The Namibian Special Forces is a special operations command of the
Namibian Defence Force
The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) comprises the national military forces of Namibia. It was created when the country, then known as South West Africa, gained independence from South Africa in 1990. Chapter 15 of the Constitution of Namibia establ ...
responsible for
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 ...
and
special operations
Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include ...
capable units. The command consists of
Army
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
commando
Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin">40_Commando.html" ;"title="Royal Marines from 40 Commando">Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured
A commando is a combatant, or operativ ...
s, Army
Airborne
Airborne or Airborn may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Films
* ''Airborne'' (1962 film), a 1962 American film directed by James Landis
* ''Airborne'' (1993 film), a comedy–drama film
* ''Airborne'' (1998 film), an action film sta ...
paratrooper
A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of an airborne force. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during World ...
s and the
Marine Corps
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
amphibious special operations unit. The Army commandos specialize in airborne and land borne insertion while the Marine Corps amphibious special operations unit specialize in small-unit maritime operations that originate from a river, ocean, swamp and delta. The army units receive training assistance from former
South African Special Forces
Insurgency in Cabo Delgado, The South African Special Forces Brigade, colloquially known as the Recces, is South Africa's principal Special forces, special operations unit, specialising in various types of operations including; counter-insurge ...
(Recces) and the marine corps from the
Brazilian Marine Corps )
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, battles = Invasion of Cayenne (1809) Banda Oriental Conquest (1816)War of Independence (1821–1824)Confederation of the Equator(1824)Cisplatine War(1825–1828)Ragamuffin War(183 ...
.
The units regularly participate in
Southern African Development Community
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is an inter-governmental organization headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana.
Its goal is to further regional socio-economic cooperation and integration as well as political and security coopera ...
(SADC) special forces exercises.
Role
The roles vary according to the unit. The Airborne Parachute Battalion role is to be dropped to an objective via static line
parachuting
Parachuting, including also skydiving, is a method of transiting from a high point in the atmosphere to the surface of Earth with the aid of gravity, involving the control of speed during the descent using a parachute or parachutes.
For ...
. The Pathfinder unit is a Special Reconnaissance unit of the Parachute Battalion, its role is to deploy small units to search a potential land zone and set it up before the larger parachute unit is dropped there making them the ''eyes and ears'' of the parachute unit. The Commando Unit is the principal
Special Operations
Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include ...
and
Counter-insurgency
Counterinsurgency (COIN) is "the totality of actions aimed at defeating irregular forces". The Oxford English Dictionary defines counterinsurgency as any "military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionar ...
unit whose primary role is
Special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance (SR) or Recon Team is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organizations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detect ...
by inserting using unconventional parachute techniques to achieve an objective. The Amphibious Special Operations Unit is also
Special Operations
Special operations (S.O.) are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment". Special operations may include ...
whose main role
Amphibious Warfare
Amphibious warfare is a type of offensive military operation that today uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach. Through history the operations were conducte ...
is to provide recon support before a larger Marine Unit is deployed.
The Special operations roles include but not limited to:
*
Special reconnaissance
Special reconnaissance (SR) or Recon Team is conducted by small units of highly trained military personnel, usually from special forces units or military intelligence organizations, who operate behind enemy lines, avoiding direct combat and detect ...
*
Direct action (military)
Direct action (DA) is a term used in the context of military special operations for small-scale raids, ambushes, sabotage or similar actions.
The US Department of Defense has defined direct action as "Short-duration strikes and other small-scal ...
*
High-value target
In United States military terminology, a high-value target (HVT) is the term given to a person or resource that an enemy commander requires to complete a mission. The term has been widely used in the news media for Osama Bin Laden and high-ranking ...
*
Human intelligence (intelligence gathering)
Human intelligence (abbreviated HUMINT and pronounced as ''hyoo-mint'') is intelligence gathered by means of interpersonal contact, as opposed to the more technical intelligence gathering disciplines such as signals intelligence (SIGINT), imag ...
*
High-altitude military parachuting
High-altitude military parachuting, or military free fall (MFF), is a method of delivering military personnel, military equipment, and other military supplies from a transport aircraft at a high altitude via free-fall parachute insertion. Two ...
*
Counter-terrorism
Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or el ...
*
Quick reaction force
In military science nomenclature, a quick reaction force (QRF) is an armed military unit capable of rapidly responding to developing situations, typically to assist allied units in need of such assistance. They are to have equipment ready to res ...
*
Combat search and rescue
Combat search and rescue (CSAR) are search and rescue operations that are carried out during war that are within or near combat zones.
A CSAR mission may be carried out by a task force of helicopters, ground-attack aircraft, aerial refuelin ...
*
Covert operation
A covert operation is a military operation intended to conceal the identity of (or allow plausible deniability by) the party that instigated the operation. Covert operations should not be confused with clandestine operations, which are performe ...
s
*
Counter-insurgency
Counterinsurgency (COIN) is "the totality of actions aimed at defeating irregular forces". The Oxford English Dictionary defines counterinsurgency as any "military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionar ...
Units
Airborne
A
Parachute
A parachute is a device used to slow the motion of an object through an atmosphere by creating drag or, in a ram-air parachute, aerodynamic lift. A major application is to support people, for recreation or as a safety device for aviators, who ...
