Bravo-9 Special Operations Group

"As a species, we are required to adapt to survive. Think of B-9 SOG in the same idea, it adapts to the threat to defeat it. We molded ourselves to become a solution to a problem and became very efficient. Everything we did was to ensure Humanity lived another day."

- Captain Luka Basayev, Group Commanding Officer from 2548 to 2553.

The Special Operations Group under the Bravo-9 Division's Operations Directorate is a classified tactical intelligence special unit designed to carry out clandestine and covert missions. The unit was stood up in 2517 after completing a Proof of Concept tour to the Bravo-9 Division Head. B-9 SOG, among its other cover names, grew throughout The Great War and later in the Reconciliation Era. The unit has been involved with many high-profile operations and is considered the most deployed out of all units at the Bravo-9 Division.

Mission
Early on, B-9 SOG built their main mission focus surrounding paramilitary operations and organizing resistance forces. Most of the officers and enlisted were trained in Foreign Internal Defense, Special Reconnaissance, and Intelligence Collection with previous experience in special warfare and intelligence. Organizing resistance movements during the Insurrection paid off in the long-run giving UNSC Naval Special Warfare Command a boost in combat operations and understanding the region. During The Great War, the paramilitary operations varied from planet to planet based on the Covenant's ability to decimate the colony's defenses.

Splitting off from the paramilitary mission, the Special Actions program allowed for B-9 SOG officers to take command of a Naval Special Warfare unit for specialized missions during The Great War. The program allowed for B-9 SOG to conduct mission sensitive operations to deny the Covenant information about the UNSC and UEG. B-9 SOG officers worked closely with Orbital Drop Shock Troop and Trident platoons for such missions.

In addition to the paramilitary mission, B-9 SOG ran an extensive spy network utilizing Commercial and Non-Official Cover to collect information. Human, Signal, and Cyber Intelligence are the two discplines used in collecting sensitive information against denied and hardened targets. Individuals selected for operations have a ranging background to blend into environments with unique skillsets in spoken languages, region experience, collection methods, and other mission specific requirements. Following the Great War, the spy network expanded into Covenant remnants and became a valuable asset for understanding the Covenant remnants.

In the wake of The Great War, B-9 SOG was directed to create a unit specialized in assassination. Between 2554 and 2555, B-9 SOG put together a troop sized force specialized in poisoning, explosives, surreptitious entry, and direct action. The troop has expanded to include remote operations and close-target capabilities to increase plausible deniability.

As of 2588, Bravo-9's Special Operations Group mission profile includes:
 * Foreign Internal Defense
 * Special Reconnaissance
 * Direct Action
 * Information Operations
 * Intelligence Collection
 * Espionage
 * Assassination

Organization
From its inception, the organization of B-9 SOG varied based on capabilities needed and the size of the unit. The Group is led by a Captain with another Captain as its Executive Officer within the Command Action Group. Squadrons, led by Commanders, make up the operational arms of the Group while also being known as Teams, Detachments, Divisions, and Forces to confuse the enemy. Troops are commanded by Lieutenants and Lieutenant Commanders, depending on their size, while also being called Companies, Departments, and Flights. Elements are led by a Chief Petty Officer while a Team is led by an Petty Officer First, Second, or Third Class.

In 2589, an internal audit from Bravo-9 Division to ONI Section Zero included the following units of B-9 SOG:
 * Tactical Development Squadron 1 (Paramilitary)
 * Tactical Development Squadron 2 (Paramilitary)
 * Information Operation Squadron 1 (HUMINT Collection)
 * Information Operation Squadron 2 (SIGINT and CYBER Collection)
 * Information Operation Squadron 3 (Espionage, Commercial, and Non-Official Cover)
 * Dissposition Target Matrix Squadron (Assassination)
 * Combat Mission Support Squadron

Both Paramilitary and the Information Operation Squadrons have three troops per squadron, averaging about 60 people per troop. The Assassination Squadron has four troops with each being a speciality of tactics. The assassination squadron is the smallest squadron within B-9 SOG but also considered the most valuable. The assassination squadron has about 120 people with 100 being operational. For more support on a mission, the unit can request support from B-9's Support Directorate with requirements and assign personnel on a Temporary Duty until the mission is completed.