Operation Vanguard began in 1961 when the first mission was sent to Liberia. It was to run until 1974, with teams sent to 23 countries around the globe to help in such areas as agriculture, handicrafts, veterinary medicine, and fisheries.
先鋒案的執行範圍後來由非洲擴及中南美洲及亞太、亞西地區，並增遣獸醫隊、手工藝隊、漁業隊等。農耕隊後來改名為農技團，但在非洲，習慣上仍稱農耕隊。