Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU)Marine Research Facility (MARESFAC)SEAL Team 6 (SEAL Team Six)Mobility 6 (MOB Six)On 1 May 2011, the United States announced that it had launched an operation into Pakistan from Afghanistan to apprehend Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden was killed during the operation, reported to have been conducted by members of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU; commonly referred to by an older title, Seal Team Six).The Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), previously identified as Mobility 6 (MOB Six), Seal Team 6 (SEAL Team Six), and Marine Research Facility (MARESFAC), is based in Dam Neck, Virginia. DEVGRU is responsible for US counter-terrorist operations, primarily in the maritime environment. The DEVGRU has as a primary function intelligence, counter-intelligence, investigative, and national security work, and the provisions of Chapter 71 of Title 5 of the United States Code cannot be applied to this organization in a manner consistent with national security requirements and considerations.Training for SEAL Team Six was conducted throughout the United States and abroad, both on military and civilian facilities. Exchange programs and joint training were expanded with the more experienced international teams such as Germany's GSG-9, Great Britain's Special Boat Squadrons (SBS), and France's combat divers. In all cases, emphasis was placed on realism in training, in accordance with the "Train as you Fight, Fight as you Train" philosophy popular amongst most of the world's leading special operations and counter-terrorism units.SEAL Team Six participated in a number of operations, both overt and covert, throughout the 1980's before being revamped and renamed. The reasons for these transformations were vague. However the primary factor cited has often been the need for the unit to evolve out of a poor reputation of the group within the Navy. SEAL Team Six was subsequently renamed as the Marine Research Facility (MARESFAC), and then Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU).The origins of DEVGRU and its predecessor organizations can be traced to the aftermath of the failed 1980 attempted to rescue American hostages at the Iranian Embassy as part of Operation Eagle Claw/Operation Evening Light. Prior to that operation, the SEALs had already begun counter-terrorism training. All 12 platoons in SEAL Team One on the West Coast had completed this training prior to the hostage rescue attempt.On the East Coast, however, elements of the SEAL Team Two had taken the issue one step father. They had formed a dedicated 2-platoon group known as MOB Six (short for Mobility Six) in anticipation of a maritime scenario requiring a counter-terrorism response, and had subsequently begun training to that end. This included the development of advanced tactics such as fast roping.Yet, as was the case with the US Army's initial counter-terrorism unit, Blue Light, and the activation of Delta Force, only one group was needed and could be recognized as official. With the formal activation of SEAL Team Six (a name selected primarily to confuse Soviet intelligence as to the number of SEAL Teams in operation) in October 1980, MOB Six was demobilized. A large number of members, however, including the former MOB Six