Unit Name: | French Army Special Forces Command |
Native Name: | French: Commandement des forces spéciales Terre |
Dates: | 1 July 2002 - 30 June 2016 (brigade) 1 July 2016 (Command) |
Country: | |
Type: | Special Forces |
Garrison: | Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques France |
Colors: | Blue and Red |
Identification Symbol 4: | COM FST |
Identification Symbol 4 Label: | Abbreviation |
The Army Special Forces Command (French: Commandement des forces spéciales Terre, COM FST) regroups the various special operations forces units of the French Army and is the command charged with overseeing them. It is based in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
The COM FST is the heir of the Independent Special Grouping (French: Groupement Spécial Autonome, GSA) created in 1997 and then commanded the 1er RPIMa and a special operations flight belonging to the 4th command and manoeuvre helicopters regiment (French: 4e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Commandement et de Manœuvre, 4e RHCM) of the ALAT.[1]
In 1998, the French: Détachement ALAT des Opérations Spéciales (DAOS, ALAT detachment for special operations) was created.
The French: brigade des forces spéciales Terre (BFST) was activated on 1 July 2002 and included the 13e RDP. The BFST conduct an annual exercise called Gorgones (gorgons) to ensure interoperability of the three units. The name Gorgones refers to the three units, as the three mythological figures.
The BFST has supported the peacekeeping operation in Côte d'Ivoire (Opération Licorne) and Afghanistan (Mission Héraclès).
The French: brigade des forces spéciales Terre became the French: commandement des forces spéciales Terre (COM FST, division level) on 1 July 2016.[1] It was replaced by the Special Actions Command Terre as of January 2024.[1]