Special forces

Some soldiers have very special jobs.

They learn to do hard tasks. They train for a long time. They help their teams in many ways.

Long ago, people used special groups for tasks.

In Japan, ninjas were very skilled. They could watch others or guard places. They were different from most soldiers.

In the past, some groups used fast ships. They would hide to watch the enemy. Other groups used heavy bows to shoot. These groups had to be very strong.

Later, new groups were made to help.

In a big war, many lands made these teams. They used new ways to work. They learned to be very brave.

Today, these teams still do special work. They help keep people safe.

Special forces are military units with very special jobs.

These soldiers use unique ways to work. They might rescue hostages or watch enemy moves. They can also work in water or in the air.

Special groups have existed for a long time.

In Japan, ninjas were used to guard places or spy. In ancient China, elite troops used very strong crossbows. These soldiers were physically very strong to use them.

In America, special units called Rangers formed long ago.

They learned skills from Native Americans to help scout. Later, Robert Rogers wrote rules for these units. These rules were a first guide for modern tactics.

During World War II, many countries grew their special forces.

In 1940, the British formed the Commandos. These men had to finish very hard training. They were the model for many special forces used today.

Special forces are highly trained military units. They perform special operations that regular soldiers do not usually do. These units use unconventional techniques to reach their goals. Some special forces focus on rescuing hostages or protecting people. Others work to find high-value targets or gather intelligence. They can also work in the water or in the air.

These units have many different ways of working. They might use sabotage to break equipment or perform demolition. Some groups specialize in reconnaissance, which means watching and gathering information. They can also help train the military forces of other countries. Some soldiers practice combat diving or maritime boarding in the sea. Others perform airborne operations by jumping from planes.

Specialized groups have existed throughout history. Long ago, Chinese strategist Jiang Ziya wrote about elite units. In the Han dynasty, elite troops called jue chang used very strong crossbows. These soldiers were physically elite to use weapons with heavy draw-weights. In Japan, ninjas were used for spying and guarding fortresses.

In America, specialized Rangers formed during the 17th and 18th centuries. Captain John Smith first mentioned them in 1622. Later, Colonel Benjamin Church led the first Ranger force in 1676. Robert Rogers wrote 28 rules for his Rangers. These rules are seen as the first manual for modern tactics.

Many different Ranger units were formed in the United States through the 1900s.

World War II saw a huge growth in these units. In 1940, the British formed the Commandos. Winston Churchill wanted troops who could act on enemy coasts. These volunteers had to finish very hard training. The British Commandos became the prototype for modern special forces. Today, many countries still use these special types of military units.

Special forces, also known as special operations forces (SOF), are elite military units. These groups are specifically designated, organized, and selected for unique missions. They use unconventional techniques and modes of employment to achieve goals. NATO defines these activities as military actions conducted by specially trained and equipped forces. While regular armies often focus on large-scale combat, special forces focus on precision and specialized tasks.

The capabilities of these units are highly diverse. They often perform special reconnaissance and surveillance in hostile environments. This means they watch enemy movements while remaining hidden. Some units focus on foreign internal defense, which involves training the military forces of other states. Other missions include counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and direct action. They may also perform sabotage, which is the purposeful destruction of enemy equipment. Specialized skills can include combat diving, maritime boarding, and airborne operations.

Specialized military roles have existed for thousands of years. In ancient China, strategist Jiang Ziya wrote about recruiting talented men for elite units. During the Han dynasty, elite troops called jue chang used powerful crossbows. These soldiers were physically elite to handle weapons with draw-weights exceeding 340 kg. In Japan, ninjas served as specialized agents for reconnaissance, espionage, and guarding fortresses.

Even in the Roman and Byzantine periods, fleets used small, fast, camouflaged ships for scouting missions.

In Colonial America, specialized units known as Rangers began to emerge. Captain John Smith first mentioned them in 1622. These units learned frontier skills from Native Americans to perform reconnaissance and scouting. Colonel Benjamin Church led the first official Ranger force in America in 1676. Later, Robert Rogers led his own Rangers and wrote the "28 Rules of Ranging." This document is considered the first manual for modern asymmetric warfare tactics.

Many different Ranger units continued to serve throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, many nations developed unique specialized units. The British Indian Army used the Corps of Guides and the Gurkha Scouts for border wars. In the Second Boer War, the Lovat Scouts used ghillie suits for marksmanship and field craft. These Scottish Highland woodsmen eventually became the British Army's first sniper unit. In the Philippines, General Antonio Luna formed the Luna Sharpshooters. This elite unit was known for fighting more fiercely than regular soldiers.

World War I saw the rise of modern shock troops. The German Stormtroopers and the Italian Arditi were elite assault units. They were trained to a much higher level than average troops for daring raids. These units were tasked with attacking enemy defenses through bold, rapid movements. During the interwar period, the Chaco War featured the 50th Infantry Regiment. Known as the "Knives of Death," this Bolivian regiment relied heavily on bayonets and blade weapons.

World War II brought a massive expansion to special operations. In 1940, Winston Churchill called for the creation of the British Commandos. He wanted "hunter class" troops to strike along enemy coasts. These volunteers underwent an innovative and physically demanding training regime. The first Commando raid took place on June 23, 1940. By November 1940, these units were organized into a Special Service Brigade. This era established the prototype for the modern special forces used by many countries today.