10 Badasses of the World’s Special Forces
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
, Posted by Tyree at 1:26 PM
In honor of
a recent list of cheesy 80s actioners, here is a list for us James Bond
wannabes. This list looks at 10 of the special forces from around the
world that have the honor of being the most elite and – consequently –
badass. Feel free to mention your own favorites in the comments which
will no doubt include a lot that are not listed here.
10
Spetsnaz
Whereas most of the training regimens of militaries around the world
are designed to teach, Russia’s Special Purpose Regiments, equivalent
to the U. S. Green Berets, endure punishment daily throughout their
training. They may quit anytime they want. The Spetsnaz want only the
best, pain-hardened, battle-lovingdestroyers.
They spar with the express goal of injuring each other, breaking ribs,
fingers, vertebrae, healing only long enough to get back on their feet
and complete the training. They are typically deployed for
reconnaissance or house-to-house close quarters combat, but are also
employed as extremely formidable bodyguards for high-ranking
politicians.
They claim that they are not taught to ignore pain, since that is impossible. They are instead taught to enjoy it.
9
French Naval Commandos
They call themselves “berets verts,” or “green berets,” and consist of
6 units: Hubert, Trepel, de Montfort, de Penfentenyo, Jaubert, and
Kieffer. Each unit is trained for special tasks, whether combat diving,
close quarters sea combat, exfiltration, canine units, or long range
fire support, including snipers and missile launchers. They were
est@blished much at the behest of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who was a
naval officer in WWII.
8
MARSOC
Currently, only men are allowed to try out for the U. S. Marine Corps
Forces Special Operations Command. It’s primary missions are typically
special reconnaissance, direct action, and internal defense within
foreign nations.
Their training regimen is comprised of 4 phases, increasing in
strenuousness. Phase 1 is SERE training, survival, evasion, resistance,
escape. They are trained to make fire by friction, fire by mirrors,
even fire by ice, depending on the location to which they are deployed.
You mold the ice with the heat of your hands into the shape of a lens,
which works just like a magnifying glass.
Of course, they take matches and Zippos with them. After this, they
begin physical fitness training, and hand-to-hand combat, practicing a
hybrid of the most functional martial arts: Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun,
Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, even Pankration. Then, Sayoc Kali, which is Filipino
knife fighting.
This is just phase 1. Phase 2 is marksmanship, amphibious demolitions,
reconnaissance. Phase 3 is a contrinuation of 2, but with the addition
of field radioes and satellite data-uplink systems. Phase 4 is
“irregular warfare” instruction, which is a euphemism for “anything
goes.” This phase consists primarily of the Derna Bridge operation,
which forces the recruits to use all skills acquired during the course.
7
MI-6
The closest thing to James Bond can be found in the personnel of the
UK’s Secret Intelligence Service, or Security Service, section 6. It
works in close partnership with section 5 (MI-5), the latter which is
more of a pure spy agency, dedicated to counter-intelligence and
counter-espionage.
MI-6, however, is the unit which deploys its agents all over the world
to detect international intelligence threats and “neutralize” them
before they become truly dangerous. Their headquarters is at Vauxhall
Cross, London, and they will be quick to tell you there that there is
no James Bond among them, and that their[..]ignments and missions are
quite boring.
They do, however, have an agent very similar to “Q,” who is in charge
of all equipment and weaponry deployed for each operation. They also
have indoor firing ranges, dojos, and a gym.
6
U. S. Army Rangers
After basic Army training, voluntary enlistment into the 75th Ranger
Regiment will train the recruit for the HALO parachute jump, SERE,
languages, elite combatives expert, mountain warfare, combat diving, in
addition to all the weapons qualification training.
After nine weeks of this, they enroll in Advanced Individual Training,
to become masters of their chosen fields, then immediately enroll in
the Army Airborne School, then in Ranger Indoctrination or Orientation
Programs.
By the time they’ve graduated, they’re so well trained that members
have reported waking up screaming from nightmares about Ranger school
to be relieved that they are only in Vietnam.
But then, they lose a few points for an incident a Ranger told me about:
he was the captain of a tank regiment on maneuvers in the Amazon
jungle. Just an exercise, but because of the sweltering heat, they had
to open their tank hatches. This captain, who shall remain nameless,
heard a thump behind him, and turned to see a Goliath Bird-eating
Spider crawling toward him, raising its front legs and hissing.
He admits to screaming like a girl, knifing the tarantula, jumping out
of the tank and running off into the jungle for a mile and a half. His
buddies still rib him about it.
5
U. S. Army Green Berets
That’s their nickname. Technically they are the U. S. Army Special
Forces, as opposed to the special forces of other countries, many of
which also wear green berets.
