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FSB demobilization form. Features of the form of special forces GRU, FSB, riot police and alpha groups - camouflage of the Russian army. Casual dress code

Special forces at the present stage represent special formations subordinate to the special services of Russia. These units, being in any military formation, are considered the elite of the Armed Forces. The Soviet and Russian special forces throughout the history of their existence have proved their uniqueness and superiority over similar units in the world.

Russian fighters of the Alfa special forces took first places at the world championship and were recognized as the best international squad. The special forces uniform has its own signs regulated by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The fighters of the unit on the sleeve of the uniform wear the emblem, the symbolism of the unit.

Special forces history

The roots of the special forces are quite deep. The first formations in Rus' were endowed with the main goal: ensuring the security of the state. The problem of creating special detachments was raised by Russian commanders: General Pyotr Panin, General of Infantry Alexander Suvorov, Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov.

These units were called chasseur regiments, their appearance dates back to 1874. These detachments became the ancestors of modern special forces.

The tactics of rangers in the fighting was used by Catherine II. The combat training of jaeger detachments is similar to the principles of action of modern special forces: the organization of agents and the collection of necessary information and power intelligence associated with striking, disabling combat complexes, warehouses, ships, control centers and many other tasks.

The uniform of the rangers was also special, it was dominated by green and black colors.

Doloman, short jacket with cords, dark green tight-fitting trousers. Only the huntsmen had a green overcoat, which they wore folded over their knapsacks, in their uniforms.

In 1917, the Bolsheviks established the People's Commissariat for Military and Naval Affairs, which was later entrusted with the leadership of all the armed forces of the Republic.


  • to fight the Basmachi and the remnants of the gangs;
  • tasks of operational suppression of conspiracies and rebellions;
  • protection of political, economic and military facilities of national importance;
  • participation in hostilities, being in the front line.

CHON and units of the Red Army had the same organizational structure. The special purpose units included infantry, cavalry, artillery and armored units, formed from the most trained soldiers.

The external and internal situation gradually stabilized and in the period 1924-1925, by the decision of the Central Committee of the RCP (b) CHON were disbanded.

The years of the Great Patriotic War were the beginning of the formation of detachments capable of operating in the German rear, conducting reconnaissance and carrying out combat operations.

During the war years, special forces with vast reconnaissance and sabotage experience were formed. However, after the end of the bloody war, they were disbanded.

In the 50s, the need to form special units again arose. The main reason was the emergence of mobile nuclear weapons, which were adopted by some armies of the countries that are members of NATO.

Only specially trained fighters could reconnoiter and destroy new weapons that threaten the country's security. They were entrusted with reconnaissance in the deep rear, conducting sabotage operations aimed at eliminating dangerous weapons.

Equipment of special forces of different countries

Historically, units that perform special tasks on which the security of the state depends belong to the elite of the armed forces. Their equipment at all times differed from the uniforms and weapons of other military branches. The fighters of these detachments were given weapons and devices of the most perfect form for the effective completion of tasks.

In all countries of the world, the uniform of special forces units, first of all, provided for the maximum possible protection of a fighter from external conditions and weapons of the opposing side.

Special requirements are imposed on the material from which the special forces uniform is sewn. First of all, these are safety requirements. The material must have special strength, breathability.

To provide camouflage, a fabric with a special pattern is used. This uniform of a special forces soldier is called camouflage, which has its own characteristics in a particular country.


All countries have special units in parts of the armed forces. Outwardly, the uniform of the special forces is similar to the uniform of the type of troops to which it is attached:

  1. The GSG 9 unit belongs to one of the structures of the German police and has all the powers of the German federal police. Its actions are regulated by the German Ministry of the Interior. The unit consists of three subgroups of primary importance (a subgroup of regular, naval and amphibious operations) and several auxiliary (technical and technological) support groups.

    The GSG 9 divisions are armed with the developments of Heckler & KochGmbH:

    • submachine gun of all versions and configurations;
    • assault rifle;
    • carbine;
    • automatic G8;
    • AMP Technical Services DSR-yo sniper rifle;
    • assault rifle SIG Sauer SG 550;
    • pistol Glock 17;
    • grenade launcher Heckler Koch MZP-1;
    • anti-tank gun MBB Armbrust;
    • semi-automatic sniper rifle Heckler & Koch PSG1.

    The fighters of the unit undergo a special training course, which takes 11 weeks.


    Combat training is allocated 13 weeks, 9 weeks is the advanced training of fighters.

  2. NOCS - anti-terrorist special forces of the Italian civilian policeSpecial forces are located in all military units in Italy. NOCS - refers to the Italian civilian police units. The center coordinates the actions of all special forces units, the abbreviation of which is O.S.S.I. (Operatori Speciali Servizio Informazioni).

    The NOCS unit is armed with the latest small arms. The equipment of the fighters of the Italian police special forces also corresponds to perfect samples, ensuring the performance of tasks of any level of complexity.

    Each fighter has several types of weapons. The NOCSj fighters especially prefer the easy-to-shoot Beretta Mod.92, the updated Beretta Px4 Storm and the H&K P-2000.


