The South Africa Special Forces are known as the Recces and are the main special forces branch of the defense force for South Africa.
Their History
The South African Special Forces Brigade, as they are also known, were created on 1st October1972 as a reconnaissance commando team. They now consist of several regiments and are headquartered in Seskop, Pretoria Gauteng. They have been restructured several times through the years and now consist of several brigade sized forces.
How To Become A Member Of The Recces
All members of the Recces must be soldiers as well as South African Citizens to apply for this special forces unit which is considered to be one of the most challenging in the world. There is pre-selection training, as well as other courses for those who make this first cut. Candidates must be part of the military and must meet very stringent requirements in order to be considered for pre-selection training.
Recces Training
Pre-selection training consists of psychological and physical tests as well as oral examinations. There are strenuous physical tests of endurance that must be performed. These include a 3 km run in full gear to be completed in 13 minutes; 67 sit ups to be done in 2 minutes, rope climbing, wall scaling and 40 non-stop push ups. In addition, each cadet has to perform 120 shuttle kicks, climb a wall that is 10 ft high and complete a 15 kms march within 2 hours.
They must demonstrate maturity as well as physical qualifications before they can continue to the parachuting course and then to the orientation course.
The psychological tests include oral interviews with Special Forces NCOs in addition to written tests. Even a hint of mental instability can lead to instant exclusion from the army training.
After they have completed the Orientation course, all soldiers must then go through intensive land, sea and airborne training.
Land training includes tracking and survival, reconnaissance and demolitions and sniping.
Sea training includes swimming, navigation, diving, underwater demolitions and beach reconnaissance.
Advanced airborne training includes rappelling and free falling.
What Are They Best At?
They are best at reconnaissance, sabotage, underwater demolition and counter terrorism.
Weapons Of The Recces
A full range of military weapons are used by this special forces brigade similar to those used by the SAS and Navy Seals.
Known Missions
The South African Recces were active in Angola as well as Namibia during the 70s and the 80s, during which time their main adversary was the South West Africa’s People Organization ( SWAPO). The SWAPO was comprised of a group of guerillas fighting for an independent Namibia.
“Operation Mebos”, carried out in 1982 was one of their most well known operations. During this operation, the Recces stormed and destroyed the SWAPO headquarters, which was located deep into Angola. Later, in 1984, they carried out “Operation Askari”. In this operation, they severed all supply lines to and from SWAPO.
Units
There are several units consisting of the 1 Reconnaissance Commando, the 4 Reconnaissance Commando, the 5 Reconnaissance Commando and the 7th Medical Battalion.
Are They Professional Soldiers?
The members of this special forces elite team are professional soldiers, most of whom remain with the special forces until retirement.
Resources
This Article is written by James Kara Murat, contributor of US Navy SEAL Information Portal.
June 4th, 2010 - 11:27 pm
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June 4th, 2010 - 11:28 pm
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June 6th, 2010 - 2:41 pm
Rubbish
The selection criteria focused on the blue eyed good boys from good homes. I still laugh to think about the little Afrikaaner pansy boys in the so called recces. I have had several fights with them, god help the last one because he did, had it not been for a crowd I would have kicked him to death
June 6th, 2010 - 5:04 pm
[...] USNavySealStore.com, the contributor of US Navy Seal Store. More information on the subject is at Who Are The South Africa Special Forces?, and related resources can be found at US Navy Seal Information [...]
June 16th, 2010 - 11:40 am
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July 24th, 2010 - 7:50 am
Shame John, you must have got bliksemed by a recces before, if you really knew who they were you would never have the balls to post anything like that. My old man and his mates were and are recces, they are not Afrikaans and they happened to kick some ass in Angola. Oh, and by the way, what a pansy you are kicking someone in front of a crowd! You probably had backup otherwise yo wouldn’t be able to type
August 14th, 2010 - 11:23 am
hahaha shame man….if they said they were recces then they lied…..recce won’t admit he is one….you’l just wake up in a ditch not knowing what happened and why your limbs won’t work..
October 21st, 2010 - 7:14 pm
[...] USNavySealStore.com, the contributor of US Navy Seal Store. More information on the subject is at Who Are The South Africa Special Forces?, and related resources can be found at US Navy Seal Information [...]
January 25th, 2011 - 7:51 pm
[...] USNavySealStore.com, the contributor of US Navy Seal Store. More information on the subject is at Who Are The South Africa Special Forces?, and related resources can be found at US Navy Seal Information [...]
