Commando facts for kids
A commando is a soldier or operative of an elite light infantry or special operations force often specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting or abseiling.
Originally "a commando" was a type of combat unit, as opposed to an individual in that unit. In other languages, commando and kommando denote a "command", including the sense of a military or an elite special operations unit.
In the militaries and governments of most countries, commandos are distinctive in that they specialize in assault on unconventional high-value targets. Commandos differ from other types of special forces in that they primarily operate in overt combat, front-line reconnaissance, and raiding, rather than long range reconnaissance and unconventional warfare.
In English, occasionally to distinguish between an individual commando and the unit Commando, the unit is capitalized.
Etymology
The word stems from the Afrikaans word kommando, which translates roughly to "mobile infantry regiment". This term originally referred to mounted infantry regiments, who fought against the British Army in the first and second Boer Wars.
Images for kids
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Royal Marines from 40 Commando on patrol in the Sangin area of Afghanistan are pictured
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Turkish infantry commandos at the ceremony in Azerbaijan.
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The "commando" name was permanently established with the introduction of the British Commandos in 1942 the elite special forces units of the British Army in World War II
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British Commandos wearing the green beret and carrying the Bergen rucksack during the Normandy landings, June 1944.
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The Commando Memorial unveiled in 1952 in Scotland is dedicated to the British Commandos of the Second World War.
See also
In Spanish: Comando (fuerzas especiales) para niños