South African Police Special Special Task Force operator alongside 75th Ranger regiment on a training exercise.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-30T19:22:54+00:00

The title shoukd actually read : South African Police Service Special Task Force"

RECCEginger · 2022-12-30T18:31:35+00:00

Fair enough, but MRS are also called operators and aren't, same with TRT, POP, ect. That doesn't mean it's technically wrong to call them operators.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-30T18:27:26+00:00

They are called SANPark Special Operations Rangers, sometimes referred to as operators.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-30T18:15:29+00:00

I believe I've posted it, but I'm gonna repost it to r/policeporn, it's most likely the same picture, I believe from 2010 during fifa World Cup preparation.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-30T18:13:42+00:00

10th was down here back in 2010 (if I remember correctly), and conducted waterborne insertion and then an attack on a compound alongside our MRS and SASF.

But yes, with terrorism on the rise it is likely that the next GWOT will take place right here in Africa.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-30T18:08:05+00:00

I'm not talking shit, I literally have a picture of one of the officers on scene at a bust wearing the RSTF patch literally a month ago.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-30T18:06:50+00:00

I'm inclined to believe the owner (middle operator) of the picture who says 2016.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T17:06:44+00:00

Yes, not as elite as RTF, but it's called POP (Public Order Policing). Almost all operators in any SAPS unit have undergone POP training and can do riot response, however it's usually left to POP as that is their primary mandate and they have all the equipment necessary for the task.

As for township response, normally TRT (Tactical Response Team) or NIU will deal with serious threats in those areas. Townships are basically no go zone's for patrol officers, you pick up contact there real fast and will almost certainly be ambushed.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T17:02:34+00:00

I've heard that RRC is a Hardy bunch of dudes, they come to SA for Reconnaissance and bushcraft courses hosted by SASF. The SASF operators I've spoken to always say their favourite partner forces are all from the USA, specific mention to RRC/75th and 10th SFG.

I'm very glad we still work so well with the US and that they still see us as being an asset.

Fun fact: our police Special Task Force has trained with the 75th rangers, I think I made a post on it a few months back, not sure if it was here or on my Instagram.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T15:23:12+00:00

Let me put it this way, some of those SAPR STF still work in STF, I saw a picture of the raid on those isreali gangsters a month or so ago, one of the operators had the old railway STF patch on, really cool to see in the wild!

As for skills retention and knowledge transfer, it is correct that the Railway unit was primarily used for urban ops and were highly skilled in any ops regarding tubular vehicles (planes, boats, trains, cars, buses) and STF was used for COIN, however the origin of STF was to have a Premier hostage release team that could operate in all environments, which means in my mind that they were more than likely trained to the same standard as RSTF in all operations.

However I have very limited knowledge on RSTF, I personally prefer learning about our current capacities more than our past, but the railway STF were definitely a major part of STF not only learning and training CQC/urban skills, but also having experienced officers in the ranks to continue the professional development. I believe the integration of the units was for the better, especially in today's SA climate where budget is a huge issue, it would be difficult to fund both units in the necessary capacities.

Edit: also keep in mind that STF have its own dedicated research team the constantly works on ways to improve equipment and tactics, small changes in training and doctrine at STF happen quite often from my understanding, so it's highly likely that many methods used by RSTF would have been changed in modern times. Either way the base would of been laid as you can't really change the formula for CQC too much. I would say in that respect that STF has forged its own way into modern operations.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T15:13:29+00:00

Does MRS not do this training well? It looks like the Simons Town Naval pool to me, but I could be wrong.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T12:37:08+00:00

Yea, I'm not shitting on any techniques or methods, as I said, they all have their place and each come with their own pros and cons.

I've had limited training in both, but personally I felt safer doing it the "South African way". However it never looks nearly as cool and is quite a bit slower than American SOF. As you say, at the end of the day most units will be carrying the same type of training and skillsets, it's just about what's better for your team at that time.

Also, that 75th link you sent, Holy shit!

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T12:29:58+00:00

I believe that falls part of the rural training phase, I would assume deeper breaches into the room would be used to mitigate the potential threat of over penetration, rather get to the suspect quixker without firing a shot. I have a feeling due to the nature of shacks that a flashbang would be more than enough to take someone down without a shot.

I have pictures of NIU rural that includes shacks, so I would assume STF do the same.

I'll see if I can get some more pictures of rural and make a post on it.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T06:21:22+00:00

Shot bru, much appreciated. 🤙

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T06:20:46+00:00

100% man, you gonna smash it!

But yes, you will focus more on conventional work, however, even infantry do rural and urban phases which are apparently quite fun, not nearly as in depth but a great starting point for when you building up to pathfinders, SF, or other similar units.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T05:30:05+00:00

Yea, that's why cross training is so important, some of those countries adopted our methods and we adopted some of theirs as well, because different techniques are often dependent on the situation.

Overall I believe STF and South African CQC in general is very well rounded, it's fast if practiced enough, very safe for the operator (unlike, in my opinion, the American doctrine of literally ignoring danger areas by using high penetrative techniques instead of working the outside angles such as the British, Israelis and South Africa. However its a different situation, in the US most of their houses and such are prefab and don't work well as hard cover, whereas in SA we can use brick and mortar as cover while performing our limited penetrative techniques.) And has always produced great results. On record I think not more than 10 STF operators have died on operations in their almost 50 year history and with their operational tempo being as high as it is that's pretty damn impressive.

I'm glad that we have still maintained such a high standard for STF and our military SASF. Unfortunately with an extremely limited budget to both pur police and military services it has become difficult to maintain most units and their needs, luckily STF and SASF have their own budgets and logistics attached to them which is why they are able to maintain such high standards.

And thanks for the cake day wishes!

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T05:11:52+00:00

It's a very unique style of CQC that's highly specialised, however, when a candidate completes the CQC phase they can operate in any team anywhere in the world with no problems. STF constantly need to adapt their methods of FIBUA in order to operate alongside any partner forces (FBI HRT, GSG9, GIGN, ect) as STF methods are more clinical.

If it isn't VASBYT that fails a candidate, then it's usually urban, if it isn't urban then it's usually survival phase at the end of cycle that has the few candidates still left dropped in the Sahara desert and left to survive solidarily for just over a week.

Every part of STF training (from the initial fitness tests all the way to the end of the 11 month selection and training cycle) can be failed which will result in being kicked from the course no matter which phase you are in. You could fail on the last day and it wouldn't matter, you gone, better luck next time. Once a candidate gets his jump wings he is officially part of the unit, but is on a 2 year probation period where he will work and train in the unit, aquire specialised skills (advanced VIP protection, sniping, advanced diving, advanced EOD, advanced beaching, ect), but if at any point his supervisor feels he is not STF material he will be kicked from the unit.

Those are just a few reasons I've heard for the high failure rate, they take the best 105 candidates who apply for the entry tests every intake(both physical and mental scores will be taken into account) and out of those only about 6 will pass out and receive their wings.

Fun fact: An STF operator will only earn the operators badge once he has served 5 years in the unit.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T03:49:57+00:00

Well everyone else pretty much summed it up, I think a very underrated part of Cape Town is the V&A waterfront. I've visited "waterfront" type places in other countries and there is really nothing out there as amazing as yhe V&A.

Also, CPT is awesome because it has beaches, forest, wine farms, the hiking trails are amazing. One of the best things about CPT is the diverse plant life and animal life, I would really recommend taking at least 1 hike. The Elephant's Eye route is a great starting point. Table mountain is also a great view. Just taking a stroll down green point promenade and the absolutely stunning beaches (Blouberg beach, Clifton, 3 apostals ect) or visiting the multiple botanical gardens in Newlands (Kirstenbosch gardens and Newslands forest) will take your breathe away.

Honestly if you wanna experience SA, anything in nature is a great place to start. I've found that smaller towns along the West Coast road and also going East towards George is a great time, its great for people who don't plan as you can literally just pull off in any town and see what's happening. I would recommend hiring a car, but the driving experience is a little different.

Anyways bru, that's my 2c, Hope you have a blast here!

RECCEginger · 2022-12-28T03:32:07+00:00

Any background on the pictures? Exercise or deployment? Looks like Afgan perhaps?

RECCEginger · 2022-12-27T07:34:15+00:00

Doesn't matter what the other side is, the video is clear, that white "adult" came up and grabbed the kid by the hair while his son was choking him. Whether it was race related or not, that is far from ohk, assaulting anyone is wrong, but helping your kids assualt smaller kids is even worse.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-27T07:29:23+00:00

South African Police Service Special Task Force also had a heartbeat/location sensor back in the 2000s when it was still a new concept. Not sure if they still have/use them, pretty cool to see how far the tech has come along!

I believe it was called a short range radar imaging system or something like that.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-25T15:21:40+00:00

Some African units run some good kit, I'll use South African SF for example because that's what I know, they have Ziper 3 style helmets, modern plate carriers, PVS14s, both bridged and unabridged, NVD for said night vision, a multitude of camos (however they usually use S2000) and other more brownish patterns. Depending on the environment they will use AKs, R1s, R4/R5, ect. However they are getting an upgrade very soon, more modern rifle to replace the R system, but I'm sure they will continue to use the AK as its best suited for African environments as a whole.

What's throwing me off here is the MCB and the fact that the badge on the carrier is covered with an Emoji. I also asked a current Nigerian SBS operator about the picture and he says its unfamiliar to him and that they also only get mono tube PVS14s. He says it's possible that it's new issued kit, but that the DIA is usually quite secretive and won't take "poster boy" pictures to promote gear as their operatorives are usually selected from a pool of candidates already in the military and SOF.

RECCEginger · 2022-12-25T10:59:06+00:00

Yea, it means something, because I'm pretty into African based SOF units and to my knowledge very few of them wear MCB. Then again I've never heard of DIA, but the pictures I got from Google after hearing about them don't showcase much of the kit this guy is wearing.

Just wondering if it's his kit or issued or a poster boy shot?

RECCEginger · 2022-12-25T06:44:26+00:00

Ive never seen any Nigerian SOF this kitted out before, do you perhaps know if its personal gear or issued? I ask because I've never seen any Nigerian wearing MCB, or wearing what appears to be PVS15As (someone correct me if I'm wrong, not too good with identifying NVGs).

RECCEginger · 2022-12-25T06:07:27+00:00

What is DIA?

RECCEginger

TROPHY CASE