Special Forces of India Part 2: PARA (SF)

Hello friends welcome back I am back with the details of para Commandos of Indian Army. I will be sharing the background of creation of para Commandos i.e. why this force was needed, how the selection for this force is made and how they are trained? I will also be sharing some interesting stories of their operations in past. If you have any problem with the terms in this blog please let me know by comment I will try to explain those words. I will post the meaning of some words in the comment section. So now let's begin with today's topic:

PARA (SF)

PARA SF in republican days parade

BACKGROUND

The Commandoes of 10 Para (Special Forces) are second to none in the world. The battalion was raised on June 1, 1967 under Lt Col NS Utthaya. This elite unit of our Army has not only excelled during war but also during peace-time. During the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the unit, then designated as '10 Para Commando', carried out a daring 80 km-deep raid inside Pakistan's territory on the Indus Rangers HQ at Chachro (Sind). The battalion carried out many other vehicle-borne raids during the 1971 war. I guess many of you don’t know about this story but I bet all of you know about surgical strike conducted by Indian army in Pakistan on 29^th September, 2016. That surgical strike was also conducted by Para (SF) commandos. Enemy never knows from where the commando comes, when they perform there destruction work and where they go back.

Rare images of tangail air drop

The Indian Parachute Regiment was formed on 1^st March, 1945 consisting of four Battalions and an equal number of independent companies. During the demobilisation after the World War II the regiment was disbanded and the battalions were amalgamated with their parent regiments, however they retained their Para role and formed part of the Airborne Division. After independence the Airborne Division was split and 50th and 77th Brigades remained in India with six Para battalions. On 15 Apr 1952 the Parachute Regiment was re-raised by absorbing three Para battalions.

1. 1st Battalion the Punjab Regiment (PARA) redesignated as 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (PUNJAB)
2. 3rd Battalion the Maratha Light Infantry (PARA) redesignated as 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (MARATHA) and
3. 1st Battalion the Kumaon Regiment (PARA) redesignated as 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (KUMAON).

These battalions have now been redesignated as 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment (SF), 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (SF) and 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (SF) respectively. After the 1962 war the regiment was expanded by raising five new Para Battalions and after the 1965 war 9 PARA (Commando) and 10 PARA (Commando) were also raised. Currently the regiment has seven Special Forces (SF) Battalions i.e. 1,2,3,4,9,10 and 21 PARA (SF) and three Airborne battalions i.e. 5, 6 and 7 PARA.

The Parachute Regiment Depot and Records was raised at Agra on 15^th April 1952 to coincide with the raising of the Regiment. On 1^st May 1962, a training wing of the Parachute Regiment was formed at Kota under the Brigade of the Guards Training Centre and thus started the direct recruitment and training of recruits for The Parachute Regiment. On 13^th March 1963, the Government of India accorded sanction for raising of The Parachute Regiment Training Centre to be located at Agra Fort. The first batch of recruits from the Rajputana Rifles, Rajput, Sikh and Dogra Regiments started arriving in the Training Battalion located at Kheria Camp, Agra. On 5^th February 1965, the Centre moved to Morar Cantt, Gwalior. On 2^nd October 1975, The Parachute Regiment Training Centre, Records and Pay And Accounts Office (Other Ranks) moved to Agra. On 15^th January 1992, The Centre along with The Records and Pay And Accounts Office (Other Ranks) moved to Bangalore which is now its Key Location Plan (KLP).

Source: http://www.indianparachuteregiment.kar.nic.in/home.html

Functions / ROLE

Some of the important roles of para (SF) includes:

• Intelligence collection, special reconnaissance
• Subversion and sabotage of vital enemy infrastructure and communications through deep penetration and surgical strikes behind enemy lines.
• Covert and overt/direct action special operations as part of the Indian Army's counter-terrorist
• and counter-insurgency operations.
• Hostage rescue operations within and beyond Indian Territory.

SELECTION AND TRAINING

All Indian paratroopers are volunteers. Some enter the Para regiments fresh from recruitment, while others transfer in from regular army units. They are put through a probationary period / selection process of three months for Paratroopers (Airborne) Battalions (5,6,7) and six months for Para (Special Forces) battalions (1,2,3,4,9,10,21 PARA), in order to be a Para (Special Forces) all personnel are first required to qualify as Paratroopers; Once selected the candidates may choose to advance to the SF selection, which takes place twice a year in the spring and the autumn term. It is one of the longest and toughest phases in world where the applicant is exposed to sleep deprivation, humiliation, exhaustion, mental and physical torture. The selection has reported deaths in the process itself. The attrition rate is very high and is in between 90-95 percent.

