List of military special forces units
This is a list of military special forces units, also known as special operations forces (SOF), currently active with countries around the world, that are specially organised, trained and equipped to conduct special operations.
These are distinct from special-purpose infantry units, such as the Royal Marine Commandos, found on the list of commando units.
Definitions
NATO currently defines "special operations" as:
Military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, trained, and equipped forces, manned with selected personnel, using unconventional tactics, techniques, and modes of employment.[1][2]
In 2001, NATO agreed to the Russian definitions of special operations and special operations forces:[3]
special operations military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, trained and equipped forces using operational techniques and modes of employment not standard to conventional forces. These activities are conducted across the full range of military operations independently or in coordination with operations of conventional forces to achieve political, military, psychological and economic objectives. Politico-military considerations may require clandestine, covert or discreet techniques and the acceptance of a degree of physical and political risk not associated with conventional operations.[4]
special-operations forces strategic formations and units of the armed forces, whose role is to conduct sabotage, reconnaissance, subversive and other special operations on the territory of foreign countries. In wartime they may also be assigned tasks such as intelligence-gathering, the seizure or destruction of key installations, the conduct of psychological operations or the organization of insurgencies in the enemy's rear area. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have separate special-operations forces brigades, battalions and companies which are integrated with the intelligence assets of military districts, fronts, fleets, armies or corps.[4]
The United States definition of special operations is:
Operations requiring unique modes of employment, tactical techniques, equipment and training often conducted in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments and characterized by one or more of the following: time sensitive, clandestine, low visibility, conducted with and/or through indigenous forces, requiring regional expertise, and/or a high degree of risk.[5]
The Canadian definition of special operations forces is:
Organizations containing specially trained personnel that are organized, equipped and trained to conduct high-risk, high value, special operations to achieve military, political, economic, or international objectives by using special and unique operational methodologies in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive area to achieve desired tactical operational, and/or strategic effects in times of peace, conflict, or war.[6][7]
Afghanistan
Afghan National Army Special Forces Command (ANASOC)[8]
- National Mission Brigade (NMB)[9]
- Afghan National Army Commando Corps[12]
- 1st Commando Brigade
- 2nd Commando Brigade
- 3rd Commando Brigade
- 4th Commando Brigade
- Military Intelligence Battalion[9]
- National Strategic Reserve Operations Battalion[9]
Afghanistan National Directorate of Security (NDS)
- Quick Reaction Force (QRF)[13]
Albania
- Special Operations Battalion (Albanian: Batalioni i Operacioneve Speciale)[14]
Algeria
Algerian Land Forces (CFT)
- 104th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (104e RMO)[15]
- 116th Operational Maneuvers Regiment (116e RMO)[16]
- 25th Reconnaissance Regiment (25e RR)
Algerian Navy (AN)
Algerian Air Force (AAF)
- 772nd Air Commando Rifle Regiment (772e RFCA)
Algerian Republican Guard (GR)
Argentina
- Special Operations Group (GOE)
- Special Operations Forces Group
- 601 Commando Company [17]
- 602 Commando Company [21]
- 603 Commando Company (Reserve)
- 601 Special Force Company
- 601 Air Assault Regiment
Australia
-
- 1st Commando Regiment[27]
- 2nd Commando Regiment[28]
Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (East)[29] - Special Air Service Regiment (SASR)[30]
Incorporates the role of Tactical Assault Group (West)[29] - Special Operations Engineer Regiment[31]
- 6th Aviation Regiment[32]
Austria
- Jagdkommando[35][36]
- 1st Special Operations Task Group
- 2nd Special Operations Task Group
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Directorate General of Forces Intelligence
- Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS)[38]
- Offensive Demolition Division 71 (ODD71)
- Special Boat Combatant Crewmen (SBCC)
- No.41 Squadron
Belarus
Special Operations Forces Command (Russian: командование сил специальных операций)[39][40]
Botswana
- Botswana Ground Force
- 1st Commando Regiment[44]
Brazil
- Special Operations Command[45]
- 1st Special Forces Battalion (1º BFEsp) - (1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais)
- 1st Commando Battalion (1º BAC) - (1º Batalhão de Ações de Comandos)[46]
- 1st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defense Company - (1ª Companhia de Defesa Química, Biológica, Radiológica e Nuclear)
- 3rd Special Forces Company (3ª Cia FEsp) - (3ª Companhia de Forças Especiais)
- Special Operation Support Battalion[47]
- Paratroopers Brigade (Brazil)
- Brazilian Pathfinders - (Companhia de Precursores Pára-quedista)
- Airborne Rescue Squadron (Para-SAR) - (Esquadrão Aeroterrestre de Salvamento)[48]
- Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion (COMANF) - (Batalhão de Operações Especiais de Fuzileiros Navais)[49]
- Combat Divers Group (GRUMEC) - (Grupamento de Mergulhadores de Combate)[50]
Brunei
Bulgaria
- Bulgarian Land Forces
- 68th Special Forces Brigade[52] - independent component under the Chief of Defence, based in Plovdiv.
