Spetsnaz (Voyska spetsialnogo naznacheniya)
Russian special purpose regiments or Spetsnaz, Specnaz (Russian: Войска специального назначения, (спецназ) tr: Voyska spetsialnogo naznacheniya, pronounced [spʲetsnaz]) is a general term for "special forces" in Russian, literally "special purpose units". Russian special forces (Spetsnaz) can refer to any élite or special purpose units under subordination of the Federal Security Service (FSB) or Internal Troops of Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the units controlled by the military intelligence service GRU.
Currently, the term is used as well to describe any special purpose units or task forces of other ministries (even the Emergency Situations Ministry special rescue unit) [1] Foreign special forces are also commonly referred to as Spetsnaz on Russian television, for example "American Spetsnaz." Spetsnaz has trained the Republican guard of Syria, Iraq and Iran and they have been involved in training other special forces units across the world. Strictly speaking, all Spetsnaz units operated by the KGB/FSB were called OSNAZ, an acronym for [voiska] osobogo naznacheniya or "special purpose [detachments]".
These internal troop units originally were raised for internal use against counter-revolutionaries and other undesirables. There has always been a certain amount of shifting of personnel and units between both the GRU who control SPETSNAZ and the MVD with OSNAZ MVD and OSNAZ KGB or FSB, especially between the latter two. Today, OSNAZ is a term mainly used in connection with GRU-controlled COMINT, ELINT and radio-surveillance units within the Armed Forces. Spetsnaz carry out reconnaissance and social warfare missions in "peacetime" as well as in war. According to Vladimir Rezun, a GRU defector who used the pseudonym "Viktor Suvorov", there were 20 Spetsnaz brigades plus 41 separate companies. Thus, total strength of Spetsnaz forces in the 1980s could have been around 30,000 troops.
During Fulda Gap 2009 the core team for the Spetsnaz will be Team Capital Offense. Based out of Washington, DC., Capital Offense is one of the premier Scenario Paintball Teams on the East Coast, known for their night fighting capabilities and all round perfomance on the field.
Team Capital Offense is captained by David Thompson. With their high profile and long list of big time sponsors, Capital Offense attracts top players from up and down the Altlantic Coast.
Because of the special nature of this units mission and small unit cap the Spetsnaz are an invite only team for Fulda 2008.
You can learn more about Capital Offense at their website by clicking on the icon below.
