MARCOS, previously named as Marine Commando Force (MCF), is the special forces unit

of the Indian Navy created for conducting special operations .All MARCOS personnel
are males selected from the Indian Navy. They are selected when they are in their
early 20s and have to go through a stringent selection process and training. The
selection standards are extremely high. The training is a continuous process.
American and British special forces assisted in the initial training, which now
consists of a two-year course for new recruits. The MARCOS are trained in every
kind of weapon and instruments, from knives and crossbows to sniper rifles,
handguns, assault rifles, submachine guns and bare hands. Being divers, they can
reach hostile shores swimming underwater.

Para (Special Forces) is a special forces unit of the Indian Army's Parachute
Regiment .The unit (Para Commandos, Indian Army) first saw action in the 1971
Indo-Pakistani war, the first six-man assault team was inserted 240 kilometres (150
miles) deep into Indus and Charchao, where they carried out raids. The assault team
killed 473 and wounded 140 on the Pakistani side. In addition, they also destroyed
35mm artillery guns of the Pakistan independent battery, and took 18 members of the
elite Special Services Group of the Pakistan Army hostage. They also destroyed an
airfield. In Bangladesh 2 PARA (Airborne), which was a part of 50 (Independent)
Parachute Brigade, carried out India's first airborne assault operation to capture
Poongli Bridge in Mymensingh District near Dhaka. Subsequently, they were the first
unit to enter Dhaka. For this action 2 PARA were given the Battle Honour of Poongli
Bridge and the Theater Honour Dhaka.All Indian paratroopers are volunteers. Some
enter the Para regiments fresh from recruitment, while others transfer in from
regular army units.

The Garud Commando Force is the special forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was
formed in September 2004 and has a current strength of approximately 1080
personnel.The unit derives its name from Garuda, a divine bird-like creature of
Hindu Mythology. Garud is tasked with the protection of critical Air Force bases
and installations; search and rescue during peace and hostilities and disaster
relief during calamities.After attempts by terrorists to attack two major air bases
in Jammu and Kashmir in 2001, Indian Air Force commanders felt the need for a
specialized force to protect these critical elements and to have a dedicated
Commando Force trained in Special Forces techniques .In order to address the need
for a dedicated force, in September 2003, the Government of India authorized a 1080
strong force to be raised and trained on the lines of the Para commandos of the
army and MARCOS of the Indian Navy.In the aftermath of the Pathankot Terror Attack,
Indian Air Force decided to raise ten additional squadrons of Garud commandos,
comprising about 700 personnel, bringing the total strength of the force to 1780.