- Bulgarian Navy
Burundi
Canada
Special Operations Forces Command[59]
- Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) - (French: Force opérationnelle interarmées 2, FOI 2)[60][61]
- Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) - (French: Régiment d'opérations spéciales du Canada, ROSC)[62][63]
- 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron (427 SOAS) - (French: 427e Escadron d'opérations spéciales d'aviation, 427 EOSA)[64][65]
- Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU) - (French: Unité interarmées d'intervention du Canada, UIIC)[66][67][68]
China - PRC
People's Liberation Army Ground Force
- People's Liberation Army Special Operations Forces[69]
- 71st Special Warfare Brigade
- 73rd Special Warfare Brigade
- 75th Special Warfare Brigade
- 77th Special Warfare Brigade
- 78th Special Warfare Brigade
- 79th Special Warfare Brigade
- 80th Special Warfare Brigade
- 82nd Special Warfare Brigade
- 84th Special Warfare Brigade
- 85nd Special Warfare Brigade
People's Liberation Army Navy[70]
- People's Liberation Army Marine Corps[70]
Colombia
Comando Conjunto de Operaciones Especiales (CCOES - Joint Special Operations Command) (Army, Navy and Air force)
- National Army of Colombia
- División de fuerzas especiales (DIVFE) (Army's special forces division)[71]
- Batallón de Fuerzas Especiales no.1 Juan Ruiz
- Batallón de Fuerzas Especiales rurales no. 2 Francisco Vicente Almeida
- Batallón de Fuerzas Especiales rurales no. 3 GR. Pedro Alcantara Herran y Zaldua
- Batallón de Fuerzas Especiales rurales no. 4 CT. Jairo Ernesto Maldonado Melo
- Batallón de Fuerzas Especiales no. 5 MY. Francisco Garcia Molano
- Brigada Contra el Narcotráfico (BRCNA) (Counter narcotics)
- Batallón de acción directa y reconocimiento (BADRE) (Long range recon and direct action)
- Batallón de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas AFEUR (Urban special forces) CQC unit
- Agrupación de fuerzas especiales antiterroristas urbanas AFEAU (Anti terrorist urban special forces) Elite CQC unit
- Grupos de Acción Unificada por la Libertad personal (GAULA) (Unified Action Group for Liberty) (Counter kidnap, counter extortion, and hostage rescue)
- División de fuerzas especiales (DIVFE) (Army's special forces division)[71]
- Colombian Navy
- Batallón de fuerzas especiales de infantería de Marina (BFEIM) (Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion)
- Comando de fuerzas especiales navales (COFEN) (Navy's Special Operations group)
- Grupos de Acción Unificada por la Libertad personal (GAULA) (Unified Action Group for Liberty) (Counter kidnap, counter extortion, and hostage rescue)
- Colombian Air Force
- Agrupación de Comandos Especiales Aéreos (ECOEA) (Special Air Commando group)
- Grupo especial de operaciones de defensa aéreo (Air base defense)
- Grupos de Acción Unificada por la Libertad personal (GAULA) (Unified Action Group for Liberty) (Counter kidnap, counter extortion, and hostage rescue)
Congo - DRC
- 391st Commando battalion URR[72]
Cuba
- Black Wasp (Avispas Negras)
- Brigada Especial Nacional
Czech Republic
Ředitelství speciálních sil[73]
- 601st Special Forces Group[74]
- Special Forces Support Center (Centrum podpory speciálních sil)
- Special Operation Air Task Unit (Letecký odřad speciálních operací)
Denmark
Special Operations Command (Danish: Specialoperationskommandoen) (SOKOM)
- Jaeger Corps (Danish: Jægerkorpset)[75]
- Frogman Corps (Danish: Frømandskorpset)[75]
Two other Danish units have some claim to special forces status. The Danish Home Guard's Special Support and Reconnaissance Company is capable of behind-the-lines stay-behind reconnaissance, similar to the Cold War role of the British 21 and 23 SAS Regiments.[76] The Royal Danish Navy also maintains a unique ski patrol unit that conducts dog patrols of Greenland throughout the year. This unit, the Sirius Patrol, maintains a combat capability.
