There are special forces and then there are the Marine Commandos or MARCOS of the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy’s elite special forces unit specialises in everything from counter-terrorism to underwater operations, sabotage, and anti-piracy operations. Because of their broad sphere of operations, they have not only served on the high seas but have also been called in during Operation Vijay, popularly known as the Kargil War. Here’s why they’re the best in the world.
MARCOS was founded in 1985 as the Indian Marine Special Forces (IMSF). They were called the Marine Commando Force (MCF) two years later. Their slogan is “The Few, the Fearless.”
Becoming a MARCO or Marine Commando is not an easy task. Trainees must complete one of the world’s most difficult courses, which can span anywhere from two and a half to three years, depending on the speciality.
It is challenging to be chosen to be trained as a MARCO. Almost 80% of applicants are screened out during the pre-training process, which involves a three-day physical fitness and aptitude test. And it only gets worse. This is followed by a five-week ‘hell’s week’ of sleep deprivation and severe physical exercise. Those who make it through, or who do not quit on their own, are taken to the actual training.
Those who pass the selection begin the grilling course, which involves basic training at the INS Abhimanyu in Mumbai. The recruits will subsequently undergo parachuting training at the Paratrooper Training School in Agra, as well as a diving course at the Navy’s Diving School in Kochi.
Following this initial instruction, students join their respective groups for advanced training on probation. This involves, among other things, training for counterinsurgency, anti-hijacking, anti-piracy, covert operations, surveillance and reconnaissance, amphibious operations, unconventional warfare, and hostage rescue.
All MARCOS are static line qualified, and some are freefall qualified (HALO/HAHO) – High Altitude Low Opening and High Altitude High Opening. In actuality, MARCOS are a small group of special forces from around the world that can be para-dropped into the water with a full combat load.
MARCOS are also trained in the Parvat Ghatak School in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, the Desert Warfare School in Rajasthan, the High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS) in Sonmarg, and the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS) in Mizoram.
MARCOS is a tough nut to crack because of its training. An Indian MARCO on an exchange programme in the United States easily passed the US Navy SEAL course.
A MARCO serves with the elite outfit for 3 to 5 years after completing training.
The MARCOS are armed with some of the most advanced weapons in the world. The units are armed with the Israeli Tavor TAR-21 assault rifle, which may be fitted with a 40 mm grenade launcher. The TAR-21 is weatherproof, allowing a MARCO to emerge from the sea with a weapon drawn and ready to fire. A terrifying sight for the bad guys!
Other weapons include the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, the SIG Sauer P226 and Glock 17 handguns, the Druganov and Galil sniper rifles, and the OSV-96 semi-auto heavy calibre anti-material rifle. Aside from armaments, they also employ two-man submarines, the Italian CE-2F/X100, for covert underwater operations.
The MARCOS operations have become legendary. MARCOS swam 12 kilometres to their target with their combat load in tow during Op Pawan in Sri Lanka, a mission to blow up the Jaffna dock. They then crept in undetected and used explosives to blow up the harbour. The LTTE instantly opened fire on them. The commandos returned fire and swam back to the ship without being killed.
As part of Op Cactus, the MARCOS foiled a coup attempt in the Maldives in 1988. They boarded the boat, which was carrying 46 mercenaries and captives who had escaped after the aborted coup attempt.
The MARCOS was entrusted with conducting covert operations behind enemy lines during the Kargil War. During the 2008 Mumbai attacks, they attacked the Oberoi Trident and Taj hotels, killing the attackers.
Terrorists in Kashmir fear the MARCOS and refer to them as ‘Dadiwala Fauj’ because of the beards they wear as a disguise.
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There is no best in every forces everyone are doing there own duty and I assume those are the patroitic person who give their best….