OKK has multiple Groups that operate on different operational levels.
The way the OKK works is very poorly transelated for the media and there is a reason for this. Do you know ever look at the videos that have been around of Maroon's like media displays etc. Running around shooting at baloons rolling like idiots etc. Its all on purpose, a specifically choreographed routine, did you ever notice they do the same drills for years for the media...this is on purpose, it maintains the operational security of the Maroons. They even were choreographed on how they walk in order to hide how our maroons move/fight. These media displays are also often demonstated by people who arent actually maroons but are media officers and NCOs just showing off a routine they practice and learn off. Its like a dance to them.
Trust me when I tell you on this, no maroon beret, up until the last couple of years, has ever made an appearance to the public and performed tactics / movements / drills the way they do in reality behind closed doors. It is an offense that can get the media officer court marshaled unless specific permission is granted in written format.
Maroon Beret is also a generalized term that many people who haven't worked with Maroon Berets fail to understand. Any Uzman, AstSubay, or Subay in our military can earn the Maroon Beret by simply performing in and passing a special physical/mental course held once a year in OKK training command. That soldier will then return to his regular unit. Although they are not officially a Maroon Beret passing this course (which must be done every year) allows them to stay on a list of Reserves that can be called up to join the Maroons as support staff.
It is the operational teams within the Maroon Berets that matter. There are entire Maroon beret teams of Uzman's. But most people think you have to be atleast AstSubay to become one. Untrue again.
The teams work on different levels of operational capability and security clearance. Similar to the US Tier system maybe.
The highest echelon teams in our Maroons are unheard of and completely unseen in the media. Even if you pass the selection as an Uzman you receive automatic promotion to Astsubay upon Graduation. Of these High tier teams which are comparable to the highest capability SAS teams and the highly secretive Spetsnaz teams that work neither for GRU or regular military branches.Maroons from echelon 2 teams have to pass a whole new selection course to get in to the first Echelon.
The numbers of our top echelon Maroons is extremely low.
The numbers of what you would call regular Maroons (Work against PKK in North Iraq etc) is also quite low but more than 200 anyway.
The number of third echelon Maroons which consist of Maroons who have returned to regular units, admin and support personnel, logistics personnel, and teams of Uzmans is in the thousands.
I have worked as OPFOR for so many different maroon teams that I can tell you the level of quality from one echelon to the other is actually quite large. Even MAK who the media are obsessed with and think are the best of the best are in fact not the toughest ive faced. Spent 5 days fighting MAK with simulator gear During EFES 2011 and although they are good at what they are meant to do, track and rescue VIPs, they are not superior to some of the other teams that we possess.
Never once went OPFOR for First Echelon Maroons, because they do not go to regular military exercises. When First Echelon Maroons are looking for training and exercises then Echolon 2 Maroons sometimes are the enemy; what we were told was that most of the time other First Echelon teams would act as the enemy.
To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if Echelon 1 members numbered between 50-100.