The Commandement des Opérations Spéciales ( en, Special Operations Command) or COS is a joint

staff Staff may refer to: Pole * Staff, a weapon used in stick-fighting ** Quarterstaff, a European pole weapon * Staff of office, a pole that indicates a position * Staff (railway signalling), a token authorizing a locomotive driver to use a particula ...

charged with overseeing the various

special forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

of the French Army, Navy and Air and Space Force, bringing them all under a single operational authority. The command is placed under the orders of the Chief of Defence Staff and under the direct authority of the President of the French Republic.Aleksander Olech, French and Polish fight against terrorism, Poznan 2022, p. 106; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/359135918_French_and_Polish_fight_against_terrorism Similar in purpose to the USSOCOM or UKSF, the COS was created on June 24, 1992. The need for such a federation became apparent after France's participation in the

First Gulf War The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...

Organisation

Army

* Army Special Forces Command **

1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment The 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine ( en, 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment) or 1er RPIMa is a unit of the French Army Special Forces Command, therefore part of the Special Operations Command. Heirs to the Free Frenc ...

(1^er RPIMa) ***Command and Logistics Company ***1 SAS Company - HAHO/HALO paratroopers and divers ***2 SAS Company - Extreme environments ***3 SAS Company - Vehicle borne operations ***4 SAS Company - Urban warfare ***Training company **

13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment The 13e Régiment de Dragons Parachutistes ( en, 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment) or 13e RDP is a special reconnaissance regiment of the French Army. It is a unit of the French Army Special Forces Command, the latter itself being under the Spec ...

(13^e RDP) ***ECP Squadron - Command and logistics ***1^e Squadron - Training and evaluation unit nicknamed "Intelligence Academy" ***2^e Squadron - Combat divers ***3^e Squadron - Extreme environments ***4^e Squadron - Vehicle borne operations ***5^e Squadron - HAHO/HALO paratroopers ***6^e Squadron - Signals ***7^e Squadron - Intelligence **

4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment The 4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères des Forces Spéciales ( en, 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment) or 4e RHFS is a special operations unit of the French Army Light Aviation. It is part of the French Army Special Forces Command, therefore of the ...

(4^e RHFS) ***Squadron 1 - equipped with 10

Cougar The cougar (''Puma concolor'') is a large Felidae, cat native to the Americas. Its Species distribution, range spans from the Canadian Yukon to the southern Andes in South America and is the most widespread of any large wild terrestrial mamm ...

and 2

Puma Puma or PUMA may refer to: Animals * ''Puma'' (genus), a genus in the family Felidae ** Puma (species) or cougar, a large cat Businesses and organisations * Puma (brand), a multinational shoe and sportswear company * Puma Energy, a mid- and d ...

helicopters ***Squadron 2 - equipped with 12 Gazelle helicopters ***Squadron 3 - equipped with 10 Caracal helicopters ***Squadron 4 - equipped with 5 Puma helicopters ***Squadron 5 - equipped with 2 Puma helicopters ***Squadron 6 - equipped with 6 Tigre helicopters ** Special Operations Support Group ** Special Forces Academy

Navy

Force des Fusiliers Marins et Commandos (FORFUSCO) * Commandos Marine **

Commando Hubert The Commandos Marine are the Special Operation Forces (SOF) of the French Navy. The Commandos Marine are nicknamed ''Bérets Verts'' (Green Berets). They operate under the Sailor Riflemen and Special Operations Forces Command (FORFUSCO) and ...

- Combat divers, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue ** Commando Jaubert - Direct action, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue ** Commando Trépel - Direct action, counter-terrorism, and hostage rescue ** Commando de Penfentenyo - Reconnaissance ** Commando de Montfort - Reconnaissance ** Commando Kieffer - Electronic warfare ** Commando Ponchardier - Operational Support

Air and Space Force

*Air and Space Force Special Forces Brigade (''BFSA'') ** Air Parachute Commando n° 10 (''CPA 10'') - Direct Action & Counter-terrorism ** Air Parachute Commando n° 30 (''CPA 30'') - Combat Search and Rescue * * Special Operations Division (''DOS'') ** Special Operations Division, Transport section (3/61 ''Poitou'') ** Special Operations Division, Helicopter section (1/67 ''Pyrénées'') - Integrated into the 4th RHFS.

References

External links