What is a CIA paramilitary unit, and when are they used?

[Freedom]

From this article:
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20011120/3637860s.htm

The Marines could form large assault teams to back up commandos now on the hunt, Vickers said. An unknown number of CIA paramilitary units also have joined the search.

So what’s the scoop on CIA paramilitary units? Does anybody know of any incidents where they have been used? Since the CIA can only operate outside of the country, what is their normal job?

Humorous comments, paranoid information and real answers are all appreciated.

[Boyo_Jim]

Their normal job is funnelling money, weapons, training, and intelligence info to “freedom fighters”, or possibly “terrorists”, depending on what or who they decide to attack.

Since most goverments of the world on “unfriendly terms” with the US have internal opposition groups (military or not in nature) that are funded or outright created with American money, I can understand a certain hesitation on their part to jumping on the “international war on terrorism”. You can be we’re not going to help Iran or Syria crush their internal oppostion. Nor am I suggesting we do.

Read “Veil” by Bob Woodward. It’s a history of William Casey’s tenure as CIA Director. We’ve had CIA paramilitary teams all over the world since there was a CIA.

[Whack-a-Mole]

*Originally posted by yojimboguy *
Their normal job is funnelling money, weapons, training, and intelligence info to “freedom fighters”, or possibly “terrorists”, depending on what or who they decide to attack.

That was my thought too but apparently we are both wrong.

From MSNBC:

THE CIA UNITS, whose existence has not been previously disclosed, are operating in what amounts to a central combat role in America’s unconventional war in Afghanistan.

<snip>

The units are part of a highly secret CIA capability, benignly named the Special Activities Division, that consists of teams of about half a dozen men who do not wear military uniforms. The division has about 150 fighters, pilots and specialists, and is made up mostly of hardened veterans who have retired from the U.S. military.

[Sofa_King]

Here is his Washington Post version of Bob Woodward’s story linked to MSNBC above:

Secret CIA Units Playing A Central Combat Role

It would appear to me as if this capability may be tucked away, rather like the Purloined Letter, right on the CIA’s own website.

The mission of the Office of Military Affairs (OMA) is to ensure that, whenever and wherever US armed forces are deployed, they will have at their disposal the full range of CIA’s intelligence and operational support capabilities.

and

In providing support to the US armed forces, OMA is only the tip of the CIA iceberg. While we are the only Agency component with the exclusive mission of supporting military plans and operations, our effectiveness depends critically on our partnership with other line components of CIA…

and I really like this:

Interwoven through these business areas is a strong customer focus and a personal commitment on the part of individual OMA officers to a critical mission.

Now, I could be entirely wrong about the Office of Military Affairs being the parent office of this military unit. There is no “Special Activities Division” listed on the CIA website. There is, however, a mention of a “Special Activities Branch,” which may give note number 700 on this page a whole new meaning, which I think is entirely outside the scope of this question.

[Sofa_King]

Oh, yeah. And since I actually participated in this discussion, just let me say:

If I told you, I’d have to kill you.

Thank you very much, the sky is blue, death and taxes, and other painfully obvious things.