Studies and Observation Group

"These SOG guys were so imperative to the success of the Cold War that everybody yielded to them."

- Josh Olin, community manager at Treyarch

The Studies and Observation Group (SOG) was a highly classified, multi-service United States special operations unit which conducted covert unconventional warfare operations prior to and during the Vietnam War.

The Studies and Observations Group was a joint unconventional warfare task force created on 24 January 1964 by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a subsidiary command of the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV). The unit conducted strategic reconnaissance missions in Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), Laos, and Cambodia; carried out the capture of enemy prisoners, rescued downed pilots, and conducted rescue operations to retrieve prisoners of war throughout Southeast Asia; and conducted clandestine agent team activities and psychological operations.

It was mainly composed of personnel from the United States Army Special Forces, the United States Navy SEALs, United States Air Force Combat Controllers, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Special Activities Division, and elements of the United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance units.

History
Established on 24 January 1964, the unit participated in most of the significant campaigns of the Vietnam War, including the Tonkin Gulf Incident which precipitated American involvement, Operation Steel Tiger, Operation Tiger Hound, the Tet Offensive, Operation Commando Hunt, the Cambodian Campaign, Operation Lam Son 719, and the Easter Offensive. The unit was formally disbanded and replaced by the Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team 158 on 1 May 1972.

Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops' creator, Treyarch, consulted former SOG member Major John Plaster (US Army-Ret.), who shared his stories and experiences from the Vietnam War. These "special" soldiers were apparently so privileged that they could request anything, from unusual or expensive equipment to immediate and integral support from any U.S. regular unit.

Known Operatives

 * Hudson
 * Mason
 * Frank Woods
 * Swift
 * Weaver
 * Reznov (Returning from Call of Duty: World at War)
 * Brooks
 * Harris

Confirmed Weapons

 * CAR-15 Commando
 * M1911
 * M202 Rocket Launcher
 * SPAS-12
 * Crossbow
 * AUG
 * .357 Magnum Revolver

Trivia

 * A document, signed by former president John F. Kennedy, involving the SOG was found through transmissions of a Call of Duty: Black Ops teaser site: GKNOVA6.
 * This could be the old task force 141. I guss will just have to find out.