# Operational Group Command > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Operational_Group_Command > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Operational_Group_Command.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_Group_Command > Source revision: 1354387519 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 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 Military unit **English:** General [William J. Donovan](/source/William_J._Donovan) reviews the Operational Groups (OGs) at Area F, the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, prior to their departure for China. **Operational Group Command** (OG), was a branch of the [Office of Strategic Services](/source/Office_of_Strategic_Services) (OSS) during [World War II](/source/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](/source/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] The original [A Teams](/source/A-Team_(Special_Forces)) of [United States Army Special Forces](/source/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](/source/William_J._Donovan) and [Millard Preston Goodfellow](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Theater_(warfare)), and the strategic planning authority of the Director of the OSS, [William Donovan](/source/William_J._Donovan).[3] ## Areas active It was active in Burma, China, France, Greece, Italy, Norway, and Yugoslavia.[2] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["HyperWar: Office of Strategic Servcices (OSS) Organization and Functions"](https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USG/JCS/OSS/OSS-Functions/). *www.ibiblio.org*. Retrieved 2024-06-26. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) ["Operational Groups"](https://www.soc.mil/OSS/operational-groups.html). *www.soc.mil*. Retrieved 2024-06-26. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:2_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:2_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:2_3-2) History Project, Strategic Services Unit, Office of the Assistant Secretary of War, War Department (1976). ["WAR REPORT OF THE OSS (Office of Strategic Services)"](http://www.ossreborn.com/files/War%20Report%20of%20the%20OSS%20Volume%201.pdf) (PDF). Washington D.C.: Walker and Company.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Special Operations"](https://www.soc.mil/OSS/special-operations.html). *www.soc.mil*. Retrieved 2024-06-26. v t e Office of Strategic Services Predecessor Office of the Coordinator of Information Branches Strategic Services Operations Maritime Unit Morale Operations Operational Group Command Research & Development Special Operations Intelligence Services Research & Analysis Enemy Objectives Unit Secret Intelligence Counterespionage Transport Carpetbaggers Key figures Wild Bill Donovan Allen Dulles Betty Carp Christian J. Lambertsen David K. E. Bruce Dick Ellis Duncan Lee Eloise Page G. Edward Buxton Jr. Garland H. Williams George Hunter White James B. Donovan James Phinney Baxter III James R. Murphy John L. Magruder John S. Warner Larry Houston Millard Preston Goodfellow Robert E. Sherwood Stanley Platt Lovell William J. Casey William L. Langer Facilities Apex Building Camp Ritchie Camp X E Street Complex Catoctin Mountain Park Camp David Congressional Country Club Library of Congress OSS/London Station Charles Station Victor Prince William Forest Park Catalina Island Cherry Valley Toyon Bay St. Elizabeths Hospital Missions and Operations Operations Bat bomb Claw Cornflakes Eagle Project Greenup Jedburgh Lindsay Paperclip Pig Iron RYPE Safehaven Sauerkraut Sunrise SUSSEX Detachments Art Looting Investigation Unit OSS Deer Team OSS Detachment 101 Dixie Mission Partner Agencies Allied Intelligence Bureau BCRA British Security Co-ordination Bureau Bijzondere Opdrachten Central Social Affairs Department DIPS Dwójka Enemy Activities Investigation Service Juntong NKVD Special Intelligence Service Special Operations Executive XU Notable Products Simple Sabotage Field Manual The Mind of Adolf Hitler Analysis of the Personality of Adolph Hitler Undercover Culture OSS Society Museum Association of Former Intelligence Officers Successors Strategic Services Unit • National Intelligence Authority • Central Intelligence Group • Bureau of Intelligence and Research • Special Forces v t e United States Intelligence Community Intelligence Community Defense Defense Intelligence Agency Defense Clandestine Service Defense Debriefing Service Defense Attaché System National Intelligence University Missile and Space Intelligence Center National Center for Medical Intelligence Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency National Reconnaissance Office (Sentient (intelligence analysis system)) National Security Agency Central Security Service Special Collection Service Armed Forces Army Intelligence and Security Command Marine Corps Intelligence Office of Naval Intelligence Air Force Intelligence Space Force Intelligence (Space Delta 7 / Space Delta 18) Coast Guard Intelligence (Homeland Security) Civilian Bureau of Intelligence and Research (State) Central Intelligence Agency Directorate of Operations Special Activities Center Open Source Center Directorate of Science and Technology CIA University DEA Office of National Security Intelligence (Justice) FBI Intelligence Branch (Justice) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (Homeland Security) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (Treasury) Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence (Energy) Director of National Intelligence Director of National Intelligence National Counterterrorism Center National Counterproliferation Center National Counterintelligence and Security Center Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center National Intelligence Council Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity Joint Intelligence Community Council Chief Information Officer Executive Office of the President National Security Advisor National Security Council President's Intelligence Advisory Board Homeland Security Council Homeland Security Advisor President's Daily Brief Other Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency National Security Division (Justice) Army Intelligence Support Activity Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System Intellipedia Iranian Directorate National Museum of Intelligence and Special Operations Oversight Senate Intelligence Committee House Intelligence Committee Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board Office of Management and Budget Information Security Oversight Office Intelligence Oversight Board Defunct Central Intelligence Group Contingency Fund for Foreign Intercourse Counterintelligence Field Activity Coordinator of Information Military Information Division Military Intelligence Division Military Intelligence Service Office of Strategic Services Office of Special Plans Ritchie Boys Special Intelligence Service Strategic Support Branch Strategic Services Unit The Pond --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Operational Group Command](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_Group_Command) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_Group_Command?action=history)). 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