This is a list of current commando units.
Argentina 601 Commando CompanyMartin Middlebrook: "The Argentine fight for the Malvinas - The Argentine Forces in the Falklands War", Pen and Sword Books, 1989, , p. 62 "The Argentine army did not have Special Forces. In the early 70s, commandos were formed but subsequently disbanded because of the fear of the highly trained groups being used in a coup d’état. In 1975, they were reformed for the 'dirty' war and disbanded again after participating in security during the 1978 Football World Cup. The trained commandos were dispersed throughout the army. About 80 men were assembled in the 601st and 602nd Commando companies and send to the Falkland Islands. They were beefed up with SWAT-like teams from the Gendarmería Nacional – paramilitary frontier guards." 602 Commando Company 603 Commando Company Amphibious Commandos Group, belonging to the Marine Corps.
Australia
1st Commando Regiment 2nd Commando Regiment
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Commando Brigades
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Para-Commando Brigade
Belgium 2nd Commando Battalion
Brazil 1º Batalhão de Ações de Comandos COMANF Esquadrão Aeroterrestre de Salvamento
China - PRC
People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps Special Forces Brigade (Thunder Gods special forces unit) - the PLAAF Airborne Corps special forces 7th Marine Brigade "Jiaolong Commandos" - the PLANMC's special forces
Colombia
Air Force Special Air Command Group (Agrupación de Comandos Especiales Aéreos)
France
In France, commando is both the name of Special Operations or Special Operations Capable units and the name of an elite light infantry training.
French Army (Armée de Terre) The commandos are trained at the Centre national d'entraînement commando or National Commando Training Center. The graduates of the Center are either serving in a SF unit (1er RPIMa and 13e RDP), in a light-infantry unit (Commando Parachute Group in the 11th Parachute Brigade and Mountain Commando Group in the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade) or as instructors in a regular Army unit. Furthermore, members of the counter-terrorist National Gendarmerie Intervention Group and of the Division Action of Directorate-General for External Security are usually graduates of the Center.
French Navy (Marine Nationale) The Commandos Marine are the Navy component of Special Operations Command. Commando Hubert : (also named Commando d'Action Sous-Marine Hubert, CASM, "underwater operations commando"): Submarine action (combat divers). Commando Jaubert : Assault at sea, exfiltration, close quarters battle at sea. Commando Trepel : Assault at sea, exfiltration. Commando de Penfentenyo : Reconnaissance, Intelligence Operations (recon swimmers) Commando de Montfort : Long range neutralisation (missile launchers, light mortars, heavy sniper rifles), fire support designation Commando Kieffer : C3I, military dogs French Air Force (Armée de L'Air). The Parachute Commandos (commandos parachutistes) are the élite units of the Air Force Infantry (Fusiliers Commandos de l'Air). Commando parachutiste de l'Air n° 10 (CPA 10) is the Air Force component of Special Operations Command Commando parachutiste de l'Air n° 20 : long-range Bases Protection and JTACs. Commando parachutiste de l'Air n° 20 : RESCO
Germany
The German Army currently operates the Fernspähkompanie (Germany's elite long range reconnaissance company), and the Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK).
The KSK is stationed in Calw, in the Black Forest area in southern Germany. It consists of about 1,100 soldiers, but only a nucleus of these are in fighting units. Exact numbers are not available, as this information is considered secret. The KSK is a part of the Special Operations Division (Div. Spezielle Operationen or DSO).
The fighting units are divided into four commando companies of about 100 men each and the special commando company with veteran members, taking supporting tasks. Each of the four commando companies has five specialised platoons:
1st platoon: land insertions 2nd platoon: airborne operations 3rd platoon: amphibious operations 4th platoon: operations in special geographic or meteorologic surroundings (e.g. mountains or polar-regions) 5th platoon: reconnaissance, sniper and counter-sniper operations Command Platoon
There are four commando squads in every platoon.
India
In India, the term "commando" is generally used to refer to the Special forces of India. 2 of the 3 Indian special forces currently have the word "commando" in their name while the other dropped the word "commando" for "Special Forces" in the late 1970s. Para (Special Forces) (Indian Army) MARCOS (Indian Navy) Garud Commando Force (Indian Air Force) Special Operations Command In addition, Ghatak Platoons are platoons present in every single infantry battalion of the Indian Army consisting of the most physically capable troops from every battalion who are selected to undergo commando training and are better equipped than the other platoons present in the battalion. Their role is similar to that of light infantry commandos.
Iraq
Iraqi 36th Commando Battalion
Israel
The primary commando units of the Israel Defense Forces include Shayetet 13, Sayeret Matkal and the Shaldag Unit.
Shayetet 13 is the elite naval commando unit of the Israeli Navy. S'13 specializes in sea-to-land incursions, counter-terrorism, sabotage, maritime intelligence gathering, maritime hostage rescue, and boarding. The unit is one of the world's most well reputed special forces units.
