The SOT-A

The Special Forces Battalion MI Detachment has three organic
Special Operations Teams "Alpha" (SOTs A). These teams deploy
with Special Forces Operational Detachments "Alpha" (SFODs A)
to provide signals intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic warfare
support.
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The SOTs-A are the direct descendants of the United States Army
Security Agency Special Operations Detachments (USASASODs).
What follows is an "imprecise" history of thier existence.

AN IMPRECISE HISTORY OF THE USASASODS

In the history of mankind, there are fleeting moments of time
where, by fate or good judgement on the part of someone, a group
of people are brought together at the most appropriate time and
place or places to form extraordinary military units.

One such fleeting moment of history, was the formation and life
cycle of an extraordinary military unit called the United States
Army Security Agency Special Operations Detachment, more
commonly referred to as the ASASOD.

One may ask why the ASASODs were called extraordinary and not
elite. There are many elite military organizations such as the Roman
Legions, Merrill's Marauders, Rangers, Special Forces, SEALs,
etc., however, there are few extraordiary units such as the
ASASODs.

Why were the SODs extraordinary? Certainly, the timing was there
and so were the places. But, the thing that really made the SOD an
extraordinary unit was the people... good Special Forces
soldiers...good technicians...loyal, dedicated, brave men...but, most
of all, trusted and true friends.

The first SOD was originally formed at Vint Hill Farms Station ,
VA and relocated to FT Bragg, NC during the summer of 1960 with
the 5th and 7th SFG(A)s. Later in 1960, units were organized and
located in Okinawa with the 1st SFG(A) and Bad Toelz, GE with
the 10th SFG(A). These original SODs were then designated as the
1st (1st SF), 2d (10th SF), 3d (7th SF), and 4th (5th SF)
Operational Detachments of the 80th USASA Special Operations
Unit (80th USASASOU).

In 1962 these Operational Detachments of the 80th SOU were
redesignated as USASA Radio Research Units (RRUs); the 10th
RRU (400th SOD) 1st SFG(A), and the 11th RRU (401st SOD)
8th SFG(A) was created, 12th RRU (402d SOD) 10th SFG(A), and
the 13th RRU (403d SOD) 5th SFG(A).

During 1963 the units were again redesignated to the final
designations we know them as today; the 400th ASASOD, 1st
SFG(A); 401st ASASOD, 8th SFG(A); 402d ASASOD, 10th
SFG(A); 403d ASASOD, 5th SFG(A) until Jan 64, 7th SFG(A)
until Jan 65, and then to the 3d SFG(A) until the 403d's
deployment to RVN with the 5th SFG(A) in 1966.

The SODs remained the same from 1966 until the post-Viet Nam
stand down of Special Forces during the early 1970s. With the
stand down of the 5th SFG(A) in Viet Nam, the 403d was
deactivated and was never again reactivated. On deactivation of the
8th SFG(A) in Panama, the 401st was deactivated for a short while
and later reactivated with the 7th SFG(A) at Ft Bragg, NC. In 1974,
on deactivation of the 1st SFG(A), the 400th was redeployed from
Okinawa to Ft Bragg with the 5th SFG(A). The 402d redeployed
from Germany with the 10th SFG(A) to Ft Devens, MA.

The official end of the USASASODs as United States Army
Security Agency units came with the deactivation of HQs, USASA
and conversion to Combat Electronic Warfare Intelligence (CEWI)
organizations in December, 1976. However, even after the
designation of USASA, the SODs continued to carry the ASASOD
unit designations into the early 1980s when they were redesignated
as Military Intelligence Companies.

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"If the blood of the operator does not flow in your veins, it will be
on your hands."

-Colonel Dave McNight, U.S. Army J-2, JSOC