    In the arsenal of weapons of the special forces there is a sniper weapon. It is used in anti-terrorist operations.

  3. CANSOFCOM - Canadian Special Forces, formed in 2006. Main tasks: suppression of the actions of terrorist organizations within the state and beyond its borders. Canadian special forces soldiers are equipped with various types of small arms:
    • Canadian-made C16 assault rifle;
    • carbine C8;
    • the set of weapons for groups carrying out operations to free people taken hostage is complemented by weapons manufactured by ColtCanada under license. These are the NK MP5 pistol and sniper rifles;
    • each special forces soldier has a personal weapon: a Sieg Sauer pistol and an FNP90 submachine gun manufactured by the Belgian company FNHerstal$
  4. SWAT under this abbreviation there is a special unit of the United States - Special Weapons And Tactics Teams. These units are located in the department of the police department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The specialized forces are designed to perform the following tasks:
    • neutralization of terrorist gangs and release of hostages;
    • escort of US dignitaries;
    • resolution of high-risk situations related to the transportation of drugs, arrest and escort of those arrested;
    • conducting counter-terrorism operations in US population centers.

    US SWAT police forces are also part of the elite military units and have a uniform similar to police uniforms, but with special equipment necessary to perform specific operations: bulletproof vests, camouflage, shoes.


    The arsenal of special units uses the universal submachine gun Universale Maschinenpistole.

    As a personal weapon, special forces soldiers use the Glock 17 pistol, a highly reliable product of Austrian design. This type of weapon is produced in several modifications.

    A number of modifications of the German HK USP pistol are widely used in the US Army and its special forces.

  5. Russian special forces units are part of various ministries or departments with their own specifics. Their tasks determine the use of various types of weapons, equipment, vehicles, equipment, training centers and bases. The Russian military units of this kind include the SOBR detachment, Alfa, Vympel. These units select the best of the best fighters. Vympel employees were assigned special tasks:
    • illegal intelligence on the territory of different states;
    • release of hostages taken by terrorists;
    • release of objects seized by terrorists;
    • introduction into the military intelligence and special services of other states;
    • elimination of persons posing a threat to the Russian state.

    It takes at least five years to train Vympel employees.


    For combatants, there is a special form and weapons, which they are fluent in.

The uniform of the Russian army is being improved. VKBO - a set supplied in parts, is a field uniform, which includes 18 clothing options. Elements of army uniforms can be combined in any combination convenient for a fighter.

The development of the field uniform was entrusted to the specialists of the BTK-group company, which operates on its own high-tech production base. In addition, expert research institutes have been included in this process.

The VKBO set consists of 23 pieces of clothing and three pairs of shoes.

A feature of the development is the principle of its multi-layering. 8-layer workwear allows military personnel to use this innovative uniform in all weather conditions in all climatic zones by combining a combination of kit elements.

Such special forces equipment is able to protect military personnel in a 40-degree frost with wind and snowstorm. The kit is supplied in a VKBO trunk.

Highly effective functionality of clothing in any level of physical activity of fighters of each of the military branches. All criteria for its application are met:

  • camouflage properties required for field clothing;
  • the strength of the material, ensuring a long service life of uniforms. In combat conditions, this characteristic plays a decisive role, since there is no possibility of its repair or replacement;
  • adaptability of the cut design to combat conditions;
  • comfortable shoe design and choice of material for its manufacture, it is characterized by resistance to oils and gasoline, providing slip resistance when passing ice surfaces.

Caring for the VKBO uniform is simple. Hand wash machine washable at 300C, all zippers and textile fasteners must be fastened before washing in the machine. Drying in the drum of the machine is allowed when using a lower temperature setting.

Ceremonial uniforms

The parade uniform of the Russian Army was shown for the first time at the Victory Parade in 2016.


Its development is given maximum attention. This clothing should contain the image of a warrior-winner of the Great War, the memory of a soldier who defended his land, liberated the world from fascism at the cost of his life.

For these reasons, the uniforms of the military personnel of the naval forces, the Ground Forces and the Air Force of the times of 1941-1945 were reproduced. It was an exact repetition of the form of the armed forces of the USSR.

Clothing for hot regions

Uniforms have long been developed to replace the same type of uniform, taking into account service in regions with hot climates. The first batches of this form were delivered to 201 military bases located in Tajikistan. For the form, a fabric made using modern technologies was used, the color of the material is sand. Her must-have kit:

  • panama - for the rank and file, officers are entitled to a field cap;
  • field jacket with a zipper;
  • trousers, comfortable straight cut, on which on the side, in the lower part, there is a pocket with a valve or shorts, knee-length;
  • shoes - lightweight boots with high sides made of natural leather of light color with inserts of durable fabric of high wear resistance.

A new development for a hot region, provided for the strength and lightness of the fastener elements - zippers, sewing clothes from a fabric with a high degree of thermal and moisture control, good ventilation and air exchange.

female form

In the ranks of the armed forces there are many positions held by women: medical personnel in hospitals, sanitary instructors in units and subunits, signalmen, employees of clothing and food units, teachers in military educational institutions.


