Combat Zone

The Kommando Spezialkräfte (Special Forces Command, KSK) is part of Germany's Special Forces. Organized under the Special Operations Division (Div. Spezielle Operationen, DSO), it is closely modeled on the British Special Air Service (SAS).

01 History
Prior to KSK’s formation in 1996, Germany, and before it West Germany, placed little emphasis on special operations beyond the counter-terrorist police unit GSG 9. At the time, the airborne brigade commandos and Fernspäher companies were the only army units comparable to Special Forces (the navy already had its Kampfschwimmer company for years). All the early specialised army units except for one Fernspähkompanie have been disbanded or merged into the KSK since its activation on April 1, 1997.

Like all German military units, KSK deployment requires parliamentary authorization, providing evidence of operations in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Afghanistan. Specific operational details, such as success or casualty rates, are top secret and withheld even from members of parliament. This practice drew heavy criticism, resulting in plans to increase transparency and accountability by relaying mission details to selected members of the Bundestag.

1st platoon: land insertions
2nd platoon: airborne operations
3rd platoon: amphibious operations
4th platoon: operations in special geographic or meteorological 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. Each of these groups consists of about four equally skilled soldiers. One of each group is specially trained as a weapons expert, medic, combat engineer or communications expert respectively. Additionally a group can contain other specialists, e.g. heavy weapons or language experts.

03 Selection and Training
Initially, only officers and non-commissioned officers of the Bundeswehr could apply for service with the KSK and the subsequent evaluation period. As a pre-requisite for entry, the Bundeswehr Commando Course ("Einzelkämpferlehrgang") must have been completed by the applicant. Since 2005, however, applications have also been opened to civilians and enlisted personnel who must complete an 18-month Long Range Surveillance training cycle before the intense KSK selection process begins.
The selection process is divided into two phases: a three-week-long physical and psychological training regimen (normally garnering a 40% pass rate), and later a three-month-long physical endurance phase (normally garnering a 8-10% pass rate). During latter phase, the KSK use the Black Forest as their proving grounds for prospective operators. In this time, candidates must undergo a grueling 90-hour cross-country run, followed by a three-week international Combat Survival Course at the German Special Operations Training Center' (formerly the International Long Range Reconnaissance School) in Pfullendorf.
Upon successful completion of the selection process, candidates may be allowed to start their 2-3 year training cycle with the KSK. This training includes roughly twenty jungle, desert, urban, and counter-terrorism courses at over seventeen schools worldwide; in Norway for Arctic terrain, Austria for mountainous terrain, El Paso, Texas or Israel for desert and/or bush training, San Diego for amphibious operations, and Belize for jungle experience.
According to press releases from May 2008, the Bundeswehr aims to advance the attractiveness of service in the KSK to women. This is in part due to the fact that the KSK could never reach its targeted number of troops in the past. Although the KSK was not explicitly restricted to male troops since the Bundeswehr opened all units to women in 2001, so far, no woman has been able to pass the physical requirements of the KSK.

04 Insignia
Beret and badge
Members of the KSK wear maroon berets as a symbol of their roots in airborne units. A metal badge is worn which consists of a sword surrounded by oak leaves. The flag of the Federal Republic of Germany is depicted on the bottom of the sword.
Kommandoabzeichen
The Kommandoabzeichen (Commando badge) is a cloth patch worn on the left pouch of the uniform. The commando badge's design is similar to the metal badge worn on the beret. It depicts a silver sword on light green background surrounded by oak leaves. The badge was permitted to be worn in 2000 by Federal President Johannes Rau.
Waffenfarbe
KSK units wear green as their Waffenfarbe, similar to infantry units. Before becoming an independent military force the KSK was a part of infantry units.
Map marking symbol
In international map marking symbols a rectangle frame with the letters SF are used to units such as the KSK. The SF stands for special forces. This example shows a special forces unit in company size.