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CIDG
Civilian Irregular Defense Group – The CIDG program began in late 1961 as a counterinsurgency experiment in the central highlands of South Vietnam. Under the direction of the CIA, U.S. Special Forces began working with the Montagnard tribesman of Buon Enao village in Darlac province. They fortified the hamlet, constructed shelters and established an early warning system to warn of approaching Viet Cong. A 30-man strike force was also created to patrol the village and to conduct ambushes to ward off insurgents. As a result of these measures the enemy was denied access to its source of food, intelligence and manpower.
Following this successful trial, Special Forces began expanding the perimeter beyond Buon Enao to encompass nearby hamlets, and by the end of 1962 the program had secured several hundred villages in Darlac province.
Despite the obvious achievements of the CIDG program under the CIA, by July 1963 control had been transferred to MACV as part of Operation Switchback. Following the change of command the program’s emphasis was switched from counterinsurgency to unconventional warfare. Rather than gradually growing the village defense system as the CIA had done, MACV rapidly expanded the program and began establishing CIDG camps in border areas. These served as bases for offensive operations, from which Special Forces and CIDG Strike forces were used to conduct border surveillance, attack Viet Cong base areas and to interdict the infiltration of men and supplies from North Vietnam.
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