Commando facts for kids
A commando is a soldier or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations force often specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting or abseiling.
Originally "a commando" was a type of combat unit, as opposed to an individual in that unit. In other languages, commando and kommando denote a "command", including the sense of a military or an elite special operations unit.
In the militaries and governments of most countries, commandos are distinctive in that they specialize in assault on unconventional high-value targets. Commandos differ from other types of special forces in that they primarily operate in overt combat, front-line reconnaissance, and raiding, rather than long range reconnaissance and unconventional warfare.
In English, occasionally to distinguish between an individual commando and the unit Commando, the unit is capitalized.
Etymology
The word stems from the Afrikaans word kommando, which translates roughly to "mobile infantry regiment". This term originally referred to mounted infantry regiments, who fought against the British Army in the first and second Boer Wars.
Images for kids
-
British Commandos wearing the green beret and carrying the Bergen rucksack during the Normandy landings
-
The Commando Memorial unveiled in 1952 in Scotland is dedicated to the World War II British Commandos
-
An Iranian marine sniper wearing a ghillie suit and using a Steyr HS .50 during the Velayat 94 military exercise.
-
Russian Paratroopers from the 106th Guards Airborne Tula Division stand to attention during an exercise in Kazakhstan.
-
Russian Naval Infantrymen during the Zapad-2013 Strategic Exercise in Kaliningrad, 2013.