The US Special Warfare Develoment Group (DEVGRU) is the United States Navy's premier counter terrorism unit, counterpart to Army's 'Combat Application Group' (CAG), commonly known as Delta Force. DEVGRU is considered the world's premier maritime counterterror unit. Formerly known as SEAL Team Six, DEVGRU is the brainchild of the well-known Richard Marcinko, author of the "Rogue Warrior" series of novels. Having been assigned to the National Military Command Center during Operation Eagle Claw, Marcinko immediately saw the need for a unit focused exclusively on maritime counterterrorism. In 1980, SEAL Team Six was formed. After Marcinko's retirement and subsequent literary exploits, the Navy changed the name of SEAL Team Six to DEVGRU to drop the unit out of the public eye. This effort has been surprisingly successful, with most people unaware that SEAL Team Six no longer exists within the Navy. However, DEVGRU maintains the capabilities of its predecessor. This includes the ability to rescue hostages from ships, oil platforms, and other maritime locations, along with a high level of terrestrial capability as well. DEVGRU is based at Dam Neck, Virginia. Their compound is similiar to the one occupied by the Army's Combat Applications Group at Fort Bragg, with a focus on maritime operations. This includes numerous firing ranges and shooting houses, a section of aircraft fuselage, and other likely hostage rescue locations. DEVGRU firearms training has become famous throughout the world, much due to the entrepreneurial savvy of a few retired SEALs. However, DEVGRU, like SEAL Team Six before it, does use some unusual weapons drills in response to the maritime environment they typically operate in. The firearms ability of a DEVGRU operator is probably among the best in the world, right along with all the other major CT units, such as CAG, the SAS, GSG-9, and GIGN. The idea that DEVGRU is considered the best CT unit in the world is largely a myth created by the popularity of the Rogue Warrior novels. Again, this is not intended as a slight on the operators, nor it is a criticism of Richard Marcinko. Simply, everyone in the Special Operations Community believes they are the "best", if they lacked such confidence they would be less effective. Although considered by many as just another SEAL team, DEVGRU is a separate entity. DEVGRU is under the direction of the Joint Special Operations Command, along with Delta Force. All the operators at DEVGRU are fully qualified SEALS. Before becoming members of DEVGRU, SEALS have to go through a screening process. The criteria is as follows:

• 3 years in the TEAMS
• One deployment
• SEAL Physical Readiness Test (.5 mile swim, 3 mile run, max push ups, max sit ups and max pull ups)

After these exams, each candidate is interviewed by a DEVGRU representative. If not selected the SEAL will have to wait a year before reapplying. If selected he will attend six months of Operator Training before being assigned to a platoon. It takes another full year before an operator is considered a qualified member of the unit.

DEVGRU saw action in the Persian Gulf in 1991, when they raided and occupied oil rigs to defend against Iraqi forces. Operators were also active in Bosnia in 1996, hunting down war criminals. In 2003, DEVGRU operators were believed to have participated in Task Force 121, the secretive group of elite troops charged with the capture of high ranking Iraqi personalities.