Afghan National Army Commando Patches

Here are the two commando patches I mentioned above.

Tom

VERY NICE! Thanks for sharing! If you have any duplicates of those pirate patches, let me know!

Exellent patches there!!!

Thanks guys! This red CMDO SSI with the white (lt gray) border was acquired at the BAF southern Bazaar in 2009. I had a standing agreement with the vendor to buy any and all patches he brought in every Friday. It gave me a chance to pick all I needed for my collection and sell the rest. All were original brough in from all over the place. Sadly, that vendor isn't here anymore and the crack down on non-ANA personnel in possession of ANA insignia has really hit the market over here.

Tom

Thanks for posting these! I love the white edged commando patch. And very interesting to see the 2 piece grey commando insignia.

CBS News had a brief segment this evening regarding the ANA Special Operations Command. There were some good shots of uniforms and insignia so I did what I could to save some screen grabs as attached below. Sorry that some came out a bit blurry.


Good shot of the SSI on a senior NCO who was drilling the troops seen in the background.





The man on the far left was identified as the CSM for ANASOC and was the primary focus of the story. Note the variation Commando patch on his right arm.







A closer shot of the CSM to show his beret insignia.





There was also a US Special Forces advisor that was interviewed during the story. Not a very good pic but the best that I could grab of his insignia. Apppears to be an OD or MultiCam ANA Commando patch with a SF long tab above.





Last pic, again of the ANASOC CSM. I couldn't resist with the impressive 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) plaque in the background! Also what appears to be a SEAL Pup, and folders by CRKT and Gerber.

Another pic of the so called "Pirate" ANA Commando patch in-wear; this time above the more common red Commando Punisher skull.





Actually, if you look closely there are some pretty interesting unifrom and equipment details in this photograph!

Open source photograph.

Ok, so heres the latest patch arrival. It definetly looks Afghan made but has anyone seen evidence of them being worn or are these another batch of in theater made for collector patches?

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Interesting patch. The Ranger tab could be for US advisor who went to Ranger school. I like it.

Thanks mate. Yeah purely guessing here but I was thinking maybe made up by a US mentor that was ranger qualed and didnt want to wear the special forces tab.

I don't think all advisers were SF qualified.

Another variation on the skulls with the more "normal" ANA commando skull of the left to demonstrate size. Has anybody seen any pics of these in use?

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Excellent variety!

I have never seen any pictures of those variety being worn. But it would be cool if someone was able to post pictures.

Keep it coming, Jason!

Even some non-commando units use Commando patches. Those two pictures are Afghan Special Forces.

Check out this facebook group. This is where I keep finding great ANA pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/AfghanistanNationalArmy.ANA

Just a warning though, you will see some pictures of patch collection were "borrowed" from this thread.

just picked up some ANA pirate patches, slightly different colours to the previously posted ones...

Mercenary25 wrote:I don't think all advisers were SF qualified.

You are absolutely correct Jeremy. Many units, some SoF, some not; coalition allies and US have been involved in training/advising ANA Commando entities. Assembling a complete list of these mentoring units would be a daunting task.

Interesting skull and crossbone patches, very odd detail to them. And you are not wrong with figuring out the mentors! There are so many smaller obscure Afghan units that it would be a massive task even IDing the units let alone who mentored them.

Yes, special forces. From what I can tell the ANA isnt too bad, but the amount of small units that come under NDS, GDPSU, ANP etc is unreal.

Awesome grouping of patches .

Ed

Just as a note, Ive seen some regular ANA infantry (not commandos) wearing these Commando patches where I am in eastern Kunar. A lot dont wear any patches and when they do its usually just the basic Afghanistan/Afghan flag ones but theres also guys who wear random patches that they like no matter what they are. They really dont have any rules about it. They like to see themselves as fighters so Commando type stuff is popular. Ive also seen some guys wearing US division patches (often crooked or upsidedown) from units that passed through or add US airborne or ranger tabs they got to their patches.

Thanks for sharing this insight and information. AND, thanks for your service. Watch your 6 and stay safe .......

Thanks for the info.

Fantastic collections folks-

Here's my first patch- comments welcome.

Also.. can anybody tell me what the patch says top and bottom? Can't seem to find any other info out there on it and yes..I can read the "Commando" tab lol

The top reads "Allah is The Great" (God is Great), the bottom reads "Commando".

There are scores of variants for this basic patch design some with alternate script. This is probably the most often seen example.

Hi,

There is also this version that I get from Jim with "The Allah is the Great" which has been computerized ?? Or it is just a mistake from the maker.

JYN

I think that's a stitching error.

An interesting DoD photograph.  According to the caption, the man at center is an 18 Delta (US Army Special Forces Medic) photographed in the Gereshk Valley, Hemand Province.  Although not stated in the caption I think the man at right is a ANA SF Commando Interpreter.  Note the SSI that he is wearing on what appears to be an older Woodland BDU top or perhaps it is an ANA Woodland pattern (not really my area).  First Special Forces with long tab only.  You can see the shadow from where it looks like the Airborne and Ranger tabs were removed.  Interesting appearance .....