decade, Beckwith lobbied a reluctant Pentagon bureaucracy, facing resistance from traditionalists who believed the Army did not need such an elite tier. It was only after the rise of global terrorism in the 1970s—notably the Munich Massacre at the 1972 Olympics—that the military brass finally relented. first delta force members
They were men who:
: A founding member who later detailed the unit's early days and grueling selection process in his memoir, Inside Delta Force . While the unit’s existence was officially a secret,
: While the mission failed, it led to the total overhaul of U.S. Special Operations, leading to the creation of JSOC (Joint Special Operations Command) and the refinement of the precision tactics Delta uses today.
: In 1966, Beckwith was shot in the stomach with a .50-caliber bullet in Vietnam. Surgeons initially thought he was "too good to be saved," yet he made a full recovery and continued his mission to build the unit. For over a decade, Beckwith lobbied a reluctant
The First Delta Force Members: Handpicked Warriors Who Defined a New Era of Counterterrorism