The MARCOS or Marine Commandos are one of the elite forces of India, and indulge in a range of maritime missions that separate them from the ordinary. Many Indian Navy aspirants aspire to join MARCOS and experience life like never before. If you are one of those, you are at the right place.
Who are MARCOS Commandos?
The MARCOS are the special forces of the Indian Navy, just like the Indian Army’s Para Special Forces. Formed in 1987 as Indian Marine Special Force, commandos who join MARCOS are also known as “magarmach” (crocodile) due to their specialization in maritime operations such as:
- Hostage rescue
- Surveillance and reconnaissance
- Amphibious operations inside hostile territory
- Foreign influences
- Counter-insurgency operations
- Anti-piracy
MARCOS operate from naval bases at Goa, Vishakhapatnam, Mumbai, Kochi, and Port Blair. Please know that despite their specialization in the maritime domain, these commandos can operate in any terrain easily.
How to Join MARCOS?
To join MARCOS, you must be enrolled in the Indian Navy as a sailor or as an officer first. Here are some ways to do so:
- As a sailor: You can enroll through the SSR or MR scheme as an Agniveer if you are a 12th (science stream) or 10th pass respectively.
- As an officer: You can sit for the NDA, CDS or INET exams and choose Indian Navy as your first preference while filling the application form.
Once you become a part of the Indian Navy, you can volunteer to join MARCOS and lead in specialized operations. However, you must be in your 20s to volunteer since the training is quite demanding.
Selection Process to Join MARCOS
The selection process to join MARCOS includes four phases:
- Pre-selection
- Selection process
- Basic special forces training
- Advanced special forces training or probation
Pre-Selection
The process begins with a three-day physical fitness and aptitude test or PFAT. Nearly 80% of volunteers cannot pass this stage and leave the premises. Those who pass this stage undergo the selection process phase.
Hell’s Week
This phase to join MARCOS lasts five weeks and involves strenuous activities, which is why it is popular as the Hell’s Week. All probies are experience sleep deprivation and physical stresses. Some of these include:
- A 20-km run every morning
- Night speed marches with 60 kgs of load for twenty kilometres
- Weapons training with live ammunition
- 120-km route march with 60 kgs of load within the stipulated time
One of the most grueling parts of this week is the “Death Crawl”, which comprises three stages. First, all probies have to crawl for 800m through thigh-deep mud, carrying 25 kgs of equipment. Then, they have to complete a 2.5-km long obstacle course with the same load and finally, shoot at defined targets while they are deprived of sleep.
Basic and Advanced Training
The basic and advanced training to join MARCOS is of ten weeks and happens at INS Abhimanyu in Mumbai. However, MARCOS commandos also train at Naval Diving School in Kochi and some special warfare schools of the Indian Army.
During their basic training for special forces, all probies learn key skills such as weapons training, close-quarter combat, unarmed battle, kayaking, ship intervention, et cetera. Simultaneously, they also train in the basic parachute course at the Parachute Training School, Agra for three weeks.
As part of the advanced training to join MARCOS, all probationers learn combat diving, airborne operations such as HALO and HAHO, languages, explosive ordnance disposal, intel gathering, and desert warfare among others. Since MARCOS commandos can operate in any terrain, they also train at the Parvat Ghatak School in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
Join MARCOS: Final Thoughts
The training to join MARCOS operates on a simple philosophy: To be prepared for operations in any terrain, whether land, sea, or air. Hence, all probationers focus on building endurance and agility before they earn the prestigious title of “Dadhiwali Fauj” or the bearded army and don the golden wings.