El Salvador
Comando de Fuerzas Especiales (CFE) - Special Operations Command [77]
- Comando Especial Antiterrorista (CEAT) - Special Anti-Terrorist Command
- Grupo de Operaciones Especiales (GOE) - Special Operations Group
- Comando Hacha - Hatchet Commandos
- Patrullas de Reconocimiento de Alcance Largo (PRAL)
- Amphibious Commandos (Naval Unit attached to the CFE)
- Batallón de Paracaidistas - Parachute Battalion
Egypt
Sa'ka Forces Thunderbolt Forces - various commando forces with numerous units including:
Estonia
Ethiopia
- Agazi Commando Division[81]
- 205th/206th Commando Brigade
- Anti-Terrorism Battalion
- ESOF(400 men detachment)
- Anti-Terrorism Battalion
- 205th/206th Commando Brigade
Finland
- Special Jaeger Company (Finnish: Erikoisjääkärikomppania) of the Utti Jaeger Regiment[82]
France
- Armée de Terre (Army)
- Army Special Forces Command
- Special Forces Command and Signal Company - (Compagnie de Commandement et de Transmissions des Forces Spéciales (CCTFS)
- 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment[83]
- 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment[83]
- 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment[83]
- Special Operations Support Group
- Special Forces Academy
- Army Special Forces Command
- Marine Nationale (Navy)
- Armée de l'Air (Air Force)
Germany
Greece
- 31st Search & Rescue Squadron (31MEED)[96]
- Underwater Demolition Command (DYK) - is organized into sections called Underwater Demolition Teams (OYK)[97]
Hungary
- HDF 34th Bercsényi László Special Forces Battalion[98]
- HDF 25/88th Light Mixed Battalion[99]
- HDF 5/24th 'Gergely Bornemissza' Reconnaissance Battalion[100]
India
- Para (Special Forces) [101]
- 1 PARA (SF) (raised 1961, converted to para role in 1945, became part of para regt in 1952, converted to commando in 1978)
- 2 PARA (SF) (ex-3 Maratha LI, converted to special forces in 1999.)
- 3 PARA (SF) (ex-1st Kumaon, converted to special forces in 2000)
- 4 PARA (SF) (raised 1961, converted to special forces in 2001)
- 9 PARA (SF) (the first dedicated special forces unit of the Indian Army)
- 10 PARA (SF)
- 11 PARA (SF)
- 12 PARA (SF)
- 21 PARA (SF)[102]
Indonesia
- Kopassus (Komando Pasukan Khusus)
Indonesian army special forces command,[105][106]- SAT-81/Gultor (Detasemen Khusus-81 Penanggulangan Teror)
Counter-terrorism unit of Kopassus.[107]
- SAT-81/Gultor (Detasemen Khusus-81 Penanggulangan Teror)
- Tontaipur (Peleton Intai Tempur)
Indonesian army special combat reconnaissance platoon from the Kostrad corps.[108]
- Kopaska (Komando Pasukan Katak)
Indonesian navy frogman and Underwater demolition unit.[109][110] - Denjaka (Detasemen Jala Mangkara)
Indonesian joint navy-marine counter-terrorism special force.[111] It is a combined detachment formed from selected personnel of the Navy's Kopaska and Marine Corps' Taifib. - Taifib (Batalyon Intai-Amfibi)
Indonesian Amphibious reconnaissance commandos battalion from the Indonesian Marine Corps.[112] - Kesatuan Gurita, Indonesian Marine Corps counter Terrorism unit.[113]
- Paskhas (Korps Paskhas)
The Air force infantry and special forces corps of the Indonesian Air Force,[114]- Bravo Detachment 90 (Detasemen Bravo 90)
Counter-terrorism unit of the Indonesian Air Force which its personnel comes from selected individuals from Paskhas.[115]
- Bravo Detachment 90 (Detasemen Bravo 90)
Iran
- 65th Airborne Special Forces Brigade (Persian: تیپ ۶۵ نیروهای ویژه هوابرد)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
- Quds Force (Persian: سپاه قدس)
- Sepah Navy Special Force (Persian: نیروهای ویژه دریایی سپاه(S.N.S.F.))
