The war on terror is far from over. Last November 26, the world was in for another shock when reports of a terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, surfaced. In the end, 172 people lost their lives, and 370 were injured.
The attacks saw its end when Indian special armed forces regained control of all the sites held by the organization Deccan Mujahideen. Footage of soldiers being dropped from choppers on top of the Nariman house reminded me so much of US Navy Seal tactics. And rightfully so, since the elite but least known of the Indian Special Forces – the Marine Commandos or MarCos – had some US Navy Seal training.
The Indian MarCos was formed with a nucleus team of three Naval Officers, all of whom were sent to train with the US Navy Seals in 1987. After their SEAL training, they were trained further by the British Special Forces.
Like the US Navy Seals, the Indian MarCos are especially trained to execute covert operations. True to form, they wore black overalls and masks, hiding their identities all through the operations – interviews included, as seen in this video.
Just like the Navy Seals, they exemplify bravery and courage, bringing with them an air of mystique. It was certainly a lighthearted moment to find women and girls swoon over the MarCos amidst all the chaos. Not a few of them whipped out their camera phones to record MarCos exploits for personal posterity.
The MarCos are highly trained sky and deep sea divers, and can operate in a variety, including the most difficult, of terrains. These include beaches and jungles, as well as deep ravines – again, reminiscent of the US Navy Seals.
They are now famous among terrorists, who refer to them as the “Dadiwali Fauj” or the Bearded Army, and are widely feared. Although their existence is obviously not a secret, their strength and detailed capabilities certainly are. There may be about 2000 MarCos operating out of Mumbai in West India, Vizag in the east, and Cochin in the south, but this is just an approximation.
We may not see the war end soon, but having teams like the SEALs and the MarCos reassure us that we will not lose.
March 2nd, 2009 - 9:15 pm
The MARCOS have certainly improved there game and are constantly trying to get better. Certainly they are a new unit and they do suffer from a lack of funding and equipment as the politicians of India are corrupt.
March 31st, 2009 - 3:00 am
Marcos are bravehearts& legends forever .They should be equiped with most morden war fare, what ever the government may say to give these warfares.Indian Macos should have their own destiny & should try to get the heaven.
June 29th, 2009 - 10:08 am
I saw them in action once at vizag during the ‘President’s Fleet Review’ in 2006.Surely one of the best trained special forces in INDIA.
July 8th, 2009 - 10:28 pm
i m high in proud knowing the fact that people around the world had witnessed just a nail bit of indian millitary might i hope now western powers may respect us as we do for them
November 26th, 2009 - 2:56 am
[...] the attacks drew to a close, it was the time of the Indian MarCos or Marine Commandoes, an elite special forces who are likened to the Navy SEALs, to shine. Images [...]
February 4th, 2010 - 6:58 pm
i have got a few friends who r in navy. they always maintain that indian marcos are most physically fit commandos in the world. what they lack in specialist weaponry, they make it up with tactics and bravery.
its hight time that they are equipped with better weaponry and dedicated choppers. i hope indian govt has finally woken up to the threat of pak sponsered terrorism.
April 25th, 2010 - 7:16 pm
[...] United States Navy and the Indian Navy are engaging in the 14th round of the Malabar series of exercises that will involve practicing [...]
May 24th, 2010 - 1:31 am
The article mentions the terrotists belonging to the Deccan Mujahideein. The truth is that these terrorists belonged to the Lakshar-e-tayyaba, a terrotist organization in Pakistan. They were trained by the Pakistani army, navy and the recrutiment was done by the Laskhar. The terrorists were in constant communication with their handlers in Pakistan which become abudantly clear by the satellite telephone intercepts with the Indian authorities.
There are tonnes of evidence about the Pakistani involvement in the attack. This whole idea that a Indian group called Deccan Mujaheeding was behind is a false propoganda by Pakistan to cover its tracks. It is unfortunate that the Western media gives wide publicity to the Pakistani version when they themselves have very little idea of what is going on in the sub continent. Call it their ignorance or their indifference towards terrorism in the sub continent, India always gets the bad publicity and Pakistan appears as some kind of victim of jehadi violence.
April 19th, 2011 - 7:45 pm
i want to be a part of marcos
May 9th, 2011 - 9:19 am
they are one of the best team in the world they can do anything they thing to do.
April 24th, 2012 - 11:48 pm
i feel proud to hear that indian MARCOS are one of the best elite force in the world.i wanna be a Marco
May 17th, 2012 - 2:36 am
Marcos, Indian navy special force, they are highly trained professionals . They often compare to US navy seals but they lack of weaponary like them actually i’m very close to these stuff and know what they are , they are just fantastics i have seen
their training, saw them in action and many more they just perform COIN in less then 3 mins .i don’n wana mention any more cos many things are confidential , and classified.