What is so special about the Para SF of the Indian Army?

As per the latest surgical strike by THE INDIAN ARMY, 4 Para SF & 9 Para SF went across the Line of Control and killed 40 terrorists and their handlers with zero casualties.

On 29 September, eleven days after the Uri attack, the Indian Army had conducted "surgical strikes" against suspected militants in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, claiming that it had received intelligence that the militants were planning "terrorist strikes" against India.

Three to four teams of 70–80 commandos from 4 and 9 Para (Special Forces) to cross the LoC over at several separate points shortly after midnight IST on 29 September (18:30 hours UTC, 28 Sep). Teams from 4 Para SF crossed the LoC in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district, with teams from 9 Para SF simultaneously crossing the LoC in Poonch district. By 2 a.m. IST, according to army sources, the special forces teams had travelled 1–3 km on foot, and had begun destroying the terrorist bases with hand-held grenade and 84 mm rocket launchers. The teams then swiftly returned to the Indian side of the Line of Control, suffering only one casualty, a soldier wounded after tripping a land mine.

WHO ARE THESE PARA COMMANDOS?

The Paratroopers (Airborne) are Elite Troops, not Special Forces. Yet their selection compares to some of the Top Special forces Worldwide. Only these Paratroopers can aspire to be a Para Commando (Also called Para SF) and have to take part in one of the toughest selection process in the world.

Para Commandos are Special Forces unit of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment. according to reports, out of 4500 Elite Paratroopers (Airborne) only 1200 are Special Para Commandos (SF).

Operate in Squads of 6: Weapons, Demolition, Navigation, Communication & Medical

All Indian paratroopers are volunteers. Some enter the Para regiments fresh from recruitment, while others transfer in from regular army units. The first process for an aspirant includes getting into the Paratroopers (Airborne) Battalions (5, 6, 7). This includes a 3-6 months rigorous probation/selection period with a passing rate of just about 30% or less on average.

One part was the traditional parachute force, with the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Parachute. The other were the five Parachute (SF) units with the 1 Para (SF) , 2 Para (SF), 9 Para (SF), 10 Para (SF) and 21st Parachute (Special Forces). The 1 Para (SF) is trained for mountain warfare, the 9 Para (SF) is trained for jungle warfare and the 10 Para (SF) is trained for desert warfare, & so on.

The initial phase is a three month probationary training which filters out the promising candidates for the next phases of training. Those who successfully complete the selection are awarded the Para wings and the Maroon Beret, before commencing their yearlong initial Para (Special Forces) battalions (1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21 PARA), which takes place twice a year in the spring and the autumn term.

A notable aspect of this selection is the route match, which involves running 60-70 km with 23 kgs of weight. It is one of the longest and toughest phases in world where the applicant is exposed to sleep deprivation, humiliation, exhaustion, mental and physical torture. The selection has reported deaths in the process itself. The attrition rate is very high and is in between 90-95 percent. [100 km Endurance Run in approx. 13 hrs]

TRAINING

The initial phase is a three month probationary training of physical fitness and aptitude test and it is so gruesome that more than 80% of the applicants drop out. Those who successfully complete the test are subjected to a five-week-long process called the ‘hell’s week’ where commandos are put through extreme sleep deprivation coupled with the most difficult physical tasks, like shooting a target 25 meters away with a man standing next to it, who is usually your buddy.

It's also where they believe in something called stress inoculation. They expose you to pressure and suffering in training so you'll build up your immunity. It's a kind of classic psychological conditioning in various types of hostile control scenarios: the techniques were designed to disorient, break-down, isolate, and exploit them in their weakened state. Regardless of how successfully you apply what you've learned, everyone is pretty miserable.

The first phase teaches you how to try to survive alone in the wilderness (edible bugs & plants, how to build tools & get warm, etc...).

The second teaches how to evade capture & possibly signal friendlies to come rescue you. The third (and absolute worst) is about dealing with capture, resisting interrogation, enduring certain techniques, which I personally think is a good thing because it helps to know how bad things can get).

All in all, even though you know they can't hurt you & it's not going to last very long, at the time your mind forgets that & it becomes a living nightmare beyond belief; something that has to be experienced to fully appreciate.

The Special Forces training is 3.5 years, the longest anywhere and the training is also a continuous process, in the special forces, the members are imparted both basic and advance training. They are taught specialized mode of infiltration and ex-filtration, either by air (combat free-fall) or sea (combat diving).

These commandos are even capable of firing while lying down, standing, running full-sprint, even backwards and looking into a mirror – with a reaction time of 0.27 seconds.

Specialties: Infiltration, ex-filtration, assault, room and building intervention, intelligence gathering, patrolling, ambush tactics, counter-ambush tactics, counter insurgency, counter-terrorism, unconventional warfare, guerrilla warfare, asymmetric warfare, raids & sabotage, martial arts training, tactical shooting, stress firing, reflex shooting, buddy system drills, close quarter battle, tactical driving, advance weapon courses & handling, sniping, demolition training, survival skills, linguistic training, logistic training, trade-craft training is imparted by the intelligence agencies.

Excellent Video... U may consider watching it... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxZJiv48miA

Equipment

Para (SF) have access to various types of infantry weapons required for particular missions.

• Small Arms
• Pistol Auto 9mm 1A Semi-automatic pistol
• Glock 17 9mm Semi-automatic pistol
• Beretta 92 9mm Semi-automatic pistol
• Heckler & Koch MP5 Sub-machine gun
• Micro Uzi 9mm Sub-machine gun
• IWI Galil Assault rifle
• IWI TAR-21 Tavor Assault rifle
• M4A1 Carbine
• MPi KMS-72 East German made side-folded Kalashnikov rifle
• PM Md.90 Assault rifle
• VZ. 58 Pi Assault rifle
• SVD Dragunov Semi-automatic sniper rifle
• IWI Galil Sniper Semi-automatic sniper rifle
• Mauser SP66 Bolt-action sniper rifle
• PKM General purpose machine gun
• Uk vz. 59L Light machine gun
• MG 2A1 General purpose machine gun
• AGS-17 Plamya Automatic grenade launcher.
• C-90-CR-RB (M3) Disposal rocket launcher.
• RL MkIII 84mm Recoilles rifle
• B-300 Shipon 82mm Rocket launcher

Transport

• C-130J Super Hercules tactical transport aircraft
• HAL Dhruv utility helicopter
• All Terrain Vehicles
• HAL Cheetak utility helicopter

Note: Some people have been inquiring, so according to sources, you should not cross the maximum age limit of 25 years and have the minimum age limit of 18 years.

As per my Para friend you have to apply within 5 years of joining a regiment. It is easier to join as a soldier. Officer posts are far and few in Para (SF) and very difficult unless you have good contacts.

However, it is indeed very difficult to get in, approx 1000–800 apply only 100 or even less remain for probation. After the 3 month probation gets over, who knows…?! Most have been know to quit on their own…!