Iraq
Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Bureau (CTB)[116]
- Iraqi Counter Terrorism Command
The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Bureau reports to the Prime Minister directly. The Iraqi CTB oversees the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Command, a formation that includes all Iraqi Special Operations Forces (two brigades, according to the IISS 2013). As of 30 June 2009, there had been legislation in progress for a year to make the Iraqi CTB a separate ministry.[116]
Israel
Military Intelligence Directorate
- Sayeret Matkal - (Hebrew: סיירת מטכ"ל) (General Staff Reconnaissance Unit 269)
- Flotilla 13 - Shayetet 13 (Hebrew: שייטת 13)
Italy
- 9th Parachute Assault Regiment "Col Moschin"[120][121][122]
- 185th Paratroopers Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore"[123]
- 4th Alpini Parachutist Regiment[123]
- 3rd Special Operations Helicopter Regiment[123]
- Comando Subacquei ed Incursori (COMSUBIN)[120][121]
- Operational Raider Group
- Operational Divers Group
- Special Naval Group
- Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS) (Tier 1)[120][125] - in addition to special operations, is responsible for civil policing as a police tactical unit[126]
Jordan
Joint Special Operations Command
- Special Forces Group[129] - "King Abdulah II"
- Special Unit I - Specializing in counter terrorism on the basis of the 71st Special Battalion
- Special Unit II - Specializing in special operation on the basis of the 101st Special Battalion
- Group Defense and Protection Battalion
- Group Training and Development Center
- King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Centre (KASOTAC)[130]
Kenya
- Special Operations Regiment (SOR)[131]
- 30th Special Forces Battalion (30SF)
- 40th Ranger Strike Force (40RSF)
Korea, North - DPRK
Korea, South - ROK
- Combat Control Team (CCT)
- Special Air Rescue Team (SART)
- Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command[133]
- 1st Special Forces Brigade (Eagle)
- 3rd Special Forces Brigade (Flying Tiger)
- Oversea Deployment Group (Whole World) (Formerly 5th Special Mission Group 'Black Dragon')
- 7th Special Forces Brigade (Pegasus)
- 9th Special Forces Brigade (Ghost)
- 11th Special Forces Brigade (Golden Bat)
- 13th Special Mission Brigade 'Black Panther' - reorganized as the "decapitation unit" as of 2017
- 707th Special Mission Group (White Tiger)
Kyrgyzstan
- 25th Special Force Brigade Scorpion. This brigade was formed in 1994. It began as the 525th Special Company, and now Scorpion is the best brigade in the country. Soldiers of this brigade use modern weapons and equipment.
