Special Services (entertainment)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Special Services are the entertainment branch of the American military. The unit was created on 22 July 1940 by the War Department as part of the Army Service Forces.[1] Special Services would not only use their own specially trained and talented troops but would often engage local performers.[2]

Special Services were one of the few U.S. Army units to be integrated during World War II. Special Services opened their first Recreational Officer school at Fort Meade Maryland on 1 April 1942.[3]

Military Occupational Specialties

Military Occupational Specialties of the Special Services were as follows-

  • 03B Entertainment Specialist
  • 03C Physical Activities Specialist
  • 03D Crafts Specialist
  • 03Z Recreation Service Senior Sergeant

Famous Special Service soldiers

US Marine Corps

The Special Services Division, the forerunner of today's Special Services Branch, was formed on 1 March 1943. Its mission was to provide recreational and informational services to Marine Corps personnel for the purpose of maintaining morale.[5]

The MOS 9913, Special Services Officer supervises and coordinates special services activities involved with command morale, welfare, and recreation programs.[6]

Notes

  1. P. 415 Emerson, William K. Encyclopedia of United States Army Insignia and Uniforms 1996 University of Oklahoma Press
  2. p.57 Monod, David Settling scores: German Music, Denazification, & the Americans, 1945–1953 UNC Press 2005
  3. http://www.army.mil/cfsc/docs/history_army_sports_program.pdf?bcsi_scan_A4C9E8056B19D97F=0&bcsi_scan_filename=history_army_sports_program.pdf
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Page 82 Leatherneck - Volume 44, Issue 3
  6. http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/marineofficerjobs/bl9913.htm