The initial training to be a special forces operator is 3.5 years, the longest anywhere but the training is also a continuous process, in the special forces, the members are imparted both basic and advance training. They are taught specialised mode of infiltration and exfiltration, either by air (combat freefall) or sea (combat diving). Some trainees return to PTS to undergo the freefall course, which requires at least 50 jumps from altitudes up to 33,500 feet to pass. Both HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) and HAHO (High Altitude High Opening) techniques are learned. The ability to use the HAHO method and specially designed maneuverable parachutes called HAPPS (High Altitude Parachute Penetration System)/AMX310 to conduct stealth insertions over distances up to 50 km is also perfected.

For combat diving training, the commandos are sent to the Naval Diving School, Kochi. Like other special forces, these para commandos are trained for land, air and water.

Daily routine begins with a 20 km morning run. Infiltration, exfiltration, assault, room and building intervention, intelligence gathering, patrolling, ambush tactics, counter-ambush tactics, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, guerilla warfare, asymmetric warfare, raids & sabotage, martial arts training, tactical shooting, stress firing, reflex shooting, buddy system drills, close quarter battle, tactical driving, advance weapon courses & handling, sniping, demolition training, survival skills, linguistic training, logistic training, tradecraft training is imparted by the intelligence agencies. The training drills involve live ammunition at all times which has also become a reason for fatal accidents at times leading to death.

Night and weapons training and field craft involving 20 km treks with 60 kg (132 lb) loads and live ammunition are conducted. Weekly forced marches with 65 kg combat loads with distances over 50 to 80 miles and quarterly night drops with full combat loads are also conducted. In addition to this in-house training, the commandos also attend a number of schools run by the Army that specialize in terrain and environment warfare. These include the Junior Leaders' Commando Training Camp in Belgaum, Karnataka, the Parvat Ghatak School (for high altitude mountain warfare) in Tawang Arunachal Pradesh, Desert warfare school in Rajasthan, the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Sonamarg, Kashmir and the Counterinsurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, Mizoram, Indian special forces training school in Nahan, Himachal Pradesh. These schools are among the finest of their kind anywhere and routinely host students from other countries.

Members of USSOCOM (United States Special Operations Command) and UKSF (United Kingdom Special Forces) have conducted joint training exercises with the Indian Paras, and SOF (Special Operation Forces) members from the three nations routinely train at each other's facilities to improve military cooperation and tactical skills. This allows the SOF operators from each nation to see tactics and perspectives offered by other topnotch organizations.

U.S. Army Special Forces have also conducted joint HAHO training with the Para (SF) in 1992, underwater training in 1995 and antiterrorism training in 1997. It is thought that the French Foreign Legion also has approached CIJWS regarding the courses taught by them. Para (SF) can also undergo a complete Combat Divers course, in which they earn a combat diver badge. They are also experienced in conducting SHBO (special heli-borne operations) and typically employ Cheetahs, MI8/MI17 or HAL (Dhruv) helicopters for this purpose.

International competitions

Personnel from the Para (SF) have participated in international competitions, including Cambrian Patrol. This exercise was designed to test the endurance, combat efficiency, and combat readiness of the Special Forces community. In 2014, 140 teams participated, and a team from the Indian Army won a gold medal.

Insignia

Para (SF) personnel, like other parachute troops in the Indian military, wear a maroon beret. In addition, they wear a 'Special Forces' tab on each shoulder. Personnel who serve in the Para (SF) are allowed to wear the 'Balidaan' (Sacrifice) patch on their right pocket below the name plate, which is similar to the SAS beret insignia; only para commandos are allowed to wear the patch. Para (SF) personnel may grow beards, as this allows them to blend in with the civilian population, especially in Jammu and Kashmir. The insignia on their beret is drawn from the near identical insignia of the British Special Air Service.