Lithuania
Malaysia
Maldives
Mexico
Montenegro
- Special Forces Company[149]
Namibia
Netherlands
Netherlands Army
Netherlands Navy
Norway
Norwegian Special Operation Forces (NORSOF) (Norwegian: Forsvarets Spesialstyrker)[156]
- Armed Forces' Special Command (Norwegian: Forsvarets Spesialkommando) (FSK)[156]
- Navy Special Operation Command (Norwegian: Marinejegerkommandoen) (MJK)[156]
Pakistan
- Covert Action Division (CAD)
- Special Service Group (SSG)[157] "Black Storks"
- 1st Commando Battalion "Yaldram" in Attock District
- 2nd Commando Battalion "Rahber" in Attock District
- 3rd Commando Battalion "Powindahs" in Tarbela
- 4th Commando Battalion "Yalghar"
- 5th Commando Battalion "Zilzaal"
- 6th Commando Battalion "al-Samsaam"
- 7th Commando Battalion "Babrum"
- 8th Commando Battalion "al-Azb"
Papua New Guinea
- Papua New Guinea Defence Force
- Long Range Reconnaissance Unit (LRRU)
Paraguay
- Special Forces Battalion - (Batallón Conjunto de Fuerzas Especiales)[160]
Peru
- Peruvian Air Force
- Defensa y Operaciones Especiales (DOE)
- Peruvian Army
- 1.ª Brigada de Fuerzas Especiales - 1st Special Forces Brigade
- 3.ª Brigada de Fuerzas Especiales - 2rd Special Forces Brigade
- 6.ª Brigada de Fuerzas Especiales - 6th Special Forces Brigade
- Peruvian Navy
- Special Operations Force - (Fuerza de Operaciones Especiales) FOES
- Peruvian Marines
- Batallón de Comandos (BACOM) de la Infantería de Marina - Naval Infantry Commando Battalion
- Fuerza Delta[161]
Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Special Operations Command (Philippines)
Poland
Special Troops Command[171][172][173][174][175][176][177][178][179]
- Operational-Maneuver Response Group (JW Grom)
- Commando Regiment (JW Komandosów)
- JW Formoza
- JW AGAT
- Support Unit of Command and Security of Special Forces "Nil" (JW Nil)
- 7 Special Operations Squadron - operational command only
Portugal
- Portuguese Marine Corps
- Special Actions Detachment (DAE)[181]
- Boarding Platoon (PelBoard)
- Sappers Divers Group
- Portuguese Air Police
- Core of Tactical Operations of Protection (NOTP - Núcleo de Operações Táticas de Proteção)[182]
Romania
Russia
Special Operations Forces Command (Russian: командование сил специальных операций, (KCCO), tr. Komandovanie sil spetsial’nalnykh operatsii, (KSSO))[187]
- Special Operations Forces (Russian: Силы специальных операций, (ССО), tr. Sily spetsial’nykh operatsii, (SSO))[187][188]
- Special Purpose Center "Senezh"
- Special Purpose Center "Kubinka-2"
- 561st Naval Rescue Center
- 344th Army Aviation Combat Center
Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU)
- Special Forces of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (Spetsnaz GRU)
- Russian Ground Forces[189]
- 2nd Special Purpose Brigade in Promezhitsa, Pskov Oblast
- 3rd Special Purpose Brigade in Tolyatti
- 10th Special Purpose Brigade in Mol'kino, Krasnodar Territory
- 14th Special Purpose Brigade in Ussuriysk
- 16th Special Purpose Brigade in Tambov
- 22nd Special Purpose Guards Brigade in Stepnoi, Rostov Oblast
- 24th Special Purpose Brigade in Irkutsk
- 346th Special Purpose Brigade in Prokhaldny
- Russian Ground Forces[189]
- Russian Airborne Troops[190]
- Russian Navy
- Naval Special Reconnaissance (OMRP)[191]
- 42nd Marine Reconnaissance point (Pacific Fleet)
- 388th Marine Reconnaissance point (Black Sea Fleet) - reorganized from the former 431st MRP
- 420th Marine Reconnaissance point (Northern Fleet)
- 561st Marine Reconnaissance point (Baltic Fleet)
- Counteraction Underwater Diversionary Forces and Facilities (PDSS)
- 101st PDSS Detachment - based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
- 102nd PDSS Detachment - based in Sevastopol
- 136th PDSS Detachment - based in Novorossiysk
- 137th PDSS Detachment - based in Makhachkala
- 140th PDSS Detachment - based in Vidyayevo
- 152nd PDSS Detachment - based in Polyarny, Murmansk Oblast
- 153rd PDSS Detachment - based in Ostrovnoy, Murmansk Oblast
- 159th PDSS Detachment - based in Razboynik
- 160th PDSS Detachment - based in Murmansk
- 269th PDSS Detachment - based in Gadzhiyevo
- 311th PDSS Detachment - based in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
- 313rd PDSS Detachment - based in Baltiysk
- 473rd PDSS Detachment - based in Kronstadt
- Naval Special Reconnaissance (OMRP)[191]
- Dzerzhinsky Division (O.D.O.N.)