Typically, the Green Berets are trained to administer “unconventional
warfare,” which entails infiltrating a hostile area in anticipation of
a large-scale military engagement, and training the local resistance
populations to fight back against the enemy. This was done in South
Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, among others.
In the event that there is no local resistance to the enemy, the Green
Berets infiltrate and soften up the enemy by “neutralizing” as many of
its officers as possible. This usually involved sniping and throat
cutting.
Training is very extensive and begins with the Army’s[..]essment of the
recruit’s possession of 12 attributes: intelligence, physical fitness,
motivation, trustworthiness, accountability, maturity, st@bility,
judgment, decisiveness, teamwork, influence, and communications. 40% of
applicants satisfy the Army that they have these attributes.
Final training consists of various endurance courses, carrying heavy
backpacks over 40 miles of rugged terrain, with nothing but a live
chicken and a knife, day and night. If the recruit can make a fire, he
can eat the chicken cooked. He is not given matches or a lighter. He is
allowed only a compass and his own hand-drawn map, completed from
earlier reconnaissance courses.
4
The Delta Force
The only official United States counter-terrorism unit, dedicated to
hostage rescues, counter-insurgency, and general counter-terrorism.
They’re full name is 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta,
managed by the Army. Selection is done according to a physical fitness
test: situps, pushups, followed by a 3-mile run, in an undisclosed time
limit.
Then an all-night, 18-mile hike over mountainous terrain with a 35 lb
backpack and a compass, no map. This finally culminated with a 40-mile
hike with a 45 lb backpack, in a shorter time limit.
Then psychologists conduct a grueling battery of mental exams on the
recruit to try to break him into confusion. If he passes this, he
actually gets to begin Delta Force training, for 6 months. Firearms,
heavy weaponry, elite hand-to-hand training.
3
Shayetet 13
The name means “Flotilla 13,” and their official motto is the same as
the Israeli military: “Never Again,” in reference to the Holocaust.
Their unofficial motto, as they like to joke, is “When the going gets
tough, the Jews get pissed.”
They are 1 of the 3 most elite Israeli special forces units, but
Shayetet 13 is the unit most similar to the Delta Force. They
specialize in hostage rescue and counter-terrorism, and because they
live so close to a host of nations that seem bent on eradicating them,
they are at all times ready in an instant to travel abroad anddestroy.
They are very secretive, but of their missions publicized, the most
notable include Operation Spring of Youth, in which they hunted down
members of Black September in Beirut Lebanon anddestroyed them, in
revenge for the 1972 Munich massacre.
Apart from their firearms and heavy weapons training, they train
extensively in Krav Maga, the national martial art of Israel, to which
they endearingly refer as “Jew-jitsu.” It’s philosophy is based on the
principle that in a real street fight no quarter will be asked or
given. Fight todestroy. Groin strikes are quite prevalent.
2
Navy SEALs
You might think there are a lot of them, given the number of action
movies dedicated to the plot device of an invincible warrior, but there
are only about 2,000 of them. They are the Unites States’s most elite
special warfare combatants. They are trained in all the fields in which
the other U. S. special forces are trained, but to an even higher
degree of competency.
SEAL training lasts over a year, and requires an age of between 17 and
28 years, male, incorrect vision no worse than 20/200 in either eye,
and correctable to 20/20, and the physical screening test, which is
beyond belief.
500 yd (460 m) swim using [..] or combat sidestroke in under 12:30 with a competitive time of under 10:30.
At least 42 push-ups in 2 minutes with a competitive count of 79 or more.
At least 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes with a competitive count of 79 or more.
At least 6 pull-ups from a dead hang (no time limit) with a competitive count of 11 or more.
Run 1.5 mi (2.4 km) in boots and trousers in under 11:30 with a competitive time of 10:20 or less.
Then training begins. Physical conditioning, diving, land warfare, for
24 weeks, then 26 more weeks of SEAL qualification training. Then
specialization in whatever fields a SEAL team needs expertise in:
anything from sniper to language specialist, rope climbing, diving,
jumpmaster, surreptitious entry, dynamic entry (door breacher), etc.
1
British SAS
The Special Air Service is trained to perform equally well in all the
fields listed for the SEALs, but is also trained by MI-5 and MI-6 for
in-depth counter-espionage, more so than the SEALs. Physical competency
must be of equal stature to the SEALs, to the degree that both special
forces work closely together when necessary (Iraq and Afghanistan) and
have good camaraderie.
They wear a tan beret, just as the U. S. Army Rangers, and both the SAS
and SEALs are trained in knife fighting by experts in Apache Indian
knife techniques, as well as Sayoc Kali, Krav Maga, Jeet Kune Do, and
for the last 3 years or so, the Keysi Fighting Method, made famous by
the Chris Nolan “Batman” films.
