Why aren Royal Marines Commandos classed as special forces?
Special Forces in the UK are defined as being units under command of HQ UKSF. They include the SAS Regiments, the Special Boat Squadron and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, plus dedicated support units, such as logistics, helicopters, signals and medical support. The Royal Marines are a highly trained and unquestionably elite element of HM Armed Forces, but they are, as a force, a generalist organization, as comfortable patrolling in Helmand Province as launching a major assault on Port Stanley. SF units are far more specialized, operating in small numbers to perform specific missions. The SBS is administratively a part of the Royal Marines and represents the elite of the elite. However, there are similar units that do not fall under command of HQ UKSF, such as the Pathfinders Platoon of the Parachute Regiment. There is an on-going discussion as to whether it should be but, because most Pathfinders end up spending some of their career in a branch of UKSF eventually, no one’s that b