- 7th OSN Rosich (Novocherkassk)
- 12th OSN Ural (Nizhny Tagil)
- 15th OSN Vyatich (Armavir)
- 17th OSN Edelveys (Mineralnye Vody)
- 19th OSN Ermak (Novosibirsk)
- 21st OSN Tayfun (Sosnovka)
- 23rd OSN Mechel (Chelyabinsk)
- 25th OSN Merkuriy (Smolensk)
- 26th OSN Bars (Kazan)
- 27th OSN Kuzbass (Kemerovo)
- 28th OSN Ratnik (Arkhangelsk)
- 29th OSN Bulat (Ufa)
- 30th OSN Svyatogor (Stavropol)
- 33rd OSN Peresvet (Moscow)
- 34th OSN Skif (Grozny)
- 35th OSN Rus (Simferopol)
- 1st Marine Detachment of the MVD (Khabarovsk);
- 2nd Marine Detachment of the MVD (Murmansk);
- 31st Marine Training Detachment of the MVD (Severobaikalsk);
- 32nd Marine Detachment of the MVD (Ozersk);
Saudi Arabia
- Special Security Group (SSG)
- 1st Commando Brigade
- 64th Special Forces Brigade[193]
- 85th Special Forces Battalion
Serbia
- 72nd Brigade for Special operations (Serbian: 72. бригада ѕа специјалне операције)[194][195]
- 63rd Parachute Brigade (Serbian: 63. падобранскa бригада)[194][195]
- Cobras (Serbia) (Serbian: Кобрe)
Singapore
Slovenia
- Enota za Specialno Delovanje (ESD) - (Special Operations Unit)
- Posebna Enota za Specialno Taktiko (PEST) "FIST"
Spain
Defence Staff (Joint Operations Command)
- Joint Special Operations Command[198] Mando Conjunto de Operaciones Especiales (MCOE)
- Special Operations Command (Mando de Operaciones Especiales (MOE))[199]
- 2nd Special Operations Group "Granada"
- 3rd Special Operations Group "Valencia"
- 4th Special Operations Group "Tercio del Ampurdán"
- 19th Special Operations Group "Maderal Oleaga"
- Special Operations Command Headquarters Group
- Fuerza de Guerra Naval Especial[200]
- Special Operations Unit (Unidad de Operaciones Especiales)
Sri Lanka
Sweden
- Life Regiment Hussars (K 3)
- 32nd Intelligence Battalion
- 323rd Parachute Ranger Squadron (Fallskärmsjägarna)[205]
- 32nd Intelligence Battalion
- 193rd Ranger Battalion (Arméns jägarbataljon - AJB)
- Blekinge Air Force Wing (F17)
- Air Force Rangers (Flygbasjägarna)[206]
- Amphibious Corps
- 1st Marine Regiment (Amf 1)
- 202nd Coastal Ranger Company (Kustjägarna)[207]
- 1st Marine Regiment (Amf 1)
Switzerland
- Special Forces Command Staff Battalion
- Grenadier Battalion 20
- Grenadier Battalion 30
- Army Reconnaissance Detachment (ARD 10)
- Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17 (FSK-17)
- Military Police Special Detachment
- Special Forces Training Centre
Syria
Special Forces Command[211]
- 14th Special Forces Division[212] - possibly no longer operational
- 15th Special Forces Division - possibly no longer operational
- 25th Special Forces Division[213]
Taiwan - ROC
- 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion[214]
- Special Operation Command
- 862 Special Operation Group (originally 862nd Special Operation Brigade, with 3rd, 4th, and 6th battalion that transferred back from aviation brigades)
- 871 Special Operation Group (units unknown)
- Airborne Special Service Company[215]
Republic of China Military Police
Republic of China Marine Corps
- Amphibious Reconnaissance and Patrol Unit
- Marine Corps Special Service Company (MC SSC)
Thailand
- Royal Thai Army Special Warfare Command also known as Royal Thai Army Special force - (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการสงครามพิเศษ)[218]
- 1st Special Forces Division - (Thai: กองพลรบพิเศษที่1)
- 1st Special Forces Regiment. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่1)
- 2nd Special Forces Regiment. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่2)
- 3rd Special Forces Regiment, King's Guard. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่3 รักษาพระองค์)[219]
- Ranger Battalion, King's Guard. also known as Royal Thai Army Ranger - (Thai: กองพันจู่โจม รักษาพระองค์)
- Special Operation Battalion, King's Guard. also known as 90th Task Force - (Thai: ฉก.90 กองปฏิบัติการพิเศษ รักษาพระองค์).[220]