Their uniforms, in addition to the standard army kit, include female models of skirts, dresses, coats, and shoes.

The uniform is made of olive-colored fabric, for women serving in the Air Force, the color of the uniform is blue. The set of women's uniforms includes everyday and dress uniforms.

Special Operations Forces MTR

Specially trained units are involved in all hot spots on the territory and outside of Russia.

Special operations forces are being created in Russia, the decree on their establishment was signed on February 26, 2015.

The equipment of the MTR fighters differs from the equipment of other representatives of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation:

  • overalls made of camouflage fabric of special strength and special cut;
  • body armor, protection class 6, protects SVD and machine gun from machine gun and sniper bullets, and PK and PKM Kalashnikov;
  • high-strength helmet made of special material;
  • the soldier of the SSO is armed with the last Kalashnikov assault rifle with a special bracket (Picatinny rails) designed for attaching additional equipment and accessories;
  • collimator sight, provides high speed pointing at the target;
  • silent firing devices (silencers);
  • special designs of active headphones that protect against ambient sounds of battle and ensure the use of the built-in radio station for the necessary negotiations;
  • an optical sight that provides a visual approximation of the target;
  • personal weapon - a pistol;
  • tactical footwear made of high quality material and durability.

Special Operations Forces (SOF) have unique, advanced weapons and ammunition, which allows them to solve the most difficult missions and tasks anywhere in the world.

Variants of camouflage suits

Camouflage suits appeared not so long ago, but among the military they have received very wide use. Over the course of several years, patterns have been developed for camouflage fabrics that can hide a person in any landscape.


A fabric pattern is developed for a suit designed to disguise a person in a certain area. There is no universal camouflage.

Russian camouflage is based on the use of their own patterns, as well as copying the German versions of the Great Patriotic War:

  • "Amoeba" - camouflage, developed in 1935 in the USSR. Has several color options;
  • Deciduous Forest - camouflage of the Great Patriotic War, developed in 1945;
  • "Silver leaf" camouflage, which is referred to as "Birch" or "Sunny Bunnies". The drawing has a deforming effect, developed in 192 in Russia;
  • VSR-93. The camouflage is decorated with a pattern in the form of vertical stripes. Well masks the figure of a person against the background of plants;
  • HRV-98 "Flora", characteristic camouflage stripes gave the name "watermelon". This type of camouflage is classified as basic, and is used for tailoring camouflage suits of special forces of the Russian armed forces;
  • camouflage "Russian figure" or "Digital flora". This fabric is used for camouflage uniforms in parts of the GRU, FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs;

The earliest developments of Russian camouflage colors are still used for the manufacture of camouflage uniforms in the Russian Armed Forces.

Video

Servicemen of special forces units of the Ministry of Defense, internal troops and SOBR of the Special Purpose Center (CSN) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs agreed to tell why the American MULTICAM camouflage is popular in Russian special forces, how effective domestic bulletproof vests and night vision devices are, how combat equipment and weapons are selected.

In recent years, the main characters of television reports and photographs have become fighters from various special forces units performing tasks to combat terrorists. On the video and photo chronicles, it is striking that the field uniform, bulletproof vests, communications equipment, etc., are different for the special forces, so to speak. In the modern world, the segment of private production of tactical equipment and protective equipment is developing very dynamically. Even such well-funded Western divisions as the American Delta, the British SAS and others, buy their favorite products for their money. After all, the success of any operation depends on uniforms, equipment, and even more so weapons. How are things going with the Russian security forces, what problems do you have, what would you like to change?

Armor is strong

“We use body armor 6B23. There are also brand new 6B43s, but there are very few of them, ”says an officer of the Ministry of Defense based in the Moscow region. According to him, most military personnel buy imported products with their own money, mainly covers, which are then hemmed so that domestic armor panels can be installed. Colleagues from the internal troops are supplied with bulletproof vests developed in the early 90s "Korund", but now they have begun to supply the modern "Bagariy". Just like in the Ministry of Defense, foreign bulletproof vests, in particular American ones, are bought in VV. True, domestic Defenders and Redoubts are also popular.

Special forces equip themselves

Employees of the Central Security Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are protected by various products of the Fort-Technologies and Armacom companies. All interlocutors of the publication agreed that none of the types of body armor meets their requirements. What is needed is not ordinary body armor, but modular body armor systems, which are an unloading vest (“unloading”) with armored panels and the ability to install the necessary pouches for the tasks performed. Now such systems have become a mandatory attribute not only of special forces, but also of combined arms in many armies of the world.

“We would like to have full-time lightweight body armor according to the plate carrier scheme, like what LBT and PIG-tactical do. But since they don’t exist, many people buy with their own money and install armored panels,” says an officer of the Ministry of Defense. The same is true in the internal troops. “The Americans have a good fastening system with a set of pouches called MOLLE. Everything is of high quality, the pouches are held securely. Something similar was done on the Bagaria, however, the quality is worse and the pouches are enough for only two or three lessons. But we have only 30-40 percent of such bulletproof vests, ”complains the officer of the VV.

