This is followed by a ‘Coxswain’ course introducing the operational application of Special Forces craft, including cooperation training with the SA Navy vessels. The now- qualified Operator, if nominated, will commence with the ‘Combat Swimming’ course, which includes general seamanship, sea survival, and open water swimming. Training as a Special Forces seaborne specialist is an intense 6-month additional commitment consisting of various building blocks. Some who complete the full Operators training cycle might be hand-selected to attend further specialist training in seaborne operations. It is said that Special Forces soldiers are like postage stamps as they can be delivered by land, sea, or air, no matter the weather. This also includes small boat training, where any candidate’s aptitude for water work is first identified. The Special Forces Operator course includes an introductory ‘Water Orientation’ training phase, ensuring basic competency in seaborne operations. Initially, the Operator course pass rate was barely 5%, although as the initial pre- selection filtering process improved over time, the percentage of candidates successfully completing the ultimate goal also improved. They require an above- average IQ, as well as suitable psychological strength. Hopeful Operator candidates are filtered out very quickly if they cannot contend with the incredibly gruelling physical and endurance demands of training. The Special Forces School is now based north of Pretoria after Durban’s 1 Special Forces Regiment was disbanded in 1996. The Special Forces operational HQ is based in Pretoria. 5 Special Forces Regiment, based in Phalaborwa, specialises in landborne operations. The Regiment also retained a full operational function in specialist urban counter-terrorism tactics. It was originally the Special Forces school home centre for the Operator candidates training cycle. Their function was to provide ‘specialist amphibious, surface, and underwater capabilities for reconnaissance and offensive purposes’.ġ Special Forces Regiment was secluded on the Bluff in Durban. 4 Reconnaissance Commando was thus officially commissioned on an isolated peninsular near Langebaan, north of Cape Town, in July 1978. As the need for specialist seaborne operations grew, so did the requirement for a secluded specialist training and operational base. Originally located on Salisbury Island in the Durban harbour, special forces seaborne operations fell under the auspices of the then- named 1 Reconnaissance Commando. The entry pre-requisite is successfully completing the gruelling 18-month Special Forces Operator training course, which is itself notoriously difficult to achieve. The 4 Special Forces Regiment seaborne Operators have a long- standing history of successful clandestine function around the southern African coastline that is feared and respected.Īs one of the world’s most revered military diver training courses, you cannot just volunteer to be a South African Special Forces Diver. They perform their tasks under high stress, requiring extensive physical and mental endurance. Their function is to serve the security interests of their country in far-flung lands performing covert operations under a directive from the highest levels of Government. Special Forces, by default of their mandate within military organisational structures, typically don’t operate within the borders of the country they serve. However, that desire might be the quintessential factor that drives you through the long challenge of becoming one. Just because you want to be one of them isn’t enough to ensure you might be. These military dive courses have an incredibly high failure rate compared to recreational dive training. As far back as I can remember, I have held the illusionary romanticism of military frogmen in aspirational revere as an impressionable young boy. Who they are and what they do widely shrouded in secrecy it’s the humbling pinnacle of diving. There can be no higher accolade in diving than to be one of the very elite who can call themselves a Special Forces Diver. NOTE: This article is reviewed and approved by the South African Special Forces Association with respect and gratitude.
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