Special Forces Command (Cambodia)

Special Forces Command
បញ្ជាការដ្ឋានទ័ពពិសេស
Country	Cambodia
Allegiance	HM The King
Branch	Royal Cambodian Army
Type	Special forces
Size	14 battalions
Part of	Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
Garrison/HQ	Kandal Province
Nickname(s)	SF-911
Motto(s)	"អ្នកណាហ៊ានសាក ឬ អ្នកណាខ្លាំងចូលមក" (Khmer) ("Who Dares Try")
Colors	Red beret
Commanders
Current commander	Maj Gen Sum Samnang

The Special Forces Command (Khmer: បញ្ជាការដ្ឋានទ័ពពិសេស), previously known as the 911th Special Forces Regiment until July 2020,^[1] is the special forces unit of the Royal Cambodian Army.^[2] Most of its commandos have graduated from training under Kopassus instructors. In order to graduate from the school, all cadets have to pass the test set. On passing, cadets receive their own red beret and a wings badge.

The Special Forces Command has multiple units, including snipers, naval units, and an anti-terrorist division.^[3]

Organization and structure

Royal Cambodian National Counter-Terrorism Special Forces training exercise.

The Operation Base of the Special Forces Command is near Takethmey Village, Kambol Commune, Angsnoul District, Kandal Province. This unit is under direct command of the High Command Headquarters of Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. The Special Forces Command has seven branches with 14 battalions under their control.

Following units is distributed in the Battalions:

• Commando 1 to Commando 4 (Airborne Commando)
• Commando 5 to Commando 9 (Attack Commando)
• Commando 10 to Commando 12 (Support Commando)
• Special Group 13 (Close Protection)
• Counter-terrorist Group 14

Total staff 5,000

Counter terrorist 14 Group is Cambodian first specialized anti terrorist unit, and is the command SWAT component. Counter terrorist 14 Group support law enforcement in anti terrorist operations

The SF regularly conduct trainings and joint exercises such as:

• Special forces 6 course (commando Red Barret)
• Airborne 11 Course (para)
• Freefall 3 Course
• Scuba 3 Course (Chhak Sea)
• Terrorist Counter 3 Course (T.O)
• Training has also been conducted in Indonesia under a special program at Batujajar. Batujajar special forces training center [id] is located 22 kilometers from Bandung (West Java), where SF soldiers have been trained in parachute jumping and Landing zone tactics.

Equipment

The special forces' equipment varies from that of the rest of the army. For example, the AK-47 (Type 56) rifle, although reliable and abundant, is not accurate, and is too powerful for safe use by elite units specializing in close-quarters combat and hostage situations.^{[citation needed]}

A soldier from the Cambodian Prime Minister's Bodyguard Unit equipped with QBZ-97.

References

1. "ប្រកាសកែសម្រួលជាផ្លូវការកងពលតូចទ័ពពិសេសឆត្រយោង៩១១ ទៅជាបញ្ជាការដ្ឋានទ័ពពិសេស, ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ឯក ហ៊ុន ម៉ាណែត ណែនាំឲ្យពង្រឹងសមត្ថភាពកងកម្លាំងបន្ថែមទៀត". /m.freshnewsasia.com. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
2. "อวดขีปนาวุธ..สอย F16 ได้จริง ฮุนเซน ไม่ได้โม้!! - IndoChina - Manager Online" (in Thai). Manager.co.th. October 13, 2009. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved 2015-02-20.
3. Gary Way (September 9, 1994). "Indonesia to aid elite troops". Phnom Penh Post. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022.