[The Merchant Of Venice]

Please refrain from posting threads about foreign military units. Post here instead.

[whisper2053]

Well, I'll kick this one off. I've been in the middle of working on a loadout based on the Swiss Army and just ran into some information concerning the BRAND new SF unit the SA has brought into the fold (brand new as in, just formed this year with around 60 members currently). They're known as Aufklärungsdetachement 10 (which loosely translates out to Army Reconnaissance Detachment 10. Before I get into the description, some pictures:

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3199/add025.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6895/add027.jpg

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/8751/add032.jpg

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/5800/add033.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/4788/add034.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/128/add054.jpg

Now for some info on these guys:

Part of: Swiss Grenadiers
Nickname:
ARD 10 (English)
AAD 10 (German)
DRA 10 (French)
DEE 10 (Italian)

Role: Domestic and International Counter-terrorism, Direct Action, Unconventional warfare

Unit tasks:

The ARD 10 has certain tasks to fulfill as part of their mandate:

1. Procurement of key facilities
2. Protection of Swiss nationals, troops and facilities if endangered
3. Securing Swiss nationals from crisis areas
4. Direct Action
5. Unconventional warfare

Requirements:

Among the minimal qualification requirements for potential candidates in 18 weeks, these include:

1. 50 press-ups
2. 60 sit-ups
3. 10 pull-ups
4. 5km cross-country run in under 24 minutes
5. 8km walk in full combat gear (15kg pack) in less than 58 minutes
6. 25km walk in full combat gear (25kg pack) in less than 3.5 hours
7. 300m swim in under 10 minutes

Other potential requirements include the following:

1. Good command of the English language
2. Good command of another language aside from English
3. Leadership skills

Candidates who must wear eyeglasses must have a visual acuity of at least 0.80 in order to be accepted.

The Swiss Army does not institute an age limit for soldiers who wish to join the ARD 10.

Equipment:

ARD 10 operators are equipped with the SIG SG 552 (in-service designation Sturmgewehr 90 kurz (Stgw 90 kurz)) assault carbine attached with various tactical and night vision scopes, depending on the operator.
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1277/sig552t86bz.jpg
(note the fact that it has a 6 position collapsible stock AND full folding stock capabilities :D )

Their main sniper rifle is the Sako TRG-42 (in-service designation Scharfschützengewehr 04 (SSGw 04)).
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/876/86mmscharfschtzengewehr.jpg
(chambered for .300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua Mag)

The MP5SD3 submachine gun is the standard SMG used by the ARD 10.

Their equipment consists of knee protectors, kevlar helmets and anti-splinter vests. The ARD's main light infantry vehicle is the AGF.
http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/8216/serval2.jpg


Training

Potential candidates must attend 18 full months, with 6 months dedicated to basic training, of special forces training after completing their compulsory service with the Swiss Army, which is then followed by 40 weeks with infiltration technique training. Candidates will be assessed prior to training of their physical and mental state, as well as their health if they are fit to be qualified as ARD 10 soldiers. Candidates must also have clean records from their time after attending compulsory service.

Upon ending of training, all ARD 10 soldiers are required to be on standby in case of deployment.

Of the over 300 soldiers who apply for a position in the ARD 10 in each class phase, only 10 prospective soldiers are chosen for training as ARD 10 operators.

Among the specialist courses being taught to all prospective ARD 10 operators include the following:

1. Mountain Specialists
2. Amphibious Specialists
3. Parachute Specialists
4. Motorized Specialists

These guys are now the source of what will eventually become my full airsofting loadout. Thanks for reading :)

This post has been edited by whisper2053: 03 August 2009 - 10:11 PM

[Aqua Donkey]

Hmmmmm, not to sound like an incredibly arrogant jerk, but those training requirements sound ridiculously easy for a SF unit! Does anyone know the US SF training requirements? (physical)


I think i will do one of these posts on GROM (Polish SF) they are pretty legit :)

[whisper2053]

You'd be surprised AD.

Taken directly from the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion's home page (http://www.bragg.arm...S_CRITERIA.html) for min. requirements to go SF:

1.

Must be an active duty male Soldier.
2.

Must be U.S. citizen (non-waiverable).
3.

Must be airborne qualified or volunteer for airborne training.
4.

Must score a minimum of 229 points on the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), with no less than 60 points on any event, using the standards for age group 17-21.
5.

