Meet Marcos

[Capt.Popeye]

Marcos are allowed to grow a beard. In fact in Kashmir they are called 'Daadi waale Fauji'

Firstly all MARCOS personnel are part of the IN.
ALL Ratings and Officers of the IN are allowed to wear beards. This is a historical privilege of sailors, unlike the personnel of the other Indian Armed Forces. Where beards are permitted only for Sikhs. Though this rule is relaxed for personnel on active front-line duty (check pictures of Kargil ops.).

Until 1973, Officers and Ratings of the IN had to be either clean-shaven or sport a full beard. Then, the regs. were amended,along with the extinction of the "fore-and-aft" rig (open square-collared shirts) and Round (duck) caps for Ratings to Collared Shirts and Peaked Caps (and Berets). Simultaneously ALL IN personnel were permitted to grow "whiskers" i.e moustaches and/or sideburns. Thus erasing another 'differential' between Ratings and Officers which was a colonial legacy.
Check out the uniforms of other Naval Sailors (Ratings) to discern the difference.

That 'Daadi Wale Fauji' bit is only part of folk-lore.

 

[KS]

well depends when the foto is clicked
in public places they r certainly masked
during training they are not masked

Even during training they are masked many times :-

 

[Abingdonboy]

Even during training they are masked many times :-

Yes I belive that this is because this particular training mission was for the press so they were aware they were going to be photographed and thus covered their faces like they did on 26/11 and during navy/republic day celebrations. The other photos with them UN-masked, i suspect, is vecause these pics were probably only intended for internal navy use and not for distribution on the web and/or a lazy/incompetent photographer has been were he wasn't meant to be and not blured the faces. I also elive it depends on the nature of mission the MARCOs are carrying out-you can't wear a mask if you"re in a wet suit.

I agree that the 26/11 press conference of the MARCOs was unnescary however you have to understand how politicians in India think, it was they who ordered these men to do so, to put on a show of strength to cover up the fact they had been taken by complete surprise.


Have no doubt about it through their rigourous training regime in ALL climates in some of the best triaining institituions in the world and extensive combat experience the MARCOs truly are a force to be reckoned with and along with IA SF are respected the world over.

A recent pic of MARCOs training with their New Tavors (I believe Shiv took this quietly so that is why their faces aren't covered)
PHOTO: New pic of Indian commandos with Israeli TAR-21 assaul... on Twitpic

 

[MUHARIB]

Yeah it's their in WIKI,but yeah it's too secretive.
Rumors that they were involved in anti LTTE ops in 2006-2007 operation Leech.

And i ve also seen many people discussing about it in BR forums too...and also frm NCC we had gone to parachute regiment b'lore for weapons firing there i met a SM[subedhar major] a para commando he had the special force shoulder patch, para jump badge, para commando badge,1000 jumps badge and another badge which i dint recognize so i asked him what does that badge mean...he jus told me special forces!! Since he was already wearing the para-commando badge so i wanted to know which other special forces the army had but then unfortunately he had to leave.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

And i ve also seen many people discussing about it in BR forums too...and also frm NCC we had gone to parachute regiment b'lore for weapons firing there i met a SM[subedhar major] a para commando he had the special force shoulder patch, para jump badge, para commando badge,1000 jumps badge and another badge which i dint recognize so i asked him what does that badge mean...he jus told me special forces!! Since he was already wearing the para-commando badge so i wanted to know which other special forces the army had but then unfortunately he had to leave.

Up until 1965, the IA had battalions of the PARA REGT. which was raised by the British. In 1965, a special force (called Meghdoot Force)was set by Maj. Megh Singh of the Brigade of Guards and they operated successfully behind enemy lines. Thus, in 1966 the GoI sanctioned setting up of Special Forces. Initial inductees in to this force were from the PARAS, actually some of the PARAS got re-designated as Special Forces and re-trained for the task. That will account for the flashes and brevets that you saw on the uniform of the Subedar Major.
Check out the internet (google) for Special Forces of the Indian Army, you will find lots of information.

For starters check out:
Special Operations.Com

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

This pic is not of a MARCOS but of an Indian Army Para Commando.If you visit Bangalore you can see this picture outside the Army Recruitment Board office in M G Road.I think he is from 1 PARA SF which has deep sea divers.

Now on the topic of the best special forces in India..i wont agree with Marcos being the No.1. for the simple reason that much more Para Commandos see action on a daily basis than the Marcos guys.

So i wont think that the Para commandos are no. 2 but i will also say that there is no number 1.This is a thing in which there is no number 1 or 2 you have to just do your job efficiently.

Obviously the Marcos look more cool and hence i can see Marcos having more fans.

 

[KS]

<.....>

Obviously the Marcos look more cool and hence i can see Marcos having more fans.

If looking cool is the criteria, I would any day go with the PARA SF. They look mean and badass.

 

[GUNS-N- ROSES]

This pic is not of a MARCOS but of an Indian Army Para Commando.If you visit Bangalore you can see this picture outside the Army Recruitment Board office in M G Road.I think he is from 1 PARA SF which has deep sea divers.

Now on the topic of the best special forces in India..i wont agree with Marcos being the No.1. for the simple reason that much more Para Commandos see action on a daily basis than the Marcos guys.

So i wont think that the Para commandos are no. 2 but i will also say that there is no number 1.This is a thing in which there is no number 1 or 2 you have to just do your job efficiently.

Obviously the Marcos look more cool and hence i can see Marcos having more fans.

ok i think there exist a doubt in some members mind regarding who is best in terms of special ops.

marcos are meant for special marine ops be hence their capability in terms of land warfare is limited. SF para commanoes have a varied type of role.

the role and training philosophy is different so two cannot be compared. however purely on difficulty in training part Marcos takes the cake.

its totally unfair to compare special units be it NSG, Marcos, SPG or para commandoes

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

ok i think there exist a doubt in some members mind regarding who is best in terms of special ops.

marcos are meant for special marine ops be hence their capability in terms of land warfare is limited. SF para commanoes have a varied type of role.

the role and training philosophy is different so two cannot be compared. however purely on difficulty in training part Marcos takes the cake.

its totally unfair to compare special units be it NSG, Marcos, SPG or para commandoes

How is that?

Marcos recruits in the beginning of their trainning are Naval guys who dont even know to set an ambush.On the other hand Para Comando recruits are infantrymen who have either had some experience in Kashmir or North-east or atleast knows how to set an ambush,urban warfare and counter insurgency operations techniques since they were an infantryman.

So a Naval recruit needs 2 years of trainning to become a commando while an Infantryman needs only 6 months to become a commando..if the duration of training was the point of giving the Marcos an edge.

 

[GUNS-N- ROSES]

How is that?

Marcos recruits in the beginning of their trainning are Naval guys who dont even know to set an ambush.On the other hand Para Comando recruits are infantrymen who have either had some experience in Kashmir or North-east or atleast knows how to set an ambush,urban warfare and counter insurgency operations techniques since they were an infantryman.

So a Naval recruit needs 2 years of trainning to become a commando while an Infantryman needs only 6 months to become a commando..if the duration of training was the point of giving the Marcos an edge.

MY ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON THE PHYSICAL DIIFICULTY IN TRAINING.

MARCOS training is much more extensive then para commando training. they do all the physical trining of para commando plus deep sea diviking, under water operations training.

i am not talking abt tactics of marksmanship
my analysis is purely based on my interaction with my friends ina rmy and navy.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

MY ASSESSMENT IS BASED ON THE PHYSICAL DIIFICULTY IN TRAINING.

MARCOS training is much more extensive then para commando training. they do all the physical trining of para commando plus deep sea diviking, under water operations training.

i am not talking abt tactics of marksmanship
my analysis is purely based on my interaction with my friends ina rmy and navy.

Please see my earlier post with a picture..1 PARA also has Sea divers like the Marcos plus it does the anti hijacking and hostage crisis operations.

9 PARA does the mountainous and high altitude operations.

10 PARA for deserts.

21 PARA for jungle warfare.

Plus the elite 9 PARA SF and other NON SF PARA REGTT do counter insurgency operations and they even have a RR battalion.

SIRJI,MARCOS trainning cannot be more extensive than this.

Regarding the thing about physical fitness unless anyone does the PARA and MARCOS training..no one can really say which is tough and mind you it was the PARA Comandos which won the Special Forces competition in Africa in which many other countries SF took part.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

How is that?

Marcos recruits in the beginning of their trainning are Naval guys who dont even know to set an ambush.On the other hand Para Comando recruits are infantrymen who have either had some experience in Kashmir or North-east or atleast knows how to set an ambush,urban warfare and counter insurgency operations techniques since they were an infantryman.

So a Naval recruit needs 2 years of trainning to become a commando while an Infantryman needs only 6 months to become a commando..if the duration of training was the point of giving the Marcos an edge.

Hey guys (esp.CoLdHeArTeD DUDE) ,
Understand one thing, all recruits in to all the services are initially trained in weaponry and field-craft. For example even the recruit who joins the "Sappers and Miners", i.e. Corps of Engineers.
Likewise the recruits to the Navy at Chilika and Venduruthy. Then it gets more complicated and specialised. And just to explain a very important fact: the inductees into Marcos are all CCDT qualified men. That is frogmen, who (only) happen to be specialists in ..................... (find out the rest).
They are not "run of the mill" sailors!

 

[boris]

MARCOS training is hard ,yes it is but do you know why??

because of the terrain they operate in as they are amphibious oriented they have to be very tough the ocean is a very hard mistress ,try running 5 km and try swimming 2 km you will be more tired in swimming 2km plus being a certified diver i can say diving with equipment to do an operation is very challenging business .

plus the terrain specialities in para regt. is over all units can operate in any land based terrain ,para's can also do MARCOS like missions as they are sent to learn combat diving

but one thing i have seen that in CQB marcos are the deadliest force in the country.

 

[RayBan]

Its wrong to compare a secret agent with a commando.

They have different duties.

whom would you choose and for what from these two ? 1 James bond 2 john rambo.

 

[Markus]

whom would you choose and for what from these two ? 1 James bond 2 john rambo.

Bond for agent and Rambo for commando

You disagree ?