Tier 1, 2 & 3 Explained...

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Intro

Greybeard is the 3rd Soldier from the left

The 'Tier' structure is an UNOFFICIAL ranking system of military units based on their capabilities

There are 3 levels/types of military units:

• SMUs (Special Mission Unit)

• Special Forces (SF) & Special Operation Forces (ex. Rangers)

• 'Conventional' units

Note - There is only 1 level/type/classification of Special Forces. Some SMUs members (Army/Navy/Marines) are not qualified SF/SEAL operators but are Special Skill Operators (for SMU units only). Air Force SF are virtually 100% 'traditionally' trained and then are added to a SMU after additional selection and training. Regardless, SMU members are not a 'higher' level of SF, although they are more selective, resourced, specialized etc.

There are 3 Tier levels:

• Tier 1 - ONLY Special Forces/enablers

• Tier 2 - BOTH Special Operations/enablers

• Tier 3 - ONLY 'conventional forces

The ranking is in descending order; so Tier 1 is considered the 'best'

This Tier system (as a ranking system) DOES NOT official exist and is used mostly by civilians

Origination:
- The origins of this system remain unclear
- Reports that it originated from the Pentagon, as to simplify the different levels of units
- Others attribute it to JSOC (Joint Special Operation Command)

It remains a non-official method of delineating the different levels of units
- (SMUs; SF/SPEC OPS; 'conventional')

***NOTE - The military has 2 categories of Soldier types: Special Forces and conventional***

Tier 1

JSOC is the ONLY unit to command Tier 1 Soldiers (Operators & Enablers)

Tier 1 units are considered highly secretive, expertly trained and most effective in combat

They are controlled tactically by JSOC but administratively managed by their parent units

JSOC ONLY has Tier 1 units/personnel:

• Army - 'Delta Force'

• Army - 75th Ranger RGT Regimental Reconnaissance Company

• Navy - 'SEAL TM VI'

• Air Force - 24th Special Tactics Squadron

***NOTE - MARSOC does not have Tier 1 operators***



The above mentioned units (in GREEN) are considered 'Operators'

Enablers are support staff that facilitate Tier 1 operators

Typical Tier 1 enablers are:

• Pilots

• Combat Support (medical/logistics/mechanics etc.)

• Military intelligence

• Signal

At times, Tier 1 units utilize external support:

• Special Operation Infantry like the 75th Ranger RGT

• Military Information Support Operations (MISO) - aka PSYOPs

***NOTE - there is a difference between Tier 1 Operators and Tier 1 Enablers***

Tier 1 Examples

Units associated with Tier 1 by branch


Army:
- 'Delta Force'


Navy:
- SEAL TM 6


Air Force:
- 24th Special Tactics Squadron

Tier 2

Tier 2 are considered:

• Special Forces (Army/Navy/Marines/Air Force)

• Special Operations - 75th RGT Rangers (minus RRC)

• Special Operations enablers (MISO; CA; MI; SIG; logistics/mechanics/support etc.)

Special Forces include:

• Army SF (Green Berets)

• Navy SEALs

• Marines

• Air Force (PJs; CCTs; TACPs; SR)

Special Operations:

• Rangers are the ONLY U,S, SPEC OPS infantry unit

Special Operations enablers

• These Soldiers are held to a higher standard/training level than conventional forces

MISO (PSYOPS)


Civil Affairs


Support/Logistics

Tier 2 Examples

Units associated with Tier 2 by branch

Army:
Special Forces

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1382161150

Rangers
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1948809058

Navy:
SEALs (minus SEAL TM VI)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2637288147

SWCC


Marines:
MARSOC

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2017904231

Air Force:
AFSOC

AF Special Tactics of the 352nd Special Operations Wing (SOW) in Norway

***NOTE - The few 'Special Tactics' Airmen are considered 'SF', while the majority of Airmen in AFSOC are 'Special Operations' capable (pilots; service; logistics; security etc.)

Tier 3

Tier 3 is reserved for the 'conventional' forces

That is to say...'Regular' ArmyNavy/Marines/Air Force only

"G.I. Joe"

Very basic U.S. military structure (not up to date)

***Special Consideration***

There are a few noticeable units to discuss

Army:
The 'Rangers' of the 75th Ranger Regiment are the only Infantry regiment that is SO qualified
(Special Operations).

Ranger Regiment is also unique in that is has units that are in both Tier 1 & 2
ie. Ranger Reconnaissance Company (RRC) in Tier 1 & the remainder of the regiment in Tier 2

Navy:
Navy SWCC are used to transport SEALs and other on the battlefield via waterborne methods.
While SEALs are Special Forces qualified/equivalent, SWCC are strictly SO.

The Navy also employs other units as SO:

• select divers

• EOD

Conclusion

The 'Tier' system does not officially exist

It is mostly used by civilians to describe SF units

There are 3 levels with 'Tier 1' being the most important

BOTH Tier 1 & 2 have SF rated 'Operators' and non-SF rated Enablers

Non-SF rated Soldiers in Tier 1 & 2 are considered SO (Special Operations)

[Buckshot Pete]

I'm in the same boat of opinions, T3 are the guys who are hand-picked from the regulars. The Marines example are the Force Recon battalions.

Some GWOT guys will argue that 3rd Battalion 5th Marines earned T3 SF privileges because they were the front man in every deployment (Kuwait, Fallujah, Helmand, and Syria) I tend to agree

[I'mJustKarma]

T3 really ain't just conventional. It is really only the Airborne, Air Assault, Jungle, and Mountain units along with 3rd ID. The rest are Tier 4 in the conventional sphere.

[Greybeard]

LucSon...you Sir are CORRECT! T3 can be used to describe either conventional or specialized conventional forces. Definitely forces such as: airborne; arctic; mountain; long-range reconnaissance etc. Usually, any force that needs both specialized training AND equipment to operate their mission(s).

[LucSon]

Isn't Tier 3 actually supposed to be specialized units such as light infantry, airborne, etc? I recall talking to a 10th MD guy, he described the 10th MD more akin to a tier 3 unit along with airborne, with conventional infantry not having a tier

[Greybeard]

Have you ever heard of 'down-time'...lol...that's why my guides often come out in bunches ! Thanks for the support !

[Rich 83]

This is interesting reading mate. It's a shame more haven't had the chance to enjoy it - seeing how much effort you must have put into all of these guides.