Rapid Deployment Force

Rapid Deployment Force, special U.S. military unit trained to act quickly upon command. Called the RDF, the force was founded in 1980 particularly to protect U.S. interests in oil-rich regions of the Middle East. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., the RDF has ships and personnel stationed on the Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean. The island location helps this force move swiftly when necessary to areas around the globe.