The political action group within SAC conducts the deniable psychological operations, also known as black propaganda, as well as 'covert influence' to effect political change in other countries as part of United States foreign policy. Paramilitary Operations Officers are also fully trained case officers (i.e., 'spy handlers') and as such conduct clandestine human intelligence ( HUMINT) operations throughout the world. SAC/SOG also conducts special reconnaissance that can be either military or intelligence driven and is carried out by Paramilitary Officers (also called Paramilitary Operatives or Paramilitary Operations Officers) when in ' non-permissive environments'. Īs the action arm of the CIA's Directorate of Operations, SAC/SOG conducts direct action missions such as raids, ambushes, sabotage, targeted killings and unconventional warfare (e.g., training and leading guerrilla and military units of other countries in combat). Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta ( Delta Force) or Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). SAC/SOG has far fewer members than most of the other special missions units, such as the U.S. SAC can be directly tasked by the president or the National Security Council at the president's direction, unlike other U.S. SAC provides the United States National Security Council with alternative options when overt military and/or diplomatic actions are not viable or politically feasible. 4.7 Maritime activities against the Soviet Union.As overt support for one element of an insurgency can be counterproductive due to the unfavorable impression of the United States in some countries, in such cases covert assistance allows the US to assist without damaging the reputation of its beneficiaries. Political and 'influence' covert operations are used to support US foreign policy. A large covert operation typically has components that involve many or all of these categories as well as paramilitary operations. Tactical units within SAC can also carry out covert political action while deployed in hostile and austere environments. The Political Action Group is responsible for covert activities related to political influence, psychological operations, economic warfare, and cyberwarfare. The Latin motto of SAC is Tertia Optio, which means 'Third Option,' as covert action represents an additional option within the realm of national security when diplomacy and military action are not feasible. SOG operatives also account for the majority of the stars displayed on the Memorial Wall at CIA headquarters, indicating that the officer died while on active duty. These are the highest two awards for valor within the CIA in recognition of distinguished valor and excellence in the line of duty. SOG Paramilitary Operations Officers account for a majority of Distinguished Intelligence Cross and Intelligence Star recipients during conflicts or incidents that elicited CIA involvement. The group generally recruits personnel from special mission units within the U.S. SOG is considered the most secretive special operations force within the United States, with fewer than 100 operators. If they are compromised during a mission, the US government may deny all knowledge. As such, unit members, called Paramilitary Operations Officers and Specialized Skills Officers, do not typically wear uniforms. The Special Operations Group is responsible for operations that include clandestine or covert operations with which the US government does not want to be overtly associated. Within SAC there are two separate groups: SAC/SOG (Special Operations Group) for tactical paramilitary operations and SAC/PAG (Political Action Group) for covert political action. The unit was named Special Activities Division ( SAD) prior to 2015. The Special Activities Center ( SAC) is a division of the United States Central Intelligence Agency responsible for covert and paramilitary operations.

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