- Special Forces Battalion. - (Thai: กองพันรบพิเศษ)
- 4th Special Forces Regiment. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่4)
- 5th Special Forces Regiment. (Airborne) - (Thai: กรมรบพิเศษที่5)
- Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols Company. (LRRP) - (Thai: กองร้อยลาดตระเวนระยะไกล)
- 1st Special Forces Division - (Thai: กองพลรบพิเศษที่1)
- Naval Special Warfare Command also known as Royal Thai Navy SEALs - (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการสงครามพิเศษทางเรือ)[221]
- RTMC Reconnaissance Battalion - (Thai: กองพันลาดตระเวน กองพลนาวิกโยธิน)
- Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Regiment - (Thai: หน่วยบัญชาการอากาศโยธิน กองทัพอากาศ)
- Special Operations Regiment also known as Air Force Commando - (Thai: กรมปฏิบัติการพิเศษ หน่วยบัญชาการอากาศโยธิน กองทัพอากาศ)[222]
Tunisia
- Special Forces Group (Groupement des Forces Spéciales) commonly known as (GFS) - (Arabic: فيلق القوات الخاصة)[223]
- Military Intervention Group - Groupe d'Intervention Militaire (GIM) - (Arabic: فوج التدخل العسكري)[224]
- Special Air Regiment - Régiment de Chasseurs Aérien (RCA) - (Arabic: فوج المشاة طلائع الطيران)[225]
Turkey
Combined Arms
- Special Forces Command (OKK) (aka Maroon Berets)[227]
Ukraine
The Special Operations Forces with headquarters in Kyiv.
- 3rd Special Purpose Regiment (Kropyvnytskyi)[231]
- 8th Special Purpose Regiment (Khmelnytskyi)[232]
- 140th Special Purpose Center (Khmelnytskyi)[233]
- 16th Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Huiva)
- 72nd Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Brovary)
- 74th Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Lviv)
- 83rd Informational-Psychological Operations Center, (Odesa)
- Ukrainian Navy units
- Other units
United Kingdom
- Special Air Service (SAS)
- Special Air Service (Reserve) (SAS(R))[236][237][238][239]
- Special Reconnaissance Regiment[242]
- 18 Signal Regiment (Royal Corps of Signals)[243]
- Special Forces Support Group[244]
- Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing[245]
- 7 Squadron (Royal Air Force)[245]
- Special Forces Flight of 47 Squadron (Royal Air Force)[246]
- 657 Squadron (Army Air Corps, British Army)[245]
- 658 Squadron (Army Air Corps, British Army)[247]
- Special Boat Service (SBS)[248]
- Special Boat Service (Reserve)[249]
United States
Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)
- United States Army
- 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D or "Delta Force")
- Intelligence Support Activity (ISA)
- Regimental Reconnaissance Company (RRC)
- Flight Concepts Division[250]
- United States Navy
- Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU or "SEAL Team Six")
- United States Air Force
- 24th Special Tactics Squadron (24th STS)
- 66th Air Operations Squadron (66 AOS)[250]
- 427th Special Operations Squadron (427th SOS)
- Aviation Tactics Evaluation Group (AVTEG)[250]
Army Special Operations Command (USASOC)[251]
- 1st Special Forces Command
- Special Forces Groups ("Green Berets")[251]
- 1st Special Forces Group[251]
- 3rd Special Forces Group[251]
- 5th Special Forces Group[251]
- 7th Special Forces Group[251]
- 10th Special Forces Group[251]
- 19th Special Forces Group (National Guard)[251]
- 20th Special Forces Group (National Guard)[251]
- Psychological Operations Groups
- 4th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)
- 8th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne)
- 95th Civil Affairs Brigade
- 528th Sustainment Brigade
- 389th Military Intelligence Battalion (Airborne)
- Special Forces Groups ("Green Berets")[251]
- 75th Ranger Regiment[251][252]
- Army Special Operations Aviation Command (ARSOAC)[251]
- 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment "Night Stalkers"[251]
