United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG), commonly known as DEVGRU and informally by its former name SEAL Team Six (ST6),[1][2] is one of the United States' three secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units (SMUs)...
The vast majority of information about DEVGRU is highly classified, and details of its activities are not commented on by either the White House or the Department of Defense.[3] While DEVGRU is administratively supported by the Naval Special Warfare Command, it is operationally commanded by the Joint Special Operations Command. It is based at Training Support Center Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, Virginia, known as FTC Dam Neck until 2004.[4]
SEAL Team Six was formally created in October 1980, and an intense, progressive work-up training program made the unit mission-ready six months later. The existing SEAL teams, including 12 platoons in SEAL Team One on the West Coast, had already begun counter-terrorism training; they formed a dedicated two-platoon group known as "MOB Six" (Mobility Six) in anticipation of a maritime scenario requiring a counter-terrorism response, and had begun training to that end.[8]
The main area that separates SEAL Team Six/DevGru from the other "regular" SEAL teams is its funding. The team was given a large amount of money and are able to buy the best weapons and equipment available.[9]
In 1987, a new unit was formed, given the official title of "Naval Special Warfare Development Group" (abbreviated to NAVSPECWARDEVGRU, or DEVGRU) after SEAL Team Six was dissolved. Reasons for the disbanding are varied,[7] but the name SEAL Team Six is often used in reference to DEVGRU because of their similarities as a maritime counter-terrorism unit.[8]
Renaming
In a 2010 article, Marc Ambinder wrote that DEVGRU's designation had been changed by the Defense Department to a new name;[10] the name itself was classified. 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force), was renamed Army Compartmented Elements (ACE).[11] Despite the official name changes, Team 6's original name remains widely recognized;
Disney filed to trademark "SEAL Team 6" the day after the bin Laden raid.[12] The Disney trademark applications reserve use of the name for entertainment products, toys and clothing (Disney withdrew the trademark applications about two weeks later). There are no trademarks or applications to trademark DEVGRU...
DEVGRU and the Army's Delta Force (now called CAG: Combat Applications Group) train together and deploy together on counter-terrorist missions usually as part of a joint special operations task force (JSOTF).[3][8][22][23]
The CIA's highly secretive Special Activities Division (SAD) and more specifically its elite Special Operations Group (SOG) recruits operators from SEAL Team Six.[24] Joint Navy SEALs and CIA operations go back to the famed MACV-SOG group during the Vietnam War.[25] This cooperation still exists today and is seen in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.[26][27]...
Commanding Officers
Commander Richard Marcinko – Nov 1980 to July 1983
Captain Robert A. Gormly – 1983 to 1986
Captain Thomas E. Murphy – 1986 to 1987
Captain Richard T.P. Woolard – 1987 to 1990
Captain Ronald E. Yeaw – 1990 to 1992
Captain Thomas G. Moser – 1992 to 1994
Admiral Eric T. Olson – 1994 to 1997
Vice Admiral Albert M. Calland III – June 1997 to June 1999
Vice Admiral Joseph D. Kernan – 1999 to 2002
Rear Admiral Edward G. Winters, III – 2002 to 2004
Captain Scott P. Moore – 2004 to 2006