Unit Consisting of at least 3 rifle Companies, support company, a
Pathfinder
Pathfinder may refer to:
Businesses
* Pathfinder Energy Services, a division of Smith International
* Pathfinder Press, a publisher of socialist literature
Computing and information science
* Path Finder, a Macintosh file browser
* Pathfinder ( ...
Sub-unit and Headquarters element.
Commando
A
Commando
Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin">40_Commando.html" ;"title="Royal Marines from 40 Commando">Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured
A commando is a combatant, or operativ ...
Regiment
A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation.
In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...
is gradually expanding its capability to include a Maritime Capability.
Amphibious Commandos
The Amphibious Commandos Unit (part of the Marine Corps Infantry Battalion) is based at Walvis Bay with the
Navy
A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval warfare, naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral zone, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and ...
.
Training
Paratroopers
Pre-Selection phase is 6 weeks long during which candidates are tested on military skills, such as
Musketry
A musket is a muzzle-loaded long gun that appeared as a smoothbore weapon in the early 16th century, at first as a heavier variant of the arquebus, capable of penetrating plate armour. By the mid-16th century, this type of musket gradually dis ...
Training,
Navigation
Navigation is a field of study that focuses on the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another.Bowditch, 2003:799. The field of navigation includes four general categories: land navigation, ...
, Field Craft. After going through the pre selection phase the candidates progress to the Parachute Selection Phase. Both phases are physically and mentally tough. The pass rate for both phases is only 30 percent.
The candidates then progress to the Basic Static Line Jump Course which consists of a 1-week ground phase and 3 weeks of Practical Parachute Jumping. Included in this is 9 Parachute Jumps which of which 5 are Clean Fatigue jumps with Combat Webbing and Weapon jump, a Personal Weapons Container (PWC) jump and a Night jump. After completing this the candidate is officially a paratrooper and is awarded the Parachute jump wings and the
maroon beret
The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the Second World War. It was first officially introduced by the British Army in 1942, at the direction of Major-General Frederick "Boy" B ...
.
Training takes place at the Namibia Special Forces School at the
Grootfontein Air Base.
The training cycle continues for paratroopers and undergo further courses depending on their roles and ranks. Paratrooper Officers in the course of their careers undertake courses like the Airborne Battle Handling course and the Paratrooper Company Commanders And Second-In-Command Courses. Senior Non Commissioned officer's undertake courses like the Paratrooper Company
Warrant Officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ranks, the mos ...
's/Quartermasters Course which includes aspects like how to build a field base and Battlefield replenishment are taught.
Pathfinders
Pathfinders are taken from existing Paratroopers. A Pathfinder student should be Basic Static Line Parachuting and Basic Free Fall Parachuting qualified. The Pathfinder course is 8 weeks long Pathfinder Selection covers Bush Craft, Tracking and Survival, Escape and Evasion, Minor Tactics, Basic Photography, Basic Signals, DZSO (Drop Zone Safety Officer), Helicopter and Fixed Wing Landing Zones.
Commandos
The Commando operators basic course is 9 months long. Training takes place at the Special Forces School in
Grootfontein
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. To qualify for the Commando operators Course the student should already be a qualified paratrooper having completed the Basic Static Line Parachute Jump Course. The Commando operators course covers Pre-Selection and Selection, Bush Craft, Tracking and Survival Escape and Evasion, Minor Tactics, Kayak Handling, Basic Photography, Basic Signals, Basic Urban, Basic Demolitions.
Friendly countries including South Africa and Russia also accept candidates into their basic training cycles.
After passing the operators course the student is then awarded the Special Forces Dagger.
The advanced training cycle then starts for the operator for another 36 months in order to become a fully qualified Commando specialist. The specialist training cycle covers Advanced Signals, Small Boats (Kayaks), Combat Photography, Sharp Shooter, Advanced Demolitions, Advanced Urban, Combat Swimming, Scuba Diving, Attack Diving, Commando Team Leaders,
Fast-roping
Fast-roping is a technique for descending a thick rope, allowing troops to deploy from a helicopter in places where the aircraft cannot touch down.
The person holds onto the rope with gloved hands (with or without using their feet) and slides do ...
and Rappelling, Basic Mountaineering and Advanced 4x4 Driver Skills.
Amphibious Commandos
The Amphibious Special Operations Unit are trained in
Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay ( en, lit. Whale Bay; af, Walvisbaai; ger, Walfischbucht or Walfischbai) is a city in Namibia and the name of the bay on which it lies. It is the second largest city in Namibia and the largest coastal city in the country. The c ...
by Brazilian instructors. The amphibious commando basic training course is 12 months after which the successful marine is then given the Operators badge and an Amphibious Commando patched to wear on their left arm.
Only existing
Marines
Marines, or naval infantry, are typically a military force trained to operate in littoral zones in support of naval operations. Historically, tasks undertaken by marines have included helping maintain discipline and order aboard the ship (refle ...
are eligible for this training.
Equipment
Known Weapons
Rifles
SubMachine-guns
Machine-guns
Grenades and Grenade Launchers
Anti-Tank Weapons
Sniper rifle
Known Vehicles
Commanders
References
{{Reflist, 30em
Military of Namibia
Special forces of Namibia