Marine commandos are highly trained forces specializing in maritime, air, and land operations. They are deployed to accomplish various tasks, including counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, search and rescue, maritime security operations, and amphibious warfare. Marine commandos are equipped with the latest technologies and weaponry, including night vision goggles and specialized underwater vehicles. They also receive specialized training in navigation, swimming, combat tactics, and survival techniques. But before we continue with the current state of marine commandos (their specialties, their organization), let's look back at the history of this unit.
History of the Marine Commandos
Marine commandos have participated in numerous operations since their creation in 1944. This unit model owes its origin to British commandos.
Creation of the First Marine Commando Battalion
During World War II, French citizens who refused to surrender joined General de Gaulle in London. A group of soldiers and volunteers was formed and integrated into the British troops. This first commando unit was the first formation of French soldiers to liberate Hexagone in 1944, during the Normandy landings.
There were 178 of them who landed on Sword Beach, in the commune of Colleville-Montgomery, under the command of their leader, Lieutenant Commander Philippe Kieffer. It was he who gave his name to this unit, after continuing to serve the French army after World War II.
Involvement during the Wars of Decolonization
After this first successful engagement, France sought its own model for these elite units of the National Navy. With the wars of decolonization, several units, organized according to different models, coexisted. In each case, they were led by soldiers who had become officers and who had been members of the Kieffer commando during World War II.
The commando units were formed in Siroco, a military base of the Navy, in the Bay of Algiers (then a French department). Some of these marine commandos would take part in the Indochina War.
During the Algerian War, marine commandos were also mobilized. Their professionalism and ability to operate in hostile environments destined them for perilous missions in the mountains, where the FLN was militarily strongest, where the Algerian army had the advantage of the terrain. Once again, these highly mobile units stood out for their remarkable tactical execution.
Contemporary Evolution of Marine Commandos
Even though marine commandos have known several organizational models, it has been established over time that these units must remain mobile and not be assigned to a ship or a specific region of the globe. This flexibility is reflected in the names of the commandos themselves. These are none other than the "pioneers" who served first in the commandos and who made history (either for their exploits, like Philippe Kieffer who led the first commando marine battalion, or because they fell in the field of honor).
What is the current organization of marine commandos?
Today, marine commandos are composed of seven units with the following names:
- Jaubert
- de Monfort
- de Penfentenyo
- Trepel
- Hubert
- Kieffer
- Ponchardier
The first six are composed of approximately 90 men, with a tactical combat specificity. Only the Ponchardier commando is composed of 160 men, and it has different missions from its counterparts. Indeed, the Ponchardier commando is dedicated to logistical support operations and support for other engaged commandos.
The commandos specialize in sensitive missions related to counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and guerrilla warfare. Some have specialized in underwater attacks, while others focus on new naval technologies such as maritime drones. In any case, the commando units of the National Navy represent the elite of the army when it comes to delicate operations.
Marine commandos take their orders either from the Chief of Staff of the National Navy or from the COS (Special Operations Command).
Commando training to join these prestigious units
To join the commandos, you must pass a demanding physical and psychological selection process. This selection has a name: STAC, short for "stage commando" (commando training). It is a condensed series of very rigorous physical and mental tests. The psychological pressure is almost as unbearable as the physical trials that aspiring commandos endure. Once the aspiring commandos are selected, the commando training lasts 9 weeks, with 7 weeks of all kinds of training (obstacle courses, shooting, handling explosives) and two weeks of skydiving. If they pass all the tests, they receive the green beret, the emblem of the marine commandos, during an official ceremony in Ouistreham. But once commando training is over, another begins. Indeed, each commando must validate a STAC every five years to remain in condition.
Conclusion on marine commandos
These units are constantly evolving to respond to threats from terrorism and new technologies. Marine commandos remain today one of France's most prestigious military formations, both for their interventions since World War II and for their training system. They are considered true specialists in special operations and represent the best of the National Navy's expertise. The only question is: what role will these units play with the return of high-intensity warfare in Europe?
