Belgium’s 68th Special Forces Brigade
The 68th Special Forces Brigade is one of two branches of special operation units within the Bulgarian Armed Forces. It conducts unconventional warfare under the command of the Bulgarian Armed Forces.
Its tactical and operational parachute forces have an interesting history. Bulgaria is one of the only paratroop forces in the world that developed its own parachuting unit. During WWII, Bulgaria was an ally of the Third Reich, but a less than loyal alliance caused German’s to distrust the nation. In response, German military refused to train Bulgarians in parachute tactics. The Third Reich even used Bulgarians as Guinea pigs for testing new parachute systems! One paratrooper died when he hit the ground.
Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU)
All secret intelligence missions are the responsibility of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU). As Russia’s highest intelligence organization, the GRU is believed to outsize the entirety of the U.S. military’s intelligence agencies, combined!
Before 1992, the GRU and the KGB worked together to provide any and all intelligence services to the state, but now the GRU provides exclusively military intelligence. It’s so secretive that the organization of the GRU and information about its superior leaders are state secrets. As one of the world’s oldest intel agencies, it was established in 1810.
Spain’s Special Naval Warfare Force (FGNE)
The Special Naval Warfare Force, English for Fuerza de Guerra Naval Especial (FGNE), is the Spanish Navy’s special forces division. Established in 2009, it incorporated the Spanish Navy’s Special Combat Divers Unit and the Special Explosive Diffusers Unit as well as the Special Operations unit from Spain’s Marines. Like the U.S. Navy SEALs, they are a formidable amphibious warfare unit. Spanish Navy and Marine elite forces conduct operations in reconnaissance, ship assaults, counterinsurgency and counterterrorism, hostage release, and civil evacuation.
Whether it’s parachuting, diving or climbing, these troops are supplied and ready!
Switzerland’s Swiss Special Forces Command
Despite Switzerland’s foreign policy of military neutrality around the world, the peaceful nation hosts the Swiss Armed Forces. One branch, the Special Forces Command, known by the German term Kommando Spezialkräfte, is an infantry corps of highly trained elite Grenadier special forces.
Recruits undergo comprehensive medical and psychological tests. The 23-week training regimen is physically and psychologically rigorous. After 11 weeks, the weakest recruits are dismissed. Following the initial training, an arduous 41-week and then 56-week specialized training commence. Grenadiers have been a tradition of the Swiss military going back earlier than the 19th century.
China’s People’s Liberation Army Special Operations Forces
About 7,000 to 14,000 troops make up the Special Forces unit of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Deployed for commando, counterterrorism, and intelligence gathering operations, the force is reserved for rapid-response combat missions in the event of localized war in high-tech arenas. The special forces are a newer development of China’s massive military might. A flexible elite force is a divergence from past armed forces strategy.
An example of localized response missions the Special Forces unit might be deployed for is shown in the photo. It pictures Chinese Special Operatives training for possible urban warfare developments.