Maj. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas (left), commanding general

Maj. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas (left), commanding general U.S. Army South and retired Sgt. Maj. Fred F. Balderrama (right), retired special forces, pose at a Special Forces 25th birthday celebration, held at Army South April 13. Special Forces soldiers, both active duty and retired, from across the installation were in attendance for the celebration. The first Special Forces unit in the Army was formed in 1952, at Fort Bragg, N.C. As a result of renewed emphasis on special operations in the 1980s, the Special Forces Branch was established as a basic branch of the Army effective April 9, 1987, by General Orders No. 35, June 19, 1987.