Insignia of  Para (SF)

Special Forces of India Part 1: MARCOS

Hello Friends, Welcome back I am back with some new Information. Today I am going to share about some of the special forces of India. Earlier I wanted to share the details of all the Special Forces in one blog, but when I started writing I realized that it can not be written in one blog. If you have any problem with the terms in this blog please let me know by comment. I will try to explain those words. I will post the meaning of some words in comment section in some time.  So now let’s begin with today’s topic.

In the world of the military, there is perhaps no unit that captures the imagination of the public quite like the Special Forces. From reconnaissance and assault missions to counter-terrorism and hostage rescue, Special Forces take on some of the hardest missions and live some of the most secret lives in the military world. India’s elite Special Forces are among some of the most formidable military units in the world. Rigorously trained and equipped to handle, support and conduct special operations, these badass units can handle pretty much any dangerous situation without breaking a sweat. An integral part of India’s armed forces; they are indeed the best of the best. Many of these forces are included in top 10 best forces in the world. Here is a list of some of the elite Special Forces troops (with their mottoes) we all should know about. The list starts with the name of best force in my opinion and continues in same order.

• Marine commandos (MARCOS): The Few The Fearless
• PARA-COMMANDO: Menapart, every man an emperor
• SPECIAL FRONTIERFORCE
• NATIONAL SECURITYGUARDS (BLACK CATS): One for All, All for One
• GARUD: Offence isthe best form of Defence
• GHATAK: Lethal
• The Special Protection Group
• COBRA: Victory or Death

Let’s begin the discussion with Marine Commandos also known as MARCOS. Let’s begin with the background for creation of force.

MARCOS

Background:

MARCOS is the Special Forces unit of the Indian Navy. MARCOS was created for conducting special operations such as Amphibious warfare, Close Quarter Combat Counterterrorism, Direct action, Special reconnaissance, Unconventional warfare, Hostage rescue, Personnel recovery, Combat search and rescue, Asymmetric warfare, Foreign internal defence, Counter proliferation, Amphibious reconnaissance including Hydrographic reconnaissance. The Indian Armed Forces wanted to establish an amphibious warfare and maritime special operations force. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Indian Navy supported the landing operations against the Pakistani base of Cox Bazar, Operation Jackpot, landing an army brigade using Polnocny class landing ships without significant resistance. Before this operation, Indian navy divers provided basic training in underwater demolition to Bengali insurgents. However, this did not yield expected results. Later, different Indian army units were assigned amphibious roles in exercises. In 1983, the 340th Army Independent Brigade based at Trivandrum, was converted to an amphibious assault unit.[3] Since then, the navy has conducted various exercises to demonstrate its amphibious abilities, notably the Andaman Islands in 1984, and Goa in 1986. These assault operations included both airborne and amphibious forces. In April 1986, the Indian Navy started planning for a maritime special force which could conduct amphibious reconnaissance, raids and counterterrorist operations.

The force was initially trained by the other special forces of the country, including those under the Home Ministry and the Army. Three officers were then sent to undergo a hard training schedule with US Navy SEALs and further training was then acquired through exchanges with the British Special Air Service. The officers formed the first nucleus of the Indian Marine Special Force (IMSF) which was officially established in February 1987. The first batch of marine commandos qualified in February 1987. It was later renamed as the Marine Commando Force in 1991.

Functions / Role:

The exclusivity of the unit lies in its competence to operate in all three mediums namely Sea, Air and Land. The MCF is specially organized, trained and equipped for the conduct of special operations in a maritime environment. Personnel from unit are deployed round the clock from Kashmir for Counter Insurgency /Counter Terrorism operations to Goa, Somalia for anti-piracy operations. The unit has always been at forefront in providing diving / civil assistance during times of natural disaster. The core tasking of MARCOS include:

• Conduct clandestine attack against enemy ships, offshore installations and other vital assets behind enemy lines.
• To support amphibious operations including pre-assault ops.
• To conduct unconventional warfare.
• Conduct of surveillance and recce missions in support of military operations.
• Conduct of clandestine diving operations.
• To conduct hostage rescue operations in maritime environment.
• Combating terrorism in a maritime environment.

MARCOS during 26/11 attack

Selection and Training:

All MARCOS personnel are males selected from the Indian Navy. They are selected when they are in their early 20s and have to go through a stringent selection process and training. The selection standards are extremely high. The training is a continuous process. American and British Special Forces assisted in the initial training, which now consists of a two year course for new recruits. The training regimen includes: airborne operations, combat diving courses, counter-terrorism, anti-hijacking, anti-piracy operations, direct action, infiltration and exfiltration tactics, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare training etc. Majority of the training is conducted at INS Abhimanyu which is also the home base of MARCOS.