But the SOBR officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs believes that domestic protective materials are better and the protection classes of bulletproof vests are higher than those of foreign products. But he also recognizes the need for modular armor protection systems. All interlocutors of the publication are not satisfied with regular protective helmets. “Like a chamber pot put on my head. It is necessary to make a special cover for landing, otherwise it may catch the edge of the helmet with slings during the opening. Ours do not have mounts for night vision devices, flashlights and similar things, ”says an officer of the TsSN of the Ministry of Defense. Regular ZSh-1s are not liked by the servicemen of the internal troops, and the Altyn, Mask and Lynx-T are not liked by the SOBR officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

By all accounts, the most optimal version of a protective helmet, which is used to supply special forces units around the world, was developed by the American company OpScore.

“Very comfortable, fit well on the head, combined with glasses, headphones, an oxygen mask, have a streamlined shape,” said a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense. He is supported by colleagues from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and internal troops. “ZSh-1 is the last century. We buy for our own money "SHBM" of the company "Omnitek-M", similar to "opskorovsky". You can easily put on headphones under it. It is comfortable to fit, lightweight. Under the ZSh-1, you need to wear a special cap, and if in the summer, then a bandana, but under the SHBM you don’t need to, ”says an officer of the internal troops. At the same time, SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs uses a product similar to the American OpScore helmet by the Russian company Armakom. “Now we are working with the company to fine-tune their product to our requirements. But this is a long process, at least a year,” explains an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"Kalashnikov" with a foreign butt

“We mainly use AK74M. There used to be a lot of ACMSL, but now they are almost all worn out and written off. There are several AK103s, but the current 5.45 cartridges (PP, BS, etc.) have reduced the advantage of the 7.62 caliber to zero. And the accuracy of small-caliber machine guns is higher, the ammunition load is greater with equal weight, ”an officer of the Central Security Service of the Ministry of Defense believes. According to his colleague from the internal troops, in addition to the AK74M, the TsSN also had the AK-104: “Now they took them away from us, but we liked them. They are shorter, it is more convenient to manipulate them, throw them on the back, etc. And the firing range suits us.” There are in service with special forces and submachine guns. According to the SOBR officer, his squad chose the SR-2M Veresk. It is lighter, more mobile, and the cartridge is more powerful than that of the proposed Vityaz software. But in the internal troops and the Ministry of Defense, "Heathers" did not take root.

“We immediately handed over our SR-2Ms - explosives did not purchase cartridges for them. We use PP-2000. “Shielders” (military personnel walking with bulletproof shields) work with them. The Vityaz submachine gun was also available, but was not used in combat. There were technical problems with the constant sticking of cartridges. Yes, and there is no such task where the “Vityaz” is better than Kalashnikov, ”says the officer of the VV. In the TsSN of the Ministry of Defense, the SR-2M is used as the second sniper weapon.

But the biggest headache and source of fixed costs are regular Kalashnikov assault rifles being finalized at their own expense. “We put a butt adjustable in length. Usually these are American Magpul or Israeli products. We put purchased DTK (muzzle brake-compensator), which reduce the toss of weapons, and some models also reduce the flash of a shot, which is very important when working with night vision devices. Adapters with Picatinny rails. A fuse box with an additional pedal for easy switching with the middle and / or index finger, ”the special forces officer of the Ministry of Defense lists the purchases. The military personnel of the TsSN VV and SOBR officers do the same.

“A gentleman's set on every machine is a front handle, a red dot sight and an adjustable stock. If the employee is comfortable, then he also adds a pistol grip. We put the Picatinny and Weaver adapters. The “inkwell” (muzzle brake-compensator. - Approx. Aut.) is very necessary, indispensable for night work, ”the officer of the special forces of the internal troops is sure.

According to him, of the numerous collimator sights currently offered on the small arms market, the center chose the products of the American firms Eotech and Aimpoint.

“We put Eotech on machine guns, and Aimpoint on machine guns. Russian and Belarusian sights do not like. The collimator is good with a triple magnifier, but it is too expensive, so not everyone has it, ”says an officer of the internal troops. In his opinion, a collimator sight should be cherished like the apple of an eye: “There are no licensed workshops of these companies in Russia, and it’s almost impossible to fix it yourself, especially if the matrix is ​​broken.”

An employee of the SOBR of the Ministry of Internal Affairs explained that, in addition to imported parts, his units also buy domestic productions from the Zenit company: “We do not purchase everything at our own expense, the Motherland gives us something. I would have liked ACOG scopes from TriJicon, but they are too expensive, so we opted for Aimpoint products.”

Over the past four years, the ACU (Army Combat Uniform) cut field uniform, adopted in 2008 for supply by the Pentagon, has become popular with Russian special forces, and differs from the traditional field uniform in a short jacket with a standing collar and oblique chest pockets. Also, the American camouflage coloring "multicam", jokingly called "cartoon" in Russia, is widely used.

