Misplaced Pages

KSK: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 01:26, 23 July 2007 editDe728631 (talk | contribs)56,510 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit Latest revision as of 02:19, 11 December 2023 edit undoDocWatson42 (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers217,777 editsm Made two minor corrections. 
(120 intermediate revisions by 91 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''KSK''' may refer to:
{{Infobox Military Unit
|unit_name= Kommando Spezialkräfte
|image=]
|caption=KSK Beret Badge
|country= ]
|type= ]
|branch= ]
|dates= 1996 (Created)<br/> 1997 (Activated) - Present
|specialization= Airborne operations, Raids, Unconventional Warfare, Counter-Insurgency, Anti-Terror
|command_structure=
|size= 1100 soldiers, 200-300 participate in combat operations
|current_commander= ] (''Brigadegeneral'') Hans-Christoph Ammon
|garrison= ], ], ]
|ceremonial_chief=
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles= ], ], ]
|notable_commanders=
|anniversaries=
|decorations= ] for KSK-members of Task Force K-Bar
}}
The '''Kommando Spezialkräfte''' (''Special Forces Command'', KSK) is part of ]'s ]. It is closely modelled on the ] ] (SAS).


* ], a Tibetan Buddhist temple in Santa Fe, New Mexico
==History==
* ], a town in Sheikhupura, Punjab, Pakistan
* {{lang|tr|]}}, a sports club from Izmir, Turkey
* ], an NGO in Malaysia
* ], in the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC)
* Khao Sam Kaeo, a center of metal production and transshipment on the ] (modern Thailand) in the mid-to-late 1st millennium BCE
* ], an American industrial rock band
* '']'', a former American sports blog
* {{lang|de|Kreissparkasse}}, a subcategory of ]
* {{lang|de|]}}, part of Germany's special forces
* ], a container terminal of the Port of Novorossiysk on the Russian Black Sea coast
* ], Indian scientist


{{Disambiguation}}
The KSK was established in 1996 and was activated on ], ], to face the new threats emerging after the end of the ]. Before that, (West) Germany had placed little emphasis on Special Forces, just relying on the special police ] unit ]. At the time, the only units comparable to commandos were at each of the three German ] the ] companies (a long range reconnaissance unit - ]) and now partly merged into the KSK.

Since its inception, the KSK has seen duty in the wars in ], ] and in ]. Like all German military units, it needs authorization by the ] for deployment; however, specific details about its missions are top secret. Details on current and past missions - even statistical information such as success or casualty rates - are being withheld even from members of parliament. This practice drew heavy criticism, and there are plans to increase transparency and accountability by relaying mission details to selected members of the Bundestag.

==Structure==
The KSK is stationed in ] in the ] area in southern Germany. It consists of about 1100 soldiers, but only a nucleus (200-300) of these are in fighting units. The KSK is a part of the Special Operations Division (Div. Spezielle Operationen - DSO).

The fighting units are divided into four ] companies of about 100 men each and the ''special command company'' with veteran members, taking supporting tasks. Each of the four commando companies has five specialised platoons:
*1st platoon: land insertions
*2nd platoon: airborne operations
*3rd platoon: amphibious operations
*4th platoon: operations in special geographic or meteorologic surroundings (e.g. mountains or polar-regions)
*5th platoon: reconnaissance, ] and ] 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 weapons expert, ], ] or communications expert respectively. Additionally a group can contain other specialists, e.g. heavy weapons or language experts.

==Selection and training==

Initially, only officers and non-commissioned officers of the ''Bundeswehr'' could apply to the KSK. The basic ''Bundeswehr'' Commando course (''"Einzelkämpferlehrgang"'') was a prerequisite for application. Since 2005, application is also open for civilians and enlisted personnel, who have to complete an 18-month ] training before the KSK selection phases.

The selection is divided into two phases, a three-week-long first phase with a fitness and psychological test (about 50% pass rate) and a three-month-long second phase testing physical endurance (8 - 10% pass rate). The KSK use the ] as a testing area for this phase. In this time the candidates must undergo a 90-hour long distance cross-country run. Then they have to go through a three weeks international survival, escape and evasion course called ''Combat Survival Course'' at the German ''Special Operations Training Centre'' (formerly the ''International Long Range Reconnaissance School'') in ].

If candidates have passed these tests, they can begin their 2 to 3 year training in the KSK. This training includes about 20 Jungle, Desert, Urban and Counter-terrorism specialist courses at over 17 schools worldwide, e.g. in ] (Arctic), ] (Mountains), ]/] or ] (Desert), ] (Water) or ] (Jungle).

] (commander of the KSK from Nov. 24, 2000 to November 4, 2003) claimed in his book "Geheime Krieger" (=secret warriors) that the KSK-soldiers ''"know their roots exactly"'', and that amongst them the ]' missions are ''"downright legendary"''.<ref>, ] Online, February 24, 2007.</ref>

==Equipment==
] of the KSK]]
*] ]
*]
*] ] with ] grenade launcher, in different versions including the ] ]
*] ] in various versions including the ]
*] submachine gun
*] submachine gun
*] ]
*] sniper rifle
*] ]
*] ]
*] ]
*] ]
*] ] ]
*] utility vehicles
*]
*]s
*]s
*] and ] equipment

==See also==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*] (disputed heritage)

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*{{de icon}}
]
]

]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 02:19, 11 December 2023

KSK may refer to:

Topics referred to by the same term Disambiguation iconThis disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title KSK.
If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Category: