Top 7 Most Elite Special Forces
We've talked pretty extensively about the military before - covering a wide range of
topics like their technology, programs, infrastructures - even personnel - but nothing quite compares
to the power of an organized elite special force.
Requiring the best of the best - and often fictionally portrayed on screen by intimidating
actors like Sylvester Stallone or Chuck Norris - these soldiers are held to the highest requirements
of training, with mastery of their craft a prerequisite to even dream of being PART of
a group.
Tough guy actors may portray them on the silver screen, but these hardcore soldiers take a
whole lot more than a good agent and a muscled up body.
From big and bold counter-terrorism units to the quietest of rescue and stealth teams,
let's take a look at seven of the most impressive special operative forces.
Number seven - GIGN.
The National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (or more commonly referred to as GIGN) of
France has its origin's roots (like many other European special force teams) tied to the
infamous hostage massacre that occurred at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
Still reeling from a prison mutiny the year before, France realized the need for a special
force - creating what still stands today with an average membership of around 400 soldiers.
With a specialty in anti-terrorism and hostage rescue, GIGN members have nobly rescued 30
school children in Djibouti, fought off Somalian pirates, captured war criminals in Bosnia
- and, most famously, rescued the passengers aboard Air France flight 8969 in Marseille
in 1994.
Number six - Sayeret Matkal.
Formed in 1957, Sayeret Matkal - an Israeli-based special forces unit with a focus on reconnaissance,
anti-terrorism and hostage rescue outside of Israel - is made up of individuals who
pass an extremely rigid set of physical and intellectual characteristic requirements.
Undergoing 18 months of training (including infantry school, parachute school, counter-terrorism
and reconnaissance training), the force has operated strongly since the early 1960s.
One of their most notable missions displaying their sheer force includes Operation Entebbe
/ Thunderbolt - where around 100 of the Israeli commandos stormed an airport in Uganda to
rescue around 100 hostages from a terrorist group, successfully freeing most of them.
Number five - EKO-Cobra.
Speaking of the aforementioned 1972 Munich Olympics - this Austrian team, named the Einsatzkommando
Cobra, was created to handle the increasing need for anti-terrorist operations.
Made up of 450 men, these highly trained soldiers have also served in the Austrian Federal Police
Force.
Their extra specialized training included courses with an emphasis on marksmanship,
languages, hand-to-hand combat and tactical and assault training - with the best of the
best receiving additional extra specialized training that focuses on things like explosives,
diving and sniping.
Since 1996, EKO-Cobra remains the only counter-terrorist team to neutralize a terrorist hijacking while
the plane was still in-flight.
Number four - Delta Force.
The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, better known simply as "Delta Force" is a
highly secretive and incredibly elite task force deployed by the United States Military.
Formed in 1977 as a response to increasing high-profile terrorist activity, its members
are largely comprised of former Green Berets, Rangers and other upper echelons in the military
world.
Requirements dictate applicants must be male, at least 21 years of age, score highly on
various aptitude tests and rank between corporal or master sergeant.
Often said that only 1 out of 10 applicants make it through the notoriously grueling 6-month
training course - the Delta Force Operation is an (albeit quietly) respected military
institution.
Number three - Alpha Group.
Started in the mid-1970s by the Soviet / Russian government, the Alpha Group is among the most
hardcore of all of the Russian special forces.
Initially coming to fame during the invasion of Afghanistan when Alpha members massacred
everyone inside the Presidential Palace in Kabul - or, in a much crazier instance - when
they mailed body pieces of terrorist's slain relatives to send a message.
Yikes.
Alpha has been involved in most of the major anti-terrorist/hostage operations in Russia
- including the Moscow theatre siege of 2002 and the Beslan school siege of 2004.
Their violent tendencies continue to cause controversy to the day.
Number two - Navy SEALs.
Arguably one of the most recognizable names when it comes to the topic of special forces,
the SEALs were created in 1962 by the United States government - creating a lasting legacy
in military excellence.
Famously killing Osama Bin Laden on Operation Neptune Spear in Pakistan in 2011, their operatives
are amongst the most critical and intense.
With one of the highest training regimens possible - the course takes over a year, with
most applicants dropping out after the the physical qualification test.
With multiple tiered levels of prerequisite training, the Navy SEALs are amongst the toughest
individuals in the world - both in terms of physical prowess and mental capacity.
Number one - SAS.
The British Special Air Service, or more commonly referred to as SAS, was created in 1941 to
operate behind German and Italian lines to support resistance movements against the occupation
forces.
Primarily made up of British airborne personnel, SAS' physical requirements are the absolute
toughest in the bunch.
Including a forty mile march (in full pack) that must be completed in twenty hours, candidates
must also be able to run four miles in a half hour and swim two miles in ninety minutes.
Also receiving training by MI5 and MI6 security and intelligence services, their counter-espionage
operation training positions them not only as badass soldiers, but also super-spies worthy
of their own Hollywood depiction.
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