8th Special Forces Group

The 8th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was a United States Army Special Forces unit activated in 1963 at Fort Gulick in the Panama Canal Zone. Its primary mission was to conduct unconventional warfare, counterinsurgency, and training operations across Latin America, particularly supporting the U.S. Southern Command's objectives. The group played a crucial role in training Latin American military and police forces, promoting regional security, and conducting civic action programs. In 1972, the 8th Special Forces Group was inactivated, and its personnel and responsibilities were transferred to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne).