8 Most Elite Military Units in the World

Elite special forces are some of the most trained and impressive military units that any country in the world can boast of. They go where other militaries fear to tread, defeat potential threats, eliminate strategic targets, and conduct dangerous missions. They are the best of the best. And while it is difficult to create a comparative list of these units, there are units that are better than others because their soldiers undergo rigorous training that weeds out most of the candidates. In today's world, where the size of a country's armed forces no longer speaks volumes about their effectiveness, these soldiers are the hope and support of the state.

In our issue you will find descriptions of eight of the world's most elite military units. The list is presented in ascending order.

In eighth place is the Pakistani Special Forces Group, better known as the Black Storks due to the unique headgear of their commanders.

In October 2009, members of the special forces team stormed an office building and rescued 39 people taken hostage by Taliban militants after an attack on army units.

In seventh place is the Spanish Navy Special Operations Force (UOE), which has long been one of Europe's most respected special forces. The unit was originally organized as a volunteer landing company in 1952, but has since grown into an elite special forces unit.

However, earning a UOE Green Beret is not an easy feat, with a failure rate of 70 to 80%. It is not uncommon for 100% of recruits to fail the test.

In sixth place is Russia's Alpha Squad, one of the best and most famous special forces units in the world. This elite counter-terrorism unit was created by the KGB in 1974 and remains under the auspices of its modern successor, the FSB.

In 2002, Russian special forces, and in particular the Alpha unit, came under criticism after 129 hostages were killed in Operation Nord-Ost at a Moscow theatre by a sleeping gas intended to kill militants.

Fifth place: Of all the counter-terrorism services in the world, few can compare with the French Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN). The group has 200 members trained specifically for hostage situations. Since its founding in 1973, the group has freed 600 people. It is illegal to publish photos of their faces in France.

One of the most extraordinary episodes in GIGN history was the capture of the Great Mosque in Mecca in 1979. Since non-Muslims are forbidden from entering the holy city, a team of three GIGN members boldly converted to Islam to help Saudi Arabian forces liberate the mosque.

In fourth place is Sayeret Matkal from Israel, another of the most elite units in the world. Its main purpose is to gather intelligence, and it often operates far beyond enemy lines. During the selection process, recruits undergo rigorous training and are constantly monitored by doctors and psychologists. Only the strongest are selected.

In 2003, Israeli taxi driver Eliyahu Gurel was kidnapped after transporting four Palestinians to Jerusalem in his car. But Sayeret Matkal discovered his whereabouts and pulled him out of a 10-meter-deep hole in an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Ramallah.

The top three is headed by the British Special Air Service. Their motto is: "The brave win." When asked about the importance of this unit in the Iraq War, US General Stanley McChrystal replied: "Principled. Without them, none of this would have happened."

In second place is the English equivalent of the Navy SEALs, the Special Boat Service. The selection process includes a rigorous endurance test, training in the Belizean jungle, and combat survival training that includes interrogation of candidates. Each test-taker has only two attempts.

In first place are the US Navy SEALs. To join them, you need to be able to do at least 42 push-ups in 2 minutes, 50 sit-ups in 2 minutes, and run 2.4 km in 11 minutes. And all this before you even start training.

Bonus: US Marines are tough guys. Here's one of them drinking cobra blood during jungle survival training.