Maroon Berets
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For the symbol of airborne forces, see Maroon beret
The Maroon Berets are an elite armed force that was created by officers from the Turkish Army. The unit was created to eliminate any inside or outside attacks to the country. An MB officer can survive in any type of terrain and climate, as they are highly trained, educated and special soldiers. Today the force is under the order of Special Forces (old Special Warfare Unit). They also work along with Attack Search & Rescue Teams (ASR) and Underwater Attack Teams (UWA) (Marine Search Teams).
Turkish Maroon Berets (MB) came into the centre of the spotlight when they captured the PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in Kenya[1][2]. The identities of MBs remain classified by MIT (Turkish Secret Service).
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[edit] Education & Training
There are three categories of education and training that an MB will undergo. These are a. Domestic b. International c. Specialty
Within these three categories, there are 47 different subjects. Domestic training takes 72 weeks of basic training; International training takes 10 to 52 weeks of specialized training in different countries. It takes 3.5 years to become an MB.
These are some of the training and education they have to accomplish before they become an MB. In the domestic period, Maroon Berets undertake training in combat techniques, physical education and fitness, martial arts, identifying-locating, long distance reconnaissance, infiltration, survival, interrogation/anti-interrogation, escape, special operations, psychological operations, hostage/civilian rescue & assistance, airborne operations, VIP protection, arctic warfare, combat diving, and paragliding. In the specialty training phase, prospective MBs can be trained in Explosives, demolitions, medicine, survival and evasion, light and heavy weapons handling, communication, and arsenal termination. During the international phase, MBs focus on special operations training, civil affairs, patrolling, survival, and psychological operations courses.
[edit] Trust Shot
The Trust Shot (in Turkish "Gūven Atışı") is a part of the MB's training program. It is exercised on the last month of the training and is to ensure that the soldiers can trust each other with their lives. The Trust Shot consists of two members of a squad standing next to paper target boards, while another member fires on the targets with a handgun while walking towards them from 15 metres (49.2 feet) away. The shooter fires one magazine on each target before handing the weapon to the 2nd shooter behind him. After which the second shooter fires two magazines on the targets and they continue to switch. The second portion of the exercise is almost the same with the exception of being done with a rifle and the shooter starts walking towards the target from 30 metres (98.4 feet) away. During the exercise the men standing next to the targets are not allowed to move or wear body armor.
[edit] Specifications and Current Role
MBs are currently involved with operations in Northern Iraq as well as security in the South East of Turkey and other domestic operations. Due to this, they constantly train in anti-terrorism and guerrilla warfare.
Other than this, not much is known due to the group's secretive nature.
[edit] Maroon Beret's Standard Small Arms
- AR-15 family of weapons
- M203 grenade launcher
- Heckler & Koch HK33
- Heckler & Koch G3
- SVD Dragunov
- Heckler & Koch MP5
- M249 Squad Automatic Weapon
- CheyTac Intervention (.408 Cheyenne Tactical chambering)
[edit] Uniforms
The Maroon Berets are usually known to be issued with Turkish Armed Forces standard camouflage.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- Maroon beret - For origins of the maroon beret and other countries that have adopted it.