Sayeret Matkal (General Staff Reconnaissance Unit) is a special forces unit of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) directly subordinate to the Directorate of Military Intelligence.Primarily a field intelligence-gathering unit specializing in special reconnaissance behind enemy lines, Sayeret Matkal is also tasked with counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, and foreign espionage. Modeled after the British Army's Special Air Service—from which it emulated the motto, "Who Dares, Wins"—the unit is considered to be the Israeli equivalent to the famed Delta Force of the United States. As one of Israel's most important commando units, the Sayeret Matkal has reputedly been involved in almost every major counter-terrorism operation since its inception in 1957.
The Egoz Reconnaissance Unit is an Israeli Special Force commando unit, in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Egoz is a unit that specializes in guerrilla, anti-guerrilla warfare, behind enemy lines intelligence gathering, and more complicated ground activity. Egoz is part of the Commando Brigade but still completes basic training with the Golani Brigade.
Maglan (Also known as Unit 212) is an Israeli special forces unit which specializes in operating behind enemy lines and deep in enemy territory using advanced technologies and weaponry.
Unit 217, frequently called Duvdevan Unit is an elite special operations force within the Israel Defense Forces, part of the Oz Brigade. Duvdevan are noted for undercover operations in urban areas, during which they often wear Arab civilian clothes as a disguise.Steve Macko, The IDF Duvedevan Unit , Emergency Response & Research Institute (August 11, 1997) They are also known to be trained in human and mechanical counter-surveillance.
Shaldag Unit, also known as Unit 5101, is an elite Israeli Air Force commando unit. Shaldag's mission is to deploy undetected into combat and hostile environments to conduct special reconnaissance, establish assault zones or airfields, while simultaneously conducting air traffic control and commando actions.
Korea, South - ROK
Republic of Korea Army 700th Commando Regiment 701st Commando Regiment 702nd Commando Regiment 703rd Commando Regiment 705th Commando Regiment
Madagascar Malagasy Army Special Intervention Forces Group (Groupement des forces spéciales d’intervention, GFSI)2424.mg News & Reports (October 20, 2024) "Le Groupement des forces spéciales d’intervention fête son premier anniversaire" 2424.mg, 2424.mg, 2020, https://2424.mg/le-groupement-des-forces-speciales-dintervention-fete-son-premier-anniversaire/, Date accessed: July 2, 2026
Malaysia
In Malaysia, the concept of commandos has its roots in the Special Operations Executive's (SOE) Far East branch, known as Force 136, during World War II. Many of its agents received commando training at British commando schools located in Europe, Asia, or Australia. After the war, a number of these former operatives continued to serve in the Malaysian Armed Forces. As a result, the term "Commando" in Malaysia generally refers to special forces personnel who have mastered espionage, guerrilla warfare and jungle operations.
Today, nearly all Malaysian special forces units, except those that focus specifically on urban operations, are required to complete a basic commando course at the commando school as part of their selection process. Historically, there were four units that included the word "Commando" in their official names. However, one of these units has since removed the term and adopted a different designation.
The units currently bearing the "Commando" title are: 69 Commando – a special forces unit of the Royal Malaysia Police 21st Commando Regiment – a special forces unit of the Malaysian Army 22nd Commando Regiment – a special forces unit of the Malaysian Army The Royal Malaysian Navy's special forces, known today as the Naval Special Forces (PASKAL), previously used the name "Naval Commando Unit" from 1977 until 1982.
Netherlands Korps Commando Troepen
Pakistan
Light Commando Battalions have been formed by the Pakistan Army for special operations and counter-terrorism.
Philippines
The Special Action Force (SAF) is the elite commando unit of the Philippine National Police. It is required to undergo the SAF Commando Course to be allowed to wear the SAF Beret. It also serves as the foundation course or requisite for other SAF specialization trainings such as Explosives and Ordnance Disposal (EOD), Basic Airborne Course (BAC), Urban Counter Revolutionary Warfare Course (SURESHOCK), SCUBA-BUSROC (Basic Under-Water Search and Rescue Operations Course), SAF Seaborne Warfare Course (SSWC) and others.
Portugal
Comandos Troops
Singapore Singapore Armed Forces Commando Formation 1 CDO, 1st Commando Battalion
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Army Commando Regiment 1st Commando Regiment 2nd Commando Regiment 3rd Commando Regiment 4th Commando Regiment HQ BN Commando(RFT) Commando Regiment Training SchoolCommando Regiment Training School Uva Kudaoya Commando Regiment Specialized Warfare Training School at Vidathalathive Mannar Anti Hijacking & Hostage Release Team' (AHHRT)
South Africa While the use of the word commando came to refer to various elite special operations forces units in other countries in the world, South Africa retained its original name as both a well regulated quick response militia as well as a special operations forces unit defined in the worldwide fashion. From the end of the 19th until the early 21st centuries, the Commando units in the form of its original structure were used in both urban and rural areas until the end of white rule in South Africa as part of a nationwide South African Commando System.
When white rule was replaced with majority rule, the new democratic ANC led government demanded the disbandment of the commandos which they considered an obstacle to further democratic control as well as complaints of abuses. Thus, with the integration of white cities with black townships, the new ANC led urban governments immediately disbanded the urban militia commando units.
With the election of Thabo Mbeki, the process of de-arming white militias again commenced and it was announced in 2003, that the rural commandos would be disbanded. The last rural commandos were ordered disbanded by the central government over constitutional arguments.