“ACU is more comfortable, only pockets are needed with buttons. These are quality products made of good materials, although, of course, there are exceptions. Coloring "cartoons" is well suited for regions where you have to work. And another point - when working together with “fesniks” (FSB special forces fighters), specialists from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and others, it turns out that everyone is dressed in the same uniform and there are no problems with identifying each other, ”says an officer of the Special Purpose Center of the Ministry of Defense.

According to his colleague from the VV, these troops are now abandoning the coloring of "cartoons" in favor of "surpat" (SURPAT), developed by the Russian company "Survival Corps". "Cartoon" is worse in the forest, so officers take it for everyday wear, sometimes they put it on for classes. It happens that we use the standard camouflage field uniform of the internal troops. But the “surpat” in the ACU cut is very comfortable, especially the sewn-in knee pads. They do not pull the leg, do not disrupt the blood supply, ”explains a special forces officer.

An employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs SOBR said that his unit also prefers the field ACU, which is purchased from British and American manufacturers: “We take the original CRYE uniform. Our employees buy what is more comfortable for them to wear. We receive some of the field uniforms on a regular basis, but we buy most of them at our own expense.” According to him, the use of "multicam" colors allows you to quickly identify friendly units participating in the operation. Although this coloring is not optimal for the North Caucasus.

According to all interlocutors, the big problem is uniform shoes that cannot be worn. And again you have to buy on your own, giving preference to foreign products, and not only for military purposes: sports boots are also in demand. Recently, the special forces of the Internal Troops and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are increasingly liking the boots of the domestic company Faraday. “It is generally impossible to walk in shaped pieces of wood, and it is also life-threatening. Now Faraday shoes have appeared that are no worse than imported ones, but many times cheaper. If only they would take her for supply and give us regular ones, ”the officer of the internal troops modestly dreams.

Communications and night vision devices

Night vision devices are a headache for Russian special forces. When asked if you consider Russian devices adequate for the tasks assigned, an officer from the Special Purpose Center of the Ministry of Defense answered succinctly: “Are you kidding me?”.

According to the officer of the internal troops, his colleagues, if possible, prefer to purchase imported products, sometimes Belarusian "Filins". “For snipers, there are good full-time Russian “night lights” DS-4 and DS-6. But there are few of them in our center. Now we have purchased Russian night vision devices "Shahin". We immediately said that they did not suit us. The same "Cyclone" (manufacturer - NPO "Cyclone") is much better, more reliable and easier. But the intelligence department of the VV thought that such people would do for us, ”the commando of the internal troops is outraged.

Also, all interlocutors admitted that their units also purchase active headphones with built-in communication at their own expense, which amplify weak sounds and dampen strong ones. Peltor headphones are preferred.

“They are not needed everywhere, but only for the task, otherwise the rumor sits down very quickly. For fun, try walking in active headphones along a mountain stream or through a forest in strong winds. But indoors or in fire training, they are good, ”explains an officer of the Ministry of Defense.

His colleague from the internal troops believes that active headphones are necessary for operations in the forest: “There they amplify the sound and you can hear the enemy in advance. Although I personally prefer a regular headset.”

The ongoing counter-terrorist operations in Syria require the constant participation of military personnel and employees of special forces units of all law enforcement agencies. If in the early 90s the quality and quantity of equipment was determined by the capabilities of the department, now even for elite special-purpose centers everything depends on the thickness of the wallets of the servicemen themselves. It can be argued that foreign specialists also spend their money, because everyone chooses what is more convenient to fight in. But it's one thing - shoes and field uniforms, and when it comes to body armor, helmets, communications equipment, "body kits" for weapons, it's already worth thinking about.

The international arms and equipment market has been at the peak of activity in the last 10-12 years. Russian companies, with rare exceptions, do not participate there, although the military and law enforcement officers have accumulated sufficient combat experience that can be implemented in new families of bulletproof vests, communications equipment, active headphones, etc. At the same time, the latest AEK-971 and AK-12 assault rifles presented for testing without full-fledged collimator sights of domestic production. Although the same Belarus actively produces these products. One can only regret that foreign special forces are supplied by departments, and Russian ones by their families, donating money from the family budget.

Alexey Mikhailov

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If for a civilian, a beret is an ordinary headdress, which, in principle, is more popular among women, then for military personnel, a beret is not just an integral part of the uniform, but a symbol. Currently, each branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has its own beret. Hats differ not only in color, but also in the rule and the right to wear it. Therefore, not everyone knows how it differs, for example, in taking the GRU special forces from the headdress of the marines.

The first mention of an army headdress

The very first army berets appeared at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries in England and Scotland. Then the warriors wear special caps that look like berets. However, the mass distribution of such a headdress began only during the First World War. The first who began to wear them were the soldiers of the tank and mechanized units of the French army.

Further, the baton for the introduction of such an element of clothing was the UK. With the advent of tanks, the question arose of what to wear to the tanker, because the helmet was very uncomfortable, and the cap was too bulky. Therefore, it was decided to introduce a black beret. The color was chosen on the basis that the tankers are constantly working and are near the equipment, and soot and oil are not visible on the black color.

