Commandos Marine
The Commandos Marine, nicknamed Bérets Verts (Green Berets), are the special operation forces (SOF) of the French Navy, headquartered in Lorient, Brittany in western France.When the British Commando Units were disbanded at the conclusion of World War II, the two French Troops (forming the 1st BFMC) were repatriated to France to relieve in position the 1st RFM (1st Sailor Riflemen Regiment) departing for Indochina.The surviving members of the 1st BFMC formed the core leadership and the cadres for the Commando Training School to be created in Algeria in 1946 (Siroco Center, Matifou Cape).His audacity, the innovation of the TTPs and the course of actions he applied in guerrilla warfare and COIN set the spirit and were disseminated to the overall Commandos Marine organisation.Conducted at the Fusilier Marins school at Lorient on the Atlantic coast, it provides upon successful completion entry to the commandos and the right to wear the green beret.The ultimate goal of this training is to detect individuals with the physical, intellectual and psychological potential needed to serve in the Commandos Marine.Since then, the Commandos Marine have kept by tradition the green beret pulled right with the bronze shield badge on the left, the only such exception in the French armed forces.They have retained the principle of exceptional training without compromise, based on immersion in a highly stressful environment, close to the conditions of combat operations.All activities are timed and scored: marching tens of kilometers with equipment and weapon in all weathers, obstacle courses and night navigation exercises.The instructors are experienced operatives assigned to the Commando School who monitor and punish failure with extra-hard physical activity.They are publicly known to be a Special Mission Unit supporting counter terrorism along with GIGN (see Ouvea cave, MS Pascal Paoli).Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a naval officer in World War II and helped to set up France's commando frogmen.
Marine Commando ForceMarine CommandosFranceFrench NavySpecial forcesLorientSaint-Mandrier-sur-MerCounter admiralPhilippe KiefferNaval MinistersMaritime PrefectNaval Action ForceSubmarine ForcesNaval AviationFORFUSCONaval FusiliersMaritime GendarmerieCurrent fleetCurrent deploymentsRanks in the French NavyHistory of the French NavyFuture of the French NavyEnsigns and pennantsHistoric shipsBattleshipsCruisersDestroyersSubmarinesShips of the lineSail frigatesCross of WarMilitary MedalLegion of HonourRibbonsGreen Beretsspecial operation forcesBrittanySpecial Operations Command (COS)French Armyhostage rescueevacuation operationsintelligencehigh-value targetsnaval airforceembargoimmigrationWorld War IIUnited KingdomBritish CommandosFree FrenchFusiliers MarinsAchnacarry, ScotlandNo. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando1st BFMCNormandy Landing308th Vietminh divisionNinh BìnhGeneral Giapbattle of DayGeneral de Lattrean operation in Burkina FasoBurkina FasoFree French NavyCommandoAchnacarryrappellinghand-to-hand combatHeckler & Koch USPGlock 17Beretta 92Heckler & Koch MP5FAMAS rifleETRACOcommandoskilled in actioncounter-terroristDirect actionAssaultclose quarters battleReconnaissanceIntelligence Operationscombat diversCombat dogs K9Ouvea caveMS Pascal PaoliJacques-Yves CousteaufrogmenFirst Indochina Warmilitary engineerLebanonPersian GulfNew CaledoniaOuvéa cave hostage takingSomaliaOperation Restore HopeRwandaMission AlbaAlbaniaOperation Allied ForceFR YugoslaviaAfghanistanPhilippinesOperation Enduring FreedomMali warOperation ServalOperation BarkhaneBurkina Faso hostage rescueForces spécialesList of French paratrooper unitsSpecial Boat ServiceMinistry of Armed Forces (France)French Armed ForcesArmée de terreMarine nationaleArmée de l'air et de l'espaceNational GendarmerieMinister of the Armed ForcesChief of the Defence StaffChief of Army StaffChief of Navy StaffChief of Air Force StaffArmy ranksNavy ranksAir Force ranksForeign LegionSpace Command