ALL THE BEST: 25 years Special Forces Command

Deployment call in Calw on September 20, 1996, Carsten Dombrowski was there and remembers: As I write posts like this, I notice how time flies. It feels like it was just yesterday. But now I don't want to write a sentimental story of aging men here, but rather refer to a quarter of a century of German success story.

September 1996 in Calw at the Graf Zeppelin Barracks. The day before, the Airborne Brigade 25, the Black Forest Brigade, had been ceremonially dissolved and bid farewell with a grand retreat from its garrison town of Calw. Pictures show the evening torchlight procession through the city of Calw, as well as the roll call.

I attended this ceremony with great nostalgia, as I had served for many years in the locations of Nagold and Münsingen under the parachute with the blue background and white border. A tormenting question for those of us from the 25 Brigade was always, why our brigade was chosen.

With the signs of the setup of a special forces unit, the regular soldiers and non-commissioned officers couldn't quite grasp what was going on. Special forces of the allied partners were known, but our own special forces beyond the paratroop regiment were - except for the legendary GSG 9 - rather unknown.

Gerhard Mayer Vorfelder as a representative of politics and Brigadier General Volker Löw, Commander of the Air Mobile Forces Command (successor organization of the 1st Airborne Division)

The next day, the Special Forces Command, abbreviated KSK, was established. It was a rather unspectacular and brief roll call on the same parade ground of the barracks where a unit had just been dissolved, Colonel Fred Schulz, the commander of the Airborne Brigade 25, became the first commander of the new KSK.

Now this memorable day was 25 years ago. Much has happened during this time. From initial steps with a cadre of former 25ers and support from allied nations, a highly professional and experienced elite unit has emerged. Even though a country like Germany still struggles with the concept of an elite unit, the KSK is internationally accepted as one to 100 percent.

I am glad and proud to have had many interactions with this unit and to still have some today. Through this, I was able to track the development in many stages. For the next decades, I wish all members of the Special Forces Command continued success.

The SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND on the Internet

For those who want to receive the latest newsletter from Carsten Dombrowski exclusively and automatically without missing one, must sign up HERE. The newsletter will then arrive by mail. Old issues are available in the archive on the website of the Capsarius Academy.

CAPSARIUS ACADEMY on the Internet: www.capsarius-akademie.com