The appearance of a beret in the army

During the Second World War, such hats became even more popular, especially among the Allied forces. US Special Forces soldiers noted the following conveniences of these headgear:

  • First of all, they hid their hair well;
  • Dark colors were not visible in the dark;
  • The berets were warm enough;
  • He could wear a helmet or a helmet.

Accordingly, some types and types of troops in Great Britain and the United States adopted a headdress as one of the main elements of uniforms. In the Soviet army, this element of clothing began to appear already in the early sixties, as the head attribute of the landing and special forces. Since then, the rules and wearing of such hats have not changed much.

Which one does the special forces take?

At the end of the 20th century, berets became an integral part of the daily and dress uniforms of the armies of many countries. Almost every defensive state has elite special units that have their own unique headgear:

  1. The mountain infantry detachments of the French armed forces, the Alpine Chasseurs, wear a dark blue beret of a sufficiently large diameter.
  2. The elite Foreign Legion is characterized by light green robes.
  3. French naval special forces are distinguished by wearing a green beret.
  4. German airborne troops and reconnaissance units wear maroon berets, but with different emblems on it.
  5. The Royal Netherlands Marines are distinguished by wearing dark blue uniform elements, while the paratroopers are wearing maroon headdresses.
  6. British special forces SAS have been wearing beige caps since the mid-forties of the last century, and the marines are green.
  7. The US Rangers are recognizable by the same color as the British Special Forces - beige.
  8. US Special Forces have been wearing green berets since 1961, earning their nickname.

It can be seen that most of the NATO member countries have an identical color range of hats. As for the shape, it is round for all armies, and differs only in size.

Distribution in the Armed Forces of the USSR

In 1967, an updated uniform was adopted for the Airborne Forces. The famous Soviet artist A.B. Zhuk submitted a proposal to General V.F. Margelov to use crimson caps as an attribute of paratroopers, referring to the use of such caps in other countries of the world. The commander agreed and approved the beret. For privates and sergeants, an emblem in the form of an asterisk was intended, which was attached to the front in the center of the beret, and a blue flag was located on the right, and a cockade was provided for officers.

A year later, a blue beret was adopted for the paratroopers, as the leadership considered that it more symbolizes the color of the sky. As for the marines, black was approved for this type of troops. Tankers also used black berets, but not as the main headgear, but during the maintenance and repair of equipment to protect their heads from dirt.

The difference between the uniform of the GRU special forces and the rest of the military branches

Special Forces developed with the Airborne Forces at the same time and due to similar specifics and the use and profile of the tasks of these troops, their uniforms were identical. The special forces soldiers wore exactly the same uniform as the paratroopers. Outwardly, it is very difficult to distinguish who is standing in front of you: a commando or an airborne officer. After all, the color, and the shape, and the cockade itself are the same. However, the GRU had one caveat.

Blue berets and the uniform of the Airborne Forces in Soviet times were mostly worn by special forces soldiers in training units or at a parade. After the training centers, the soldiers were assigned to combat units, which could be carefully disguised as other branches of the military. This was especially true for those who were sent to serve abroad.

Instead of a white and blue vest, beret and lace-up boots, the soldiers were given the usual combined arms uniform, for example, like tankers or signalmen. So you could forget about berets. This was done in order to hide the presence of the special forces from the eyes of the enemy. Thus, for the GRU, the blue beret is a ceremonial headdress and only in those cases when it is allowed to wear it.

The beret of the GRU special forces is not just a type of headdress and an integral part of the uniform, but a symbol of valor and courage, honor and nobility, the right to wear which is not given to every even the most experienced and brave warrior.

Video: how do they pass the standards for a maroon beret?

In this video, Pavel Zelennikov will show how the special forces elite receive an olive and maroon beret:

Today it is difficult to find really high-quality uniforms. In most cases, you have to deal with dubious options originally from China.

The form looks quite beautiful, and it is almost impossible to distinguish it from the original. However, as soon as such paraphernalia turns out to be in the "field" conditions, the quality takes precedence over the visual superiority - it simply passes.

For the military, every little thing is very significant, especially physical mobility and a number of directly tactical, defensive and protective functions that become possible thanks to overalls.

Uniforms are issued to military units, including the foreign intelligence agency represented by the GRU special service. This is a form of special purpose, which must be functional, comfortable and practical.

Now it is not uncommon to report on television channels, articles in the media, Internet programs about various special forces.

People who are ignorant of this issue can simply comment on the appearance of the fighters like this - they are all the same: camouflage, berets, vests ... But this is only at first glance.

All uniforms have historical features. In addition to household quality, the military uniform of the GRU special forces, both in the old days and to this day, is not only facilitates the service but also protects its owner.

The protective function allows a person in the performance of official duties to protect himself from the effects of negative natural factors. The tactical clothing of the GRU special forces also helps to minimize accidents and the risk of unpredictable situations.

