Special Services Group Of Pakistan Army

The Special Services Group (SSG) is a special operations force of the Pakistan Army. It is quite similar to the U.S. Army's Special Forces and the British Army's SAS. The SSG, headquartered at Tarbela, is headed by a Major-General and divided into ten battalions, the actual strength of which is classified.

Training :-

Special Services Group Of Pakistan Army
Insignia

SSG officers must have at least five years of prior military experience and volunteer from other formations for two-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 a nine-month SSG course at Cherat. The SSG course emphasizes physical conditioning, including a 36-mile march in 12 hours and a five-mile run in 20 minutes with full gear. Following the SSG course, trainees must go through the airborne training to get their commando wings from the SSG Airborne School. The course lasts four weeks, with wings awarded after five day-jumps and three night-jumps. The SSG recruits get trained in hand-to-hand combat training and very hard physical fitness training; only about 25% of recruits make it through to the Pakistan SSG due to the very tough training course.

Uniform :-

The commandos are distinguished by their insignia of maroon berets, a common color for airborne troops, with a silver metal tab on a light blue felt square with a dagger and lightning bolts, and a wing on the right side of the chest. The combat uniform of the SSG is similar to the US woodland pattern camouflage coat and pants. Other uniforms include camouflage and black dungarees (for the CT team). 

Equipment :-

The SSG is equipped with an array of modern weaponry which includes, Steyr AUG, SIG 552 LR, HK G3, and Chinese Type-81/56 rifles, Colt M4 carbines, and FN P90 and HK-MP5 Submachine guns (many different variants). Light machine gun in use is Rheinmetall MG3 (locally produced along with HK G3s and MP5s). In sniper or Marksman role, the SSG CT (Counter-Terrorism) teams are equipped with Barrett M82, Finnish Tikka bolt-action rifles, Steyr sniper SSG 69, POF Eye Corner shot gun and HK PSG1 and Dragunov SVD Semi-automatic rifles. Pistols include various Heckler & K

och & Glock models.

Organisation :-

Pakistani special forces have 10 battalions

- 1st Commando Yaldrum Battalion

- 2nd Commando Rahbar Battalion

- 3rd Commando Powindahs Battalion

- 4th Commando Yalghar Battalion

- 5th Commando Zilzaal Battalion

- 6th Commando AL Samsaam Battalion

- 7th Commando Babrum 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 :

- Musa Company - Specializes in Amphibious Operations

- Zarrar Company - Specializes in Counter-terrorism

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