MARCOS – The Marine Commandos – MARCOS are the Indian Navy’s most feared and respected special forces. Known as the ‘Ghosts of the Sea’ they are trained for missions on land, air, and sea. Formed in 1987, this highly secretive force is respected for their stealth, speed, and lethal skills.
This special force unit of Indian Navy has main role is to conduct special operations, amphibious warfare, counter-terrorism, and covert reconnaissance.
Many people will ask why MARCOS Commandos are called “The Ghost of the Sea”?
They earned the nickname because the MARCOS can strike without warning and disappear without a trace. Their reputation extends beyond India, placing them among the toughest naval special forces in the world.
History and Formation of MARCOS
The roots of MARCOS trace back to 1955, when the Indian military set up a diving school at Cochin with help from the British Special Boat Service.
1955 – Diving school established at Cochin with British SBS assistance for explosive disposal, clearance diving, and salvage training.
1971 – Combat divers participate in Indo-Pak War; train Muktibahini in underwater demolition, sinking Pakistani logistics ships.
1971 (Dec) – Navy assists Army in amphibious landing at Cox’s Bazar.
Post-1971 – Regular joint Navy–Army amphibious exercises begin.
1983 – 340th Army Independent Brigade converted into amphibious assault unit.
April 1986 – Indian Navy begins planning a dedicated maritime special forces unit.
1986 – Three Navy officers train with US Navy SEALs (Coronado) and later British SBS.
14 Feb 1987 – Indian Marine Special Force (IMSF) officially formed.
1991 – IMSF renamed Marine Commando Force (MARCOS).
Since then, MARCOS has undertaken major operations including Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden, and many counter-terrorism actions along India’s coastline.
MARCOS Commando have trained with global elite forces and continue to modernise for evolving threats.
MARCOS Motto & Insignia
The MARCOS motto is “The Few, The Fearless”.
It reflects the small size and high courage of the unit.
Their insignia features an anchor, a dagger, and wings, symbolizing operations by sea, land, and air.
The uniform of MARCOS Commandos is often a camouflage combat dress with a maroon beret during ceremonial events.
How to Join MARCOS – Selection process
The selection and training process of MARCOS Commandos is considered as one of the toughest in the world, with a dropout rate of 80–85%.
Only serving personnel of the Indian Navy can join MARCOS.
The pre-selection process has two stages:
First, a three-day physical fitness and aptitude test – more than 80% of candidates fail at this stage.
Next comes the Hell’s Week involving extreme physical exercise, sleep deprivation, and mental pressure. After this process, actual training begins.
Those who survive begin a seven-and-a-half to eight-month training program. Most of the training is conducted at INS Abhimanyu, the MARCOS base in Mumbai. They also train at the Naval Diving School in Kochi for combat diving. Recruits learn airborne operations, HALO/HAHO parachuting, combat diving, counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, anti-hijacking, and special reconnaissance.
Training includes the “death crawl” – an 800-metre mud crawl with 25 kg of gear after a 2.5 km obstacle course, followed by precision shooting when exhausted.
MARCOS train with Para SF at the Special Forces Training School in Nahan and other Army schools such as:
- Junior Leaders’ Commando Training Camp, Belgaum
- Parvat Ghatak School, Tawang
- Desert Warfare School, Rajasthan
- High Altitude Warfare School (HAWS), Sonamarg
- Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJWS), Vairengte
Specialised skills include open and closed circuit diving, explosives handling, martial arts, submarine operations, and offshore boarding.
Required Qualities to Serve as a MARCOS Commando
- High intellectual ability and quick decision-making skills.
- Exceptional physical strength and endurance.
- Strong emotional intelligence for high-pressure situations.
- Knowledge of marine law and maritime security.
- Proficiency in handling all types of weapons.
- Strong leadership qualities.
- High level of courage and mental toughness.
- Knowledge of sea law and naval operations.
- Constant alertness of mind in all conditions.
- Ability to perform high-altitude jumps and low-opening jumps (HALO/HAHO).
- Advanced swimming skills.
- Strong cognitive abilities.
- Basic understanding of potential threats in maritime and combat environments.
- Skill in piloting or manoeuvring ships.
- Navigation skills and sense of direction.
- Sharp eyesight and ability to identify targets or objects quickly.
- Patrolling skills in both land and maritime settings.
- Combat diving and parachuting proficiency.
- Skills in counter-insurgency and anti-hijacking operations.
- Ability to dive while carrying heavy loads (up to 60 kg) underwater.
- Readiness to face injuries — no use of simulators or dummy cartridges during training.
- Capability to march 120 km with a 60 kg backpack in harsh conditions.
MARCOS Commando Salary
The salary of a MARCOS commando depends on their rank in the Indian Navy. They receive the same basic pay as other Navy personnel of the same rank. In addition to basic pay, MARCOS get Special Forces allowance, diving allowance, and parachute allowance. The Special Forces allowance for MARCOS is significantly higher in the armed forces, ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 per month.
A trained MARCOS at a mid-level rank can earn ₹80,000 to ₹1.2 lakh per month, including allowances. Senior officers and those in high-risk deployments may earn more.
Other benefits include subsidised housing, free medical care, canteen facilities, pension, and insurance cover. Operational postings in sensitive zones may also bring extra field area allowances.
Sources: Ministry of Defence, Government of India – 7th CPC Armed Forces Pay Matrix, MoD Notification on Risk & Hardship Matrix for Special Forces (2017), Official Indian Navy recruitment portal (joinindiannavy.gov.in), Media reports
MARCOS Operational Responsibilities
Marcos is responsible for conducting operations at the strategic and the tactical level.
Here are some primary responsibilities of MARCOS Commandos:
- Providing support to amphibious (land, Air and Sea) operations
- Special surveillance and amphibious reconnaissance operations
- Clandestine operations inside hostile Territory including diving operations and special raids
- Direct Action
- Hostage rescue Operation
- Counter terrorisms operations
- Asymmetric Warfare
- Foreign Internal Defence
Major Operations by MARCOS Commandos
Operation Pawan (1987–1990) – Part of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka.
- Objective: Capture harbours of Jaffna and Trincomalee from LTTE control.
- MARCOS conducted successful amphibious raids against LTTE positions.
Operation Cactus (1988) – Jointly with R&AW to protect the democratic government of Maldives.
- Objective: Foil coup attempt by Sri Lankan militants from PLOTE and ENDLF.
- R&AW provided intelligence; MARCOS captured militants and secured President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Operation Rakshak (1990s–present) – Counter-terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir.
- Deployed in Wular Lake and Jhelum River to intercept militants using waterways to reach Srinagar.
- Eliminated militant hideouts on river islands; teams remain permanently stationed in Wular Lake since 2017.
Operation Black Tornado (2008) – Part of 26/11 Mumbai counter-terror response.
- MARCOS stormed the Trident and Taj Hotels to neutralise terrorists.
Operation Rahat (2015) – Evacuation mission in war-torn Yemen.
- Secured safe passage for thousands of civilians amid heavy fighting and airstrikes.
China–India Skirmishes (2020) – Deployed in Eastern Ladakh during tensions with China.
- Operated alongside the Indian Army using boats in high-altitude water bodies for patrolling and reconnaissance.
MARCOS commandos are ranked among the elite forces of the world alongside units like the US Navy SEALs and British SBS, in India they stand shoulder to shoulder with the Army’s Para SF and the Navy’s Garud Commandos.
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