Operational Group Command

Operational Group Command (OG), was a branch of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II that specialized in clandestine and covert operations, combat search and rescue POWs and allies spies captured in areas occupied by the Axis powers, commando style raids on key targets, frontline military intelligence gathering, guerrilla warfare, independent operations against designated Axis powers targets, maneuver warfare, providing military assistance to resistance movement groups in areas occupied by the Axis powers, special reconnaissance, and support military strategy and tactical operational plans.^[1]

Operational Group Command
Active	23 December 1942 (1942-12-23)
Disbanded	1945 (1945)
Country	United States
Role	Anti-tank warfare Artillery observer Clandestine operation Close-quarters battle Combat search and rescue Covert operation Direct action Guerrilla warfare Jungle warfare Maneuver warfare Military aid Military communications Military intelligence Military logistics Military operation plan Mountain warfare Parachuting Raiding Reconnaissance Special operations Special reconnaissance Tracking Urban warfare
Part of	Office of Strategic Services
Nickname	The OGs
Motto	The Glorious Amateurs
Engagements	World War II
Commanders
Chief	Alfred T. Cox
Chief	Colonel Russell B. (“Russ”) Livermore

English: General William J. Donovan reviews the Operational Groups (OGs) at Area F, the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, prior to their departure for China.

The original A Teams of United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets), Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA), are modeled after the successes of Operational Group Command and its groups.^[2]

William Donovan and Millard Preston Goodfellow were concerned with creating guerrilla commando units within SA/G as early as December 1941.^[3]

Operational Group Command was made up of Operational Groups (OGs), which were originally created on 23 December 1942 as a division within the OSS Special Operations Branch (SO), before achieving Branch status.^[4]

One key distinction between SO units and the OGs might be the fact that OGs were always dressed in military uniform, and were deployed within the military command structure, whereas SO units were civilian units, often assuming cover identities.^[2]

Command structure

The OGs had a dual leadership command structure.^[3] While OGs were deployed in the field, they were under the tactical planning authority of the Theatre Commander, and the strategic planning authority of the Director of the OSS, William Donovan.^[3]

Areas active

It was active in Burma, China, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, and Yugoslavia.^[2]