The Iraqi special Operations Forces were first established in 2004. Also commonly known as as the Golden Division, the unit is made up of almost 18000 soldiers and is managed by the Iraqi Counter Terrorist Service. One of the unit’s main missions involved patrolling the terrifying and extremely dangerous streets of Mosul where they also had to deal with the threat of Islamic State fighters.
Created by coalition forces following the 2003 invasion, the unit became the first Iraqi force to enter Mosul during the November 2016 offensive. Following this operation, the Iraqi prime minister declared the liberation of Mosul from ISIS.
German KSK
One of the most highly regarded special forces units in the world, you could probably power a whole city’s electrical grid with only the commitment needed to make it into the German KSK. Training is so meticulous, that to make the cut you have to pass courses in seventeen different schools worldwide. If you’re gonna make your living serving this unit, it really is advisable to top up on your health insurance!
Initially only officers could apply to join the unit but since 2005 ordinary civilians can apply too, although they must pass an 18 month training course before the selection process commences.
Serbian Gendarmerie
An extension of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Serbian Gendarmerie was formed in 2001. The fascinating thing about this elite force is that apart from military duties they also function as a non combatant entity and we don’t mean just taking cats down from trees. As much as performing counter terrorism measures they are adept as rescue units and first responders. It would also definitely be a bad move to rile these guys up. The Serbian Gendarmerie is made up of two units: the Special Police Unit and the Special Operations Unit.
The unit consists of roughly 2800 members. Alongside the operational detachments posted throughout Serbia, the Gendarmery also has various specialized units: the Diving Unit and the Personnel and Infrastructure Protection Unit.
US Army Special Forces Snipers
Immortalized in film, following the release of the 2014 movie ‘American Sniper’, Chris Kyle is somewhat of a legend. He was a US Navy Seal. However, members of the US Army Special Forces Snipers are known to be some of the hardest and most fearsome fighters in the world. Even after passing all of the Special Forces Qualification Courses, to become part of this elite unit you must still participate in even harder courses. Like leopards sitting in trees biding their time, these fighters can be deployed anywhere in the world, sat patiently alone just waiting to pounce.
The Army Special Forces main objective is to train and lead unconventional warfare forces, or a covert guerrilla unit in an occupied nation. Apart from their military training they also acquire further skills such as languages and cultural knowledge relating to their specific mission.
French Commandos Marine
One of two entries from France in our top 10 and that’s not surprising as you really don’t want to get on the wrong side of these dudes. Apart from being one of the oldest special force units in the world, The French Commandoes Marine are also one of the most respected and highly skilled. Consisting of no more than 600 soldiers, they also go by the nickname of the Green Berets.
Put together in the United Kingdom during World War II, the French Commandos were initially modelled on the British Commandos. To commemorate this, the beret of the French commandos is worn to the opposite of all other French military units.