- Special Operations Aviation Training Battalion[251]
- Army Special Operations Command Flight Company[251]
Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC)[251]
- Naval Special Warfare Group 1[251]
- Naval Special Warfare Group 2[251]
- SEAL Teams 2, 4, 8, 10[253]
- Naval Special Warfare Group 3[251]
- SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1[253]
- Naval Special Warfare Group 4[251]
- Special Boat Teams 12, 20, 22
- Naval Special Warfare Group 10[254]
- Naval Special Warfare Group 11[251]
- SEAL Teams 17, 18 (Reserves)
- Naval Special Warfare Center[251]
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)[251]
- 1st Special Operations Wing[251]
- 24th Special Operations Wing[251]
- 27th Special Operations Wing[251]
- 193d Special Operations Wing (ANG)[251]
- 919th Special Operations Wing (AFRC)[251]
- 352nd Special Operations Group[251]
- 353rd Special Operations Group[251]
- Air Force Special Operations Training Center[251]
Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC)[251]
- Marine Raider Regiment[251]
- Marine Special Operations Support Group[251]
- Marine Special Operations Training Group
Uruguay
National Army (Uruguay)|Uruguayan Army
- Batallón de Infantería Paracaidista 14 - Parachute Infantry Battalion 14
- Centro de Instrucción de Fuerzas Especiales del Ejército - Army Special Forces Training Center
- Compañía de Operaciones Especiales "Escorpión" - Special Operations Company "Scorpion"
- Brigada Aérea III - Air Brigade III
- Compañía de Operaciones Especiales (COE) de la Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya (FAU) - Special Operations Company - Part of the National Air Police
- Brigada Aérea I/Air Brigade I
- Grupo Especial de Rescate (PARASAR)- Special Rescue Group
Venezuela
- 99th Army Special Forces Brigade
- Brigade HQ
- 991st Special Operations Battalion "General in Chief Jose Gregorio Monagas"
- 992nd Special Operations Battalion (Jungle) "Colonel Domingo Montes"
- 993rd Special Operations Battalion "LTCOL Eliezer Otaiza Castillo"
- Service Support Company
Vietnam
Under the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (Bộ Tổng Tham mưu Quân đội Nhân dân Việt Nam)
See also
Non-combat special units
While the Submarine Parachute Assistance Group is a relatively overt unit, references to the JSOC units below are rare. Possibly the only authoritative source is Ambinder, Marc, and D. B. Grady The Command: Deep Inside the President's Secret Army, John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
- Colombia: Colombian National Army Aviation
- Air Assault Aviation Division (División de Aviación Asalto Aéreo del Ejército)
- United States: Joint Special Operations Command
- Joint Communications Unit
- Joint Communications Integration Element (JCIE)
- Joint Intelligence Brigade (JIB)
- Joint Medical Augmentation Unit (JMAU)
- United States Army Skills Evaluation Detachment (USASED) - selection/recruiting unit for "Grey Fox"[261]
- United States Army Special Operations Aviation Command
- Systems Integration Management Office (SIMO)[251]
Lists of similar military units
- List of non-combat military special units
- List of defunct special forces units
- List of paratrooper forces
- List of commando units
- List of marines and naval infantry forces
- List of special law enforcement units
- List of military diving units
- List of air force infantry and special forces units
- List of Special reconnaissance units
Notes
Miscellaneous Notes
- The Clearance Diving Branch does not have a dedicated special operations role as they also include clearance diving roles.
- The Japanese Special Forces Group is the current name of the former Japanese Special Operations Group, following a name change.
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