page_title: First Special Service Force
section_title: Descendant units
hierarchical_section_title: First Special Service Force / Unit awards, legacy and memorials / Descendant units
caption_attribution_description: Created by Agent 86 en:Category:Images of Montana
context_page_description: The 1st Special Service Force was an elite American–Canadian commando unit in World War II, under command of the United States Fifth Army. The unit was organized in 1942 and trained at Fort William Henry Harrison near Helena, Montana in the United States. The Force served in the Aleutian Islands, and fought in Italy, and southern France before being disbanded in December 1944.
  The modern American and Canadian special operations forces trace their heritage to this unit. In 2013, the United States Congress passed a bill to award the 1st Special Service Force the Congressional Gold Medal.
context_section_description: The 1st Special Service Force is claimed as a direct ancestor by two modern special operations units; the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command and the elite unit of the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) of the United States Army Special Operations Command.
  In 1952, Colonel Aaron Bank (a former Jedburgh and Operational Group member of the Office of Strategic Services [OSS] during WW II) became the commander of 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne).  Formal lineage for the Special Forces Regiment, established in 1958, was from the FSSF.  Much of the training in unconventional tactics, including strategies, and lessons learned, replicated training of the OG and Jedburghs of the OSS. In Canada Military Intelligence and Logistical Operations 1952–1988, the Canadian Airborne Regiment 1968–1995 which formed part of the Special Service Force 1977-1995 and today's Canadian Special Operations Regiment, like United States Army Special Forces, trace their roots to the FSSF. Just like in World War II, Canada's elite JTF2 and the United States' elite SFOD-D operators were united once again into a special assignment force for the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan.
  In 2006, the Canadian members of the 1st Special Service Force received the United States Army's Combat Infantryman Badge for participation in front-line combat. On 3 February 2015, the FSSF was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest award congress can give to civilians.
caption: Plaque located on Interstate 15 between Helena and Great Falls.
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