Namibian Special Forces

Namibian Special Forces
Allegiance Constitution of Namibia
Type Special Forces
Size Classified
Part of Namibian Defence Force
Garrison/HQ Grootfontein, Namibia
Commanders
Commander In Chief President Hage Geingob
Minister of Defence Penda ya Ndakolo
Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General John Mutwa
Special Forces Commander General Officer Commanding Special Forces Maj Gen Ben Kadhila[1]

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 sea borne insertion.

Role

Includes 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.[2] 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.[3] Training takes place at the Namibia Special Forces School at the Grootfontein Air Base[4]

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[5].

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[6].

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 [7]. Friendly countries are also accepting candidates into their training cycles.[8] 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 [9].


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 .[10] Only existing Marines are eligible for this training

Units

Airborne
Parachute infantry are organized as part of the Special Forces and are likely a special operations force. This is due to their mobility and rapid deployment capability due to their nature as light infantry. The unit consists of paratroopers and riggers.[11]

Pathfinders

Pathfinders are special operation soldiers who's main role is to operate drop zones, pickup zones, and helicopter landing sites for airborne operations, air resupply operations, or other air operations in support of the ground unit commander.

Commandos
Operators are taken from primarily from the Namibian Army. Most of their details and activities are classified

Amphibious Marine Commandos
The amphibious marine commandos are the maritime specialists in Namibia's special operations capability. Trained by Brazilian specialists in Namibia and Brazil. The operators are taken from the Namibian Marine Corps.

Equipment

Known Weapons

Name Type Origin Photo Notes
AK-47 Assault Rifle Soviet Union Multiple variants
RPG-7 Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher Russia
PK 7.62×54mmR General Purpose Machine Gun Soviet Union Multiple variants
M4 carbine Assault Rifle United States
Blaser R93 Tactical Sniper Rifle Germany

Known Vehicles

Origin Type Acquired In service Notes
Agrale Marruá  Brazil Utility Vehicle 141 -- 141 units acquired for the whole Defence
Force, total units used by Special Forces is classified.[12]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Shilumbu, P (January 2011). "Special Force Participates in Exercise Stalwart in South Africa". NDF Journal'. 43: 10. line feed character in |title= at position 39 (help)
  2. ↑ http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25333
  3. ↑ http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25333
  4. ↑ https://www.newera.com.na/2015/07/29/elite-unit-recruits/
  5. ↑ http://www.chutesyst.co.za/portfolio/private-military-training/
  6. ↑ http://www.chutesyst.co.za/portfolio/private-military-training/
  7. ↑ http://www.chutesyst.co.za/portfolio/private-military-training/
  8. ↑ http://www.dod.mil.za/sasoldier/2008/apr2008.pdf
  9. ↑ http://www.chutesyst.co.za/portfolio/private-military-training/
  10. ↑ http://www.namibiansun.com/local-news/ready-serve-and-protect.74870
  11. ↑ http://www.mod.gov.na/pages/special.html
  12. ↑ http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37339:namibia-defence-force-orders-marrua-vehicles&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105
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