Korps Commandotroepen

Commando Corps
Korps Commandotroepen
KCT
Uniform shoulder sleeve insignia of the Korps Commandotroepen (depicting a Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife)
Active22 March 1942
(as No. 2 (Dutch) Troop)
1 July 1950 – present
(as Korps Commandotroepen)
Country Netherlands
AllegianceGovernment of the Netherlands
Branch Royal Netherlands Army
TypeSpecial forces
RoleSpecial operations
Counter-terrorism
SizeSix companies
Part ofNetherlands Special Operations Command
HeadquartersEngelbrecht van Nassaukazerne, Roosendaal
Nickname(s)"Shadow warriors", "Green berets"
Motto(s)Nunc aut Nunquam
("Now or Never")
Colour of beret  Grass green
MarchHet Commandolied
Decorations Military William Order
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Huub Smeets [1]
Insignia
Beret insignia

The Korps Commandotroepen (KCT) (English: Commando Corps) is the elite special forces unit of the Royal Netherlands Army. The KCT traces its origins to the Second World War with the founding of No. 2 (Dutch) Troop, and the founding of the Korps Speciale Troepen during the Indonesian War of Independence. At present, the unit is tasked with conducting the full spectrum of special operations, its principal tasks being direct action, special reconnaissance, military assistance and counter-terrorism.

The corps currently consists of four active commando companies, a SOF Support company and a training company. The KCT is based at the Engelbrecht van Nassaukazerne in the city of Roosendaal. KCT missions are planned and coordinated by the Netherlands Special Operations Command (NLD SOCOM), as are the operations of its maritime counterpart NLMARSOF.

Due to the sensitivity of the unit's operations, which includes covert operations, much of the information about the KCT is classified. However, some deployments have been acknowledged and publicised by the Ministry of Defence. Since the end of the Cold War, the unit has seen extensive combat in conflict zones around the world. This includes deployments to the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Mali. Moreover, the unit has conducted numerous non-combatant evacuation operations in recent years.

  1. ^ "Commando-overdracht Korps Commandotroepen". 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.