Must be able to meet medical fitness standards as outlined in AR 40-501.
6.

Must be eligible for a "SECRET" security clearance (security clearance is not required to attend SFAS).
7.

No Soldier, regardless of Military Occupational Specialty or basic branch will be recruited if he is unable to reclassify from his current MOS or basic branch into CMF 18.
8.

All Soldiers will be given a 50 meter swim assessment, conducted in uniform, during SFAS to determine whether they have the aptitude to learn how to swim.

That being said, a 229 on the APFT is pretty easy and, aside from the 50m swim, is the only real physical requirement to enter SFAS. Those Swiss have to be pretty darned hard to enter ARD training!

This post has been edited by whisper2053: 03 August 2009 - 11:42 PM

[Frosty87]

Do you mind giving us a kitlist for the ARD 10?

I also think you should give Wikipedia credit for that post...

This post has been edited by Frosty87: 04 August 2009 - 11:25 AM

[whisper2053]

My apologies for not crediting wiki...I didn't mean to give the impression that it was purely my own original work (though most of the actual pics of the soldiers came from the Swiss Army website, not wiki...thank god I can read German and navigate it).

As far as a kitlist goes, I'm still in the middle of working that out myself. I've figured out most everything except the so-called 'anti-splinter vest' and whatever the web gear they use is. Upon first impression, it almost seems like some sort of variation on the traditional LBE/pistol belt combo, but I'm still not really sure yet.

[Der Krieger]

Nice information. Hey is that a PzH 2000 in the background of the one picture?

[whisper2053]

I believe that you sir, are most correct!

[Caleb]

what does current russian military clothing look like?

[Norinco QBZ-95]

Caleb, on 29 August 2009 - 05:09 PM, said:

what does current russian military clothing look like?

They use a few camouflage patterns, but their newest one is digital.

http://www.skippersmilitarysupply.com/images/DigitalUniform.jpg

[Antiria]

Is that Flecktar D or some other Russian camo? Don't they also use Gorka?

[Norinco QBZ-95]

Antiria, on 29 August 2009 - 09:16 PM, said:

Is that Flecktar D or some other Russian camo? Don't they also use Gorka?

That's the new one, I'm not sure of the name, but the coloration is the same as that of flora. I believe gorka is still in service, at least with rear line troops.

[The Merchant Of Venice]

I am Russian expert.

Anything in specific?

[punk_newbie]

Caleb, on 29 August 2009 - 02:09 PM, said:

what does current russian military clothing look like?

It varies greatly on who in the Russian Military you are looking to do an impression on. MVD VV groups and 45th GRU VDV will have the latest and greatest gear wise. While standard MVD troops will have the older issue items. It is best if you do some research on who you would like to do an impression on so that a more specific(this is very relative in the Russian Military) gear list can be provided.

[Antiria]

I honestly wouldn't Russian infantry equipment "latest and greatest".

[sigma3]

Flora continues to be the vastly pre-dominant pattern of Russian Army units, although others turn up. As far as I'm aware the new digital pattern has yet to be issued to many active duty units.

Gorka is not a camo pattern but a piece of over-uniform overwear (of course, some wear them with nothing underneath, but since it is a cold-weather piece, that defeats half the purpose). Most Gorkas come in the SS summer or autumn patterns. The Partizan suit is similar.

[Antiria]

Hey can anyone help me find what gear French Marines use?
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2006/aug/lebanon/ap/marines_540.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6f/French_Marines_Afghanistan.JPG/800px-French_Marines_Afghanistan.JPG
http://www.nationalp...stan/734411.bin
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00558/french2_558428a.jpg

Looks like US woodland and a mix of regular carriers/rig mix, MOLLE, and tac vests...

[Jace]

Do i spot a G3?

[andy]

My guess is it might be this stuff camouflage wise: http://www.sportsman...o.aspx?a=515002

Not entirely sure on that though, and I can't seem to find much of any info on that camo. Hrm.

[Jace]

http://www.tridentmilitary.com/New-Photos9/fce1b.jpg

Maybe this stuff? I found it marked as "French central europe camo"

[The Merchant Of Venice]

Yep. Not US woodie. Ask on Arnies if you want help from actual Frencies.

[sigma3]

Jace, on 07 September 2009 - 05:20 AM, said:

Do i spot a G3?

No, you spot a FR-F2.

[Jace]

very similar to the G3 tho, plus i could only see a portion of the gun. Thanks for the link