Special Forces Command (Turkey)

Special Forces Command
Shoulder patch of the Special Forces Command
Active	1952–present
Country	Turkey
Branch	General Staff
Type	Special Forces
Role	Unconventional warfare Special operations Combat Search and Rescue
Size	~ 500
Garrison/HQ	Ankara
Nickname(s)	Maroon Berets Bordo Bereliler
Motto(s)	One Dies, Thousand Rises
Colors	Maroon      (claret red)
March	İstiklâl Marşı (Independence March)
Engagements	Operation Atilla Operation Northern Iraq Turkish army winter Campaign of 1994–95 Operation Steel Operation Hammer (1997) Operation Dawn (1997) Operation Sun Operation Martyr Yalçın Kurdish–Turkish conflict (2015–present) 2015 Hakkari Assault Operation Euphrates Shield Operation Olive Branch
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General Zekai Aksakallı

The Special Forces Command (Turkish: Özel Kuvvetler Komutanlığı), nicknamed Maroon Berets (Turkish: Bordo Bereliler) because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations unit of the Turkish Armed Forces made up of volunteers rigorously selected from all branches of the Armed Forces after graduating from a roughly 2.5-year training cycle. The Special Forces is not aligned to any of the three branches of the TAF, receiving its orders directly from the General Staff of the Republic of Turkey. Its forerunner was the Special Warfare Department (Turkish: Özel Harp Dairesi)

Although the Special Forces is considered a division-level formation, this includes non-combatant units and administrative duties personnel as well. The combatant size of the OKK is not greater than 500. The OKK may be considered as the Turkish counterpart of the US Army Special Forces (Green Berets).

Since its creation, the unit has been tasked with fighting terrorism. Each member is highly trained, and knows on average 2 languages and can handle a large variety of firearms and equipment.

Volunteers initially face a pass/fail written exam as well as physical and psychological tests. Those who pass the exams become special forces candidates. Adequate linguistic skills in at least one foreign language is a plus for admission. The candidates then have to complete a challenging training period which lasts around 2.5 years. Many drop out during this intense training period. Training encompasses: fitness; obstacle courses; a range of martial arts; high-altitude mountain warfare school; close quarters combat (CQC); biological/chemical/nuclear warfare; parachuting; diving; sniping; demolition; counter-terrorism; search and rescue; stealth search and destroy; reconnaissance; and survival. Learning foreign languages is a part of the training. During the training, candidates are pushed by their instructors to their limits, both physically and mentally. The training schedule includes all aspects of a modern-day regular and psychological warfare. 100 km (62 mi) terrain-walking with a 40 kg (88 lb). load is an example of what the candidates have to go through during training.