Type Special Forces Part of Namibian Defence Force Commander In Chief President Hage Geingob | Size Classified Garrison/HQ Windhoek, Namibia | |
 | ||
Allegiance Constitution of Namibia | ||
The Namibian Special Forces are Namibia's Military elite Special Operations grouping. Made up of all the Namibian military's Special Forces and Special Operations capable units. Consisting of Army Commandos, Marine Amphibious Commandos and Airborne Paratroopers. The Commandos from the Namibian Army specialize in airborne and land borne insertion while the Namibian Marine Corps Amphibious Marine commandos specialize in small-unit maritime operations that originate from a river, ocean, swamp and delta.
Contents
Role
The roles of vary according to the unit. The Airborne Parachute Battalion role is to be dropped to an objective via static line parachuting . The Pathfinder unit is a Special Reconnaissance unit of the Parachute Battalion , its role is to deploy small units to reconnoiter 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 & Counter-insurgency unit whose primary unit is Special reconnaissance by inserting using unconventional parachute techniques to achieve an objective. The Amphibious Marine Commando unit also a Special Operations whose main role Amphibious Warfare their role is to provide recon support before a larger Marine Unit is deployed.
The Special operations roles include but not limited to:
Training
Paratroopers
Pre Selection phase is 6 weeks long during which candidates are tested on military skills, such as Musketry Training, 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. 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'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 course is 9 months long.Training takes place at the Special Forces School in Grootfontein. 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 are also accepting candidates into their training cycles. After passing the operators course the student is then awarded the Special Forces Dagger.
The training cycle continues 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 and Rappelling, Basic Mountaineering and Advanced 4x4 Driver Skills.
Amphibious Commando's
The Marine Commandos are trained in Brazil and in Walvis Bay by Brazilian instructors. The amphibious commando training course is a year long . Only existing Marines are eligible for this training
Units
Airborne
A Parachute Unit Consisting of at least 3 rifle Companies and Heaquaters element is present .
Pathfinders
A Pathfinder Sub-unit Is also present.
Commando
A Commando Regiment is formed up. It is gradually expanding its capability to include a Maritime Capability.
Amphibious Marine Commandos
A Marine Commando Regiment is formed up. It is based at Walvis Bay with the Navy.