Varieties of clothing, styles

As a rule, the whole variety of uniforms of law enforcement agencies is focused on its seasonal classification:

  • summer;
  • winter.

You can also notice the division of the form according to its direct application:

  • Variety of clothing for field operations. Used in combat. As a rule, the field uniform of the GRU special forces is accompanied by its use in the most difficult minutes of service, therefore, special requirements are placed on it.
  • Front- ideal for presenting military and state awards, as well as special honors, guard of honor. You can not do without it on ceremonial and weekend days.
  • Everyday uniform. Applies to all other cases.

The dress and demobilization uniform of the GRU special forces looks like in this photo:

Thanks to the high-quality form, the fighter is comfortable and comfortable even during unexpected combat missions.

For men

All the variety of shapes and colors of clothing used by the GRU units, for the most part, was inherited from the USSR period. You can list the main ones:

  • "Amoeba". The most durable pattern of camouflage, whose history goes back to the period of 1935. At one time it was at the heart of the developments of Soviet designers of military uniforms. At the moment, it has been finalized, its various variations are available.
  • "deciduous forest"- An ideal camouflage fabric of a military nature. The uniform passed the “baptism of fire” and served the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War of 1942 in good service.
  • "Silver Leaf"("Sunny Bunnies" or). Sketches of this sample were created back in the 50s.
  • VSR-93, or folk "Vertical"(based on the vertical stripes on the form). The shape of the field character allows you to effectively merge with the surrounding background.
  • HRV-98 "Flora". In wide military circles, it is known as the "Watermelon" camouflage because of the stripes. This option is the base for special forces. In addition to the specific coloring, it has excellent masking characteristics, suitable for the middle part of Russia.
  • "Digital flora" or "Russian figure". These are innovative developments of a new summer and winter uniform for the special forces of the GRU, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the FSB, which was developed by V. Yudashkin (Russian fashion designer).

Are you interested in knowing what the requirements are for? For her, too, there are certain rules and requirements.

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What features does the black uniform of special forces have and what requirements it must meet, read in this.

For women

Military special uniform for women is created based on the male version taken as a basis. At the same time, all the basic principles of reliability, comfort and resistance to any weather conditions are preserved.

The female version of the GRU special forces clothing is rack-mounted and has a special dimensional grid designed exclusively for women. The shirt-tunic has a large number of necessary pockets. Pockets are represented by a direct version with Velcro.

Convenience is achieved by the fact that in the summer you can roll up your sleeves. On the back of the pants there are reflective meshes that allow you to move without fear of getting dirt, perform a ventilation function.

What the uniform of the GRU special forces for men and women looks like, look at the photo:

In order for the thing to retain its own presentability and last as long as possible, you will need to follow the recommendations for washing it (look at the label).

Storage and care

Absolutely any uniform, regardless of the area of ​​​​its application needs special care. Due to daily wear, stubborn dirt appears on the uniform.

Before washing the GRU form, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the recommendations indicated on the products. In this case, wool products need to be hand washed in warm water or in a washing machine with the choice of the most gentle mode. Due to the high temperature of the water, the material may "sit down", so things will decrease by 1-2 sizes. And do not forget about spinning, which is absolutely “contraindicated”.

The most problematic to clean is the police, military and GRU uniforms.

Mistakes in care can just ruin it, which will entail a sufficient amount of trouble, which may even lead to a service reprimand.

Everyday uniform can be cleaned in any mode - it withstands exposure to any temperature and detergents.

Given the high degree of pollution, these clothes are made from the strongest fibers. Even with all the desire of the owner, it will still be the best option to take the dress uniform to dry cleaning, since home attempts can only harm the dress clothes and lead to irreversible consequences.

Spetsnaz - military special forces trained according to a special program and designed to carry out special combat goals and tasks. Obviously, these units, among other things, must be the most mobile, maneuverable and enduring, and the equipment of the fighter plays an important role in this matter.

Special Forces in full combat readiness

Features of the uniform of the special forces of the Russian Army

Ordinary inhabitants who are not related to military service have a strong opinion that military overalls are of the highest quality and the best wear resistance. And this is no accident! After all, the main features of the special forces uniform are to ensure maximum comfort for the wearer.


Regardless of the climatic conditions in which the soldier finds himself, the uniform for special forces is obliged to minimize the possible inconvenience of weather conditions, whether it be heat, cold, gusty winds or heavy rain. In addition, despite the external bulkiness, the suit should not constrain or impede movement, allowing you to quickly respond to any unforeseen situation.

Thus, the main principles that workwear must meet are practicality, convenience and functionality. In these matters, without a doubt, the main role is played by the fabric from which it is made.

A popular material for many workwear manufacturers is rip-stop (RIP-STOP), which is based on cross-woven heavy-duty nylon threads that guarantee the product durability. Suits made of this material are durable, frost-resistant, waterproof, windproof, non-flammable from sparks and do not fade in the sun, and are also relatively light.