MARCOS also train along with the Special Forces officers of the Indian Army like the Para Commandos at the Indian Special Forces Training School, Nahan and Army's other schools for Unconventional warfare. These include the Junior Leaders' Commando Training Camp in Belgaum, Karnataka, the Parvat Ghatak School (for high altitude mountain warfare) in Tawang Arunachal Pradesh, Desert warfare school in Rajasthan, the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Sonamarg, Kashmir and the Counter-insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Vairengte, Mizoram. These elite schools routinely host students from other countries. MARCOS are then trained at various training agencies within the navy. They are skilled combat divers and parachutists and most of the training deals with counter-terrorist, anti-hijacking and anti-piracy operations.

Generally, the pre-training selection process is made of two parts:

1. Any Indian Navy personnel who want to join this outfit must first undergo a three day long, physical fitness test and aptitude test. Within this process, 80% of the applications are screened out.
2. Further screening process is known as 'hell's week'. This is actually a five week long process which involves high degree of physical exercises and sleep deprivation. It is only after this process that actual training begins.

The total duration of training of MARCOS is between two and half to three years. The basic training lasts six months. The first two months is the weeding out phase. The first phase of which lasts one month, in which they undergo many rigorous physical tests. Only 50% pass in first phase. Then for the next nine months, they are taught how to use different types of weapons, conduct special warfare techniques and how to gather intelligence from the enemy. The cadets start with basic diving and commando tactics and skills. Those that go on are trained in every aspect of modern warfare and in every situation. This includes firing while lying down, standing, running full sprint, even backwards and looking into a mirror – with a reaction time of 0.27 seconds. This is followed by a year of training of specialised skills. They are trained in various types of close combat including Krav Maga (a self-defense system developed for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that consists of a wide combination of techniques sourced from aikido, judo, boxing and wrestling, along with realistic fight training.). Different forms of warfare training is imparted through field operations in counterinsurgency and antiterrorist operations within the country and are trained to operate in any kind of environment like beaches, deep sea, on the surface of the ocean, in jungles, ravines and for situations like hostage rescue, urban combat and piracy. A notably rigorous training program is the "death crawl" – an 800metre struggle through thigh high mud, loaded with 25 kg of gear and after a 2.5 km obstacle course that most soldiers would fail. After that, when the trainee is exhausted and sleep deprived, he has to undergo the final test – shooting a target 25 metres away, with a partner standing next to it.

The MARCOS are trained in every kind of weapon and instruments, from knives and crossbows to sniper rifles, handguns, assault rifles, submachine guns and bare hands. Being divers, they can reach hostile shores swimming underwater.

• The further training includes:
• Open and closed circuit diving
• Basic commando skills including advanced weapon skills, demolitions, endurance training and martial arts
• Para training
• Intelligence training
• Operation of submersible craft
• Offshore operations
• Anti-terrorism operations
• Operations from submarines
• Skydiving
• Various special skills such as language training, insertion methods, etc.
• Explosive ordnance disposal techniques

The Marcos are also preparing for urban warfare and have begun practicing on 3D virtual models of offshore installations to ensure a swift response during a terrorist attack. The marine commandos are undergoing regular training sessions in this computer generated programme to be well prepared for a strike similar to the 26/11 attack. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has provided a virtual model of its facility in Krishna Godavari basin in the east, for the marine commandos at INS Kalinga, the training base for Marcos in Visakhapatnam.

Navy chief meets MARCOS in J&K

The MCF currently operates out of the naval bases at Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Goa, Kochi and Port Blair. There are plans to shift the current training facility at the Naval Special Warfare Training and Tactical Centre to a new facility to be set up at the erstwhile Naval Academy in Goa.

On July 12, 2016, the naval base INS Karna was commissioned near Visakhapatnam as a permanent base for the unit.

You can also read the following  links for more information.
http://topyaps.com/indian-navy-marcos (Personally my favourite link)
http://www.indiatimes.com/culture/who-we-are/15-reasons-the-indian-navy-marcos-are-the-best-in-the-world-232296.html