July 1st, 2011 - 1:50 pm
U know john u really are one stupid person. The SAS was cautious about these guys. They are broken mentally to kill on command, friend or enemy.
With the training they had, if that guy was one of them, he would have killed u without thinking.
U r also a twat for trying to insult them for that. They were one of the main reasons south africa didn’t fall.
Sithole, isn’t that a black surname? Oh no please don’t tell me u fought for swapo. U guys got ur butts handed to u on a silver platter.
U know what john? When u grow up, come speak among the grown ups.
July 5th, 2011 - 6:14 am
I would like to join the navy seals and help to protect our sea,hoever i am not sure how to apply.
August 3rd, 2011 - 12:09 am
hi i am not a member of the SA army but would like to be part of the special forces in Pretoria.
what is the way to go.
I really need a job as my Boss are now starting to retrench myself and other members .
please inform me what to do to become a member of the special forces
September 6th, 2011 - 10:19 pm
To all the RECCES out there, thank you for what you are doing so I can enjoy the life I have in SA now.to all the fallen ones, thank you to your familys for being there for you and letting you do what you did for us. God Bless.
September 22nd, 2011 - 11:53 am
i know what it like to go true hell 4 4years day and night 24h a day.if u dont know what u talking of keep quit 1 shot u wont see the next foot step of ur life.
November 18th, 2011 - 6:54 pm
I would like to join the SA Special Forces. I think I am a good perseverer,I can take every tough physical challenge as long as the had ever been someone who did it and ofcause I have brains
November 24th, 2011 - 4:20 pm
To the bloke thats bragging bout kicking some1 while down. My old man is AFRIKAANS and was pretty high up in RECCES and i tell you what my whole childhood i was told that he worked for the government in computers it was only as a 17 year old when he retierd that my brother and me were told what he really did so if some1 tell u they r in the sa special forces and u can beat the crap out of him, his most likelly full of shyte. That sort of ppl don’t walk around and advertise themselfs in doing that they r painting a big red target on there foreheads……So please get over yourself!!!!
December 1st, 2011 - 6:33 am
To the person with no brains( j sithole) If you were ever in the presence of a recce you would have known about it,because they dont take sh@t from boys like you.I wonder if you have ever been in a fight,because real men do not run arround and tell the world about it,they are actualy very remoursful you idiot.
December 3rd, 2011 - 8:45 am
U wanto join sa spec forces ? JOhan rel. well u got INternet so use it. i work for a Private Military Contractor Company, and could always use afew extra men, doNOT become a Mercenary(PMC) without MIlitary training II MEAN IT. the first time i was deployed. i was changed forever. id never imagine everything i went through. that was without training.
January 2nd, 2012 - 10:11 am
Hi gents I’m a south African but am in the British ay and was wondering what requirements I would need to join the south African special forces …and how to get hold of applications and so forth .. Your advice willbe much appreciated
February 8th, 2012 - 12:39 pm
I was in the SA Army and I have a lot of respect for the Recces. These guys go and do what the average Joe fears to do.
You must be in the SA military to apply for pre selection to the Recces or Special Forces and I believe you should be younger than 28 years of age. Had some friends who went for pre selection,believe me when I say, it is extremely tough. In the history of the Recces, there have been less than a 1300 Operators, that should tell you something!! Only the best of the best make it!!
March 4th, 2012 - 5:49 pm
To those wanting to join SA Special Forces and asking how to join them on this site or that you don’t know how to apply, you don’t have the capacity to join them. Firstly, you lack attention to detail. In the article it states that SA Special Forces are recruited from within the SA military. So you have to be in the military to join Special forces. You first have to prove yourself within the military before your application for special forces will even be considered.
The military and especially the special forces are not for people about to be retrenched and looking for a job. They need dedicated careerists.
John Sithole, anyone that tells you he is/was a recce or in special forces, definitely isn’t/wasn’t. You could be living next to a special forces soldier for years and he would look just like a neighbour normally does. You would never know what he really does for a living except that he goes away on business. His life depends upon keeping his occupation secret, even after retirement because he will have enemies that want to settle a score.
March 4th, 2012 - 5:55 pm
Have a look at this from the SA Special Forces League before you consider claiming to have been one or say false things about them. http://www.recce.co.za/wall-of-shame-1