Another purpose of overalls is camouflage, allowing the soldier to merge with the surrounding area and remain unnoticed by the enemy. Camouflage clothing is conditionally divided into three categories:

  • one-color (a vivid example is winter white or plain sand, called "sand");
  • camouflage (two or more colors on the fabric, representing any pattern);
  • clothing with additional camouflage materials.

Types of special forces uniform

The uniform of special forces, regardless of the military unit, is universal and is divided into the following options:

  • summer tactical special forces uniform;
  • winter special forces uniform.

By appointment, the form is classified into:

  • field;
  • everyday;
  • front door.

The field uniform is the main option used in combat operations, field exercises, as well as in the elimination of emergency and emergency situations. Its style and color depend on the task. Casual is meant for daily use.

The front dress is worn exclusively on holidays and vacation days, as well as on the occasion of celebrations. A distinctive and memorable element of the dress uniform is the beret, the color of which is determined by the military unit.

The elite of the special forces are fighters in maroon berets, who, for the right to wear a beret of this color, undergo rigorous qualification tests.


In addition, the following types of forms are distinguished:

  • special;
  • protective;
  • labor type.

One of the brightest examples of a special kind of uniform is the jump suit, called the Mabuta suit, which is considered the best option for hot climates due to the special composition of the knitwear that allows air to pass through. This uniform proved itself in Afghanistan and is still associated with the GRU special forces.


The protective look is based on OKZK (combined arms complex protective suit), designed to protect the skin and mucous membranes of a fighter from harmful emissions and environmental influences.


Spetsnaz - OKZK uniform (combined arms complex protective suit)

The MPA-24 special forces uniform, made with ventilation inserts that reduce sweating during physical exertion, is popular as an everyday work look. Due to its practicality and functionality, this suit (for example, the SOBR uniform) has become widespread among the mass consumer and is especially fond of fishermen and hunters.


The uniform of the special forces of the GRU of Russia

The main task of the GRU is to ensure the state security of our country, often serving on enemy territory. Most of these formations are considered classified.

In this regard, the field uniform - the camouflage of the GRU special forces has no distinctive or characteristic features. It can be completely identical to the uniform of another military unit.

The field uniform of the GRU special forces has no distinctive or characteristic features.

This is a historical circumstance: back in Soviet times, special forces were assigned to combat units, which, in order to hide their location from the enemy, were carefully disguised as other types of troops.

In addition, in a team of intelligence officers, it is not uncommon for officers, working undercover, to put on the uniform of privates on purpose. The dress uniform of the GRU differs from the field uniform by the presence of a tunic and a white shirt.

Special forces camouflage for field conditions

The field uniform of fighters in most cases has a camouflage color. Special forces camouflage is a camouflage coloring of fabric that makes it difficult to identify an object. To achieve this goal, two functions of camouflage are distinguished:

  • deforming (for example, the form of special forces Alpha);
  • imitation.

The deforming function is achieved by violating the integrity of the perception of the object due to the use of contrasting colors in camouflage, which distorts the outlines of the silhouette.

A clear example of the deforming function of camouflage is the uniform set of the special forces of the Russian Federation mountain troops, called the Gorka suit, which is made using large contrasting elements.


Spetsnaz uniform of mountain troops

The camouflage uniform of the Russian Army and special forces is endowed with an imitation function, which is achieved by merging the object with the background through the use of a color palette characteristic of the field operations area.

As for the camouflage color, in order to perform the above functions, it must meet two requirements:

  • match the color often found on the ground (the object literally merges with the background);
  • be unpleasant or hardly noticeable to the human eye (so that the gaze does not intuitively stop at the object).

Special forces - uniform (photo)

To date, camouflage colors mainly use shades of brown and marsh, khaki, olive, gray, black, and the following texture and color schemes are also used:

  • KZS Coloring-57("Border camouflage"): olive or swamp background with angular spots of sand, gray-silver or khaki (FSB special forces uniform);
  • "Butane"("Amoeba"): colors may vary, the principle of the scheme is that dark spots and an amoeba-like pattern are applied to a light background;
  • VSR-93(“Birch”, “Watermelon”): oblong dark green and brown spots are applied vertically on a light green background;
  • VSR-98("Flora"): differs from HRV-93 in that the spots are located horizontally;
  • EMP("Russian figure", "Russian pixel"): in this color scheme, small ("pixel") spots that perform an imitating function are distributed in such a way that they form groups of large spots that perform a deforming function;
  • "Undergrowth": sharp angular spots of swamp and black colors are applied on a light background;
  • "Raster Undergrowth"("Raster"): a twisted brown web overlays the color scheme of the original undergrowth;
  • "Tiger"("Reed"): dark stripes are applied on a light background, horizontal in the "Tiger" variant or vertical in the "Reed" variant.

Form care

The most important element of a valiant military bearing is an impeccable appearance. It's no secret that military uniforms require careful maintenance. In regular and especially solemn situations, it is strictly forbidden to wear dirty, wrinkled, untidy clothes. Russian special forces uniforms should look perfect.

Washing and ironing of the field and everyday uniforms is recommended to be carried out according to the information indicated on the tags. Caring for the dress uniform is best entrusted to dry cleaning.