They have the distinction of being the model on which almost all
national commando units are based today, including every other entry on
this list.
a recent list of cheesy 80s actioners, here is a list for us James Bond
wannabes. This list looks at 10 of the special forces from around the
world that have the honor of being the most elite and – consequently –
badass. Feel free to mention your own favorites in the comments which
will no doubt include a lot that are not listed here.
10
Spetsnaz
Whereas most of the training regimens of militaries around the world
are designed to teach, Russia’s Special Purpose Regiments, equivalent
to the U. S. Green Berets, endure punishment daily throughout their
training. They may quit anytime they want. The Spetsnaz want only the
best, pain-hardened, battle-lovingdestroyers.
They spar with the express goal of injuring each other, breaking ribs,
fingers, vertebrae, healing only long enough to get back on their feet
and complete the training. They are typically deployed for
reconnaissance or house-to-house close quarters combat, but are also
employed as extremely formidable bodyguards for high-ranking
politicians.
They claim that they are not taught to ignore pain, since that is impossible. They are instead taught to enjoy it.
9
French Naval Commandos
They call themselves “berets verts,” or “green berets,” and consist of
6 units: Hubert, Trepel, de Montfort, de Penfentenyo, Jaubert, and
Kieffer. Each unit is trained for special tasks, whether combat diving,
close quarters sea combat, exfiltration, canine units, or long range
fire support, including snipers and missile launchers. They were
est@blished much at the behest of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who was a
naval officer in WWII.
8
MARSOC
Currently, only men are allowed to try out for the U. S. Marine Corps
Forces Special Operations Command. It’s primary missions are typically
special reconnaissance, direct action, and internal defense within
foreign nations.
Their training regimen is comprised of 4 phases, increasing in
strenuousness. Phase 1 is SERE training, survival, evasion, resistance,
escape. They are trained to make fire by friction, fire by mirrors,
even fire by ice, depending on the location to which they are deployed.
You mold the ice with the heat of your hands into the shape of a lens,
which works just like a magnifying glass.
Of course, they take matches and Zippos with them. After this, they
begin physical fitness training, and hand-to-hand combat, practicing a
hybrid of the most functional martial arts: Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun,
Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, even Pankration. Then, Sayoc Kali, which is Filipino
knife fighting.
This is just phase 1. Phase 2 is marksmanship, amphibious demolitions,
reconnaissance. Phase 3 is a contrinuation of 2, but with the addition
of field radioes and satellite data-uplink systems. Phase 4 is
“irregular warfare” instruction, which is a euphemism for “anything
goes.” This phase consists primarily of the Derna Bridge operation,
which forces the recruits to use all skills acquired during the course.
7
MI-6
The closest thing to James Bond can be found in the personnel of the
UK’s Secret Intelligence Service, or Security Service, section 6. It
works in close partnership with section 5 (MI-5), the latter which is
more of a pure spy agency, dedicated to counter-intelligence and
counter-espionage.
MI-6, however, is the unit which deploys its agents all over the world
to detect international intelligence threats and “neutralize” them
before they become truly dangerous. Their headquarters is at Vauxhall
Cross, London, and they will be quick to tell you there that there is
no James Bond among them, and that their[..]ignments and missions are
quite boring.
They do, however, have an agent very similar to “Q,” who is in charge
of all equipment and weaponry deployed for each operation. They also
have indoor firing ranges, dojos, and a gym.
6
U. S. Army Rangers
After basic Army training, voluntary enlistment into the 75th Ranger
Regiment will train the recruit for the HALO parachute jump, SERE,
languages, elite combatives expert, mountain warfare, combat diving, in
addition to all the weapons qualification training.
After nine weeks of this, they enroll in Advanced Individual Training,
to become masters of their chosen fields, then immediately enroll in
the Army Airborne School, then in Ranger Indoctrination or Orientation
Programs.
By the time they’ve graduated, they’re so well trained that members
have reported waking up screaming from nightmares about Ranger school
to be relieved that they are only in Vietnam.
But then, they lose a few points for an incident a Ranger told me about:
he was the captain of a tank regiment on maneuvers in the Amazon
jungle. Just an exercise, but because of the sweltering heat, they had
to open their tank hatches. This captain, who shall remain nameless,
heard a thump behind him, and turned to see a Goliath Bird-eating
Spider crawling toward him, raising its front legs and hissing.
He admits to screaming like a girl, knifing the tarantula, jumping out
of the tank and running off into the jungle for a mile and a half. His
buddies still rib him about it.
5
U. S. Army Green Berets
That’s their nickname. Technically they are the U. S. Army Special
Forces, as opposed to the special forces of other countries, many of
which also wear green berets.
Typically, the Green Berets are trained to administer “unconventional
warfare,” which entails infiltrating a hostile area in anticipation of
a large-scale military engagement, and training the local resistance
populations to fight back against the enemy. This was done in South
Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, among others.
