Pakistan Army Ssg Commandos Special Service Group (SSG) is a special operations military unit of Pakistan Army mandated with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and counter-terrorism. The SSG is an i
ndependent commando division of Pakistan Army. It is an elite special operations force similar to the United States Army Special Forces (G...reen Berets) and the British Army's SAS. The SSG regularly conducts its exercises with U.S. Special Forces, PLA Special Operations Forces, and Special Air Service of United Kingdom. Official numbers are put at 7,000 men, in 10 Battalions; however the actual strength is classified. It is estimated to have been increased to 7 Battalions, with the eventual formation of 3 Brigades of Special Forces (9 Battalions). Pakistani Special Forces have 10 battalions
1st Commando YALDARAM Battalion
2nd Commando RAHBER Battalion
3rd Commando POWINDAH Battalion
4th Commando YALGHAR Battalion
5th Commando ZILZAAL Battalion
6th Commando SAMSAAM Battalion
7th Commando ZARRAR Battalion (Anti-terrorism)
8th Commando JANBAZ Battalion
9th Commando Battalion
10th Commando Battalion . ................ Each battalion consists of 700 men in four companies, with each company split into platoons and then into 10-man teams. Battalions are commanded by Lieutenant Colonels
Plus three independent commando companies:
MUSACompany - Specializes in Amphibious Operations
ZARRAR & KARRAR Company - Specializes in Counter-Terrorism
*TRAINING*
SSG officers must have at least two years of prior military experience and volunteer from other formations for three-year assignments with the SSG; non-commissioned officers and enlisted men volunteer from other formations to serve permanently in the SSG. All trainees must participate in an eight month SSG course at Cherat. The SSG course emphasizes physical conditioning, including a 50-mile march in 12 hours and a five mile run in 40 minutes with full gear. Following the SSG course, trainees must go through the airborne training to get their Commando wing form the SSG Airborne School. The course lasts four weeks, with wings awarded after five day-jumps and two night-jumps. Many in the SSG school are selected for additional specialist training. A HALO course is given at Peshawar with a "Skydiver" tab awarded after 25 freefall jumps. A "Mountain Warfare" qualification badge is given after completing a course at the Mountain Warfare School in Abbottabad. A "Combat Diver" badge is awarded for the course held by the Naval Special Services Group SSGN at Karachi. (Three classes of combat swimmers are recognized: 1st class to those completing an 18-mile swim, 2nd class to those finishing a 12-mile swim, and 3rd class for a 6-mile swim.) Due to Siachen crisis, a Snow and High Altitude Warfare School was established in the Northern Areas after splitting off from the Army School of Physical Training and Mountain Warfare in Abottabad.