In the event that there is no local resistance to the enemy, the Green
Berets infiltrate and soften up the enemy by “neutralizing” as many of
its officers as possible. This usually involved sniping and throat
cutting.
Training is very extensive and begins with the Army’s[..]essment of the
recruit’s possession of 12 attributes: intelligence, physical fitness,
motivation, trustworthiness, accountability, maturity, st@bility,
judgment, decisiveness, teamwork, influence, and communications. 40% of
applicants satisfy the Army that they have these attributes.
Final training consists of various endurance courses, carrying heavy
backpacks over 40 miles of rugged terrain, with nothing but a live
chicken and a knife, day and night. If the recruit can make a fire, he
can eat the chicken cooked. He is not given matches or a lighter. He is
allowed only a compass and his own hand-drawn map, completed from
earlier reconnaissance courses.
4
The Delta Force
The only official United States counter-terrorism unit, dedicated to
hostage rescues, counter-insurgency, and general counter-terrorism.
They’re full name is 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta,
managed by the Army. Selection is done according to a physical fitness
test: situps, pushups, followed by a 3-mile run, in an undisclosed time
limit.
Then an all-night, 18-mile hike over mountainous terrain with a 35 lb
backpack and a compass, no map. This finally culminated with a 40-mile
hike with a 45 lb backpack, in a shorter time limit.
Then psychologists conduct a grueling battery of mental exams on the
recruit to try to break him into confusion. If he passes this, he
actually gets to begin Delta Force training, for 6 months. Firearms,
heavy weaponry, elite hand-to-hand training.
3
Shayetet 13
The name means “Flotilla 13,” and their official motto is the same as
the Israeli military: “Never Again,” in reference to the Holocaust.
Their unofficial motto, as they like to joke, is “When the going gets
tough, the Jews get pissed.”
They are 1 of the 3 most elite Israeli special forces units, but
Shayetet 13 is the unit most similar to the Delta Force. They
specialize in hostage rescue and counter-terrorism, and because they
live so close to a host of nations that seem bent on eradicating them,
they are at all times ready in an instant to travel abroad anddestroy.
They are very secretive, but of their missions publicized, the most
notable include Operation Spring of Youth, in which they hunted down
members of Black September in Beirut Lebanon anddestroyed them, in
revenge for the 1972 Munich massacre.
Apart from their firearms and heavy weapons training, they train
extensively in Krav Maga, the national martial art of Israel, to which
they endearingly refer as “Jew-jitsu.” It’s philosophy is based on the
principle that in a real street fight no quarter will be asked or
given. Fight todestroy. Groin strikes are quite prevalent.
2
Navy SEALs
You might think there are a lot of them, given the number of action
movies dedicated to the plot device of an invincible warrior, but there
are only about 2,000 of them. They are the Unites States’s most elite
special warfare combatants. They are trained in all the fields in which
the other U. S. special forces are trained, but to an even higher
degree of competency.
SEAL training lasts over a year, and requires an age of between 17 and
28 years, male, incorrect vision no worse than 20/200 in either eye,
and correctable to 20/20, and the physical screening test, which is
beyond belief.
500 yd (460 m) swim using [..] or combat sidestroke in under 12:30 with a competitive time of under 10:30.
At least 42 push-ups in 2 minutes with a competitive count of 79 or more.
At least 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes with a competitive count of 79 or more.
At least 6 pull-ups from a dead hang (no time limit) with a competitive count of 11 or more.
Run 1.5 mi (2.4 km) in boots and trousers in under 11:30 with a competitive time of 10:20 or less.
Then training begins. Physical conditioning, diving, land warfare, for
24 weeks, then 26 more weeks of SEAL qualification training. Then
specialization in whatever fields a SEAL team needs expertise in:
anything from sniper to language specialist, rope climbing, diving,
jumpmaster, surreptitious entry, dynamic entry (door breacher), etc.
1
British SAS
The Special Air Service is trained to perform equally well in all the
fields listed for the SEALs, but is also trained by MI-5 and MI-6 for
in-depth counter-espionage, more so than the SEALs. Physical competency
must be of equal stature to the SEALs, to the degree that both special
forces work closely together when necessary (Iraq and Afghanistan) and
have good camaraderie.
They wear a tan beret, just as the U. S. Army Rangers, and both the SAS
and SEALs are trained in knife fighting by experts in Apache Indian
knife techniques, as well as Sayoc Kali, Krav Maga, Jeet Kune Do, and
for the last 3 years or so, the Keysi Fighting Method, made famous by
the Chris Nolan “Batman” films.
They have the distinction of being the model on which almost all
national commando units are based today, including every other entry on
this list.
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