Commandos Marine The Naval Commandos ( ) are the special forces of the French Navy . They are made up of ~ 500 members , mostly based in northwestern France ( Brittany ) , with several bases across the country for specific training needs . The Naval Commandos are nicknamed " bérets verts " ( Green Berets ) . They operate under the Naval rifle and special force Command and the French Special Operations Command . History . The Naval Commandos were formed during World War II in Great Britain modeled alongside the British Commandos ( who were founded in 1940 ) . They were formed from Free French Navy Fusiliers - Marins ( naval infantry ) and trained at the Commando training facility Achnacarry , Scotland . To remember this the beret of the French naval commandos is worn pulled to the right with the badge worn over the left eye or temple , the opposite of all other French units . It took part in the Normandy Landing on D - Day under command of Commandant Philippe Kieffer . Recruitment and training . All the recruits must first be " Fusiliers - Marins " with at least 9 months of service . They have to enter a special forces basic training course reputed to be one of the toughest among the NATO Special Operation Forces . The basic training is called " Stage Commando " ( commando training ) . Commando training is the gateway to the special forces for the marines . Conducted at the Fusilier Marins school at Lorient on the Atlantic coast , it provides upon graduation access to the commandos and the right to wear the green beret and the badge of the commandos . Lasting 20 weeks , it includes one week of commando testing , 6 weeks of preparatory training , 4 weeks of evaluation , the actual commando training for 7 weeks , and 2 weeks of parachute training . During this period , any mistake can instantly disqualify the candidate . The ultimate goal of this training is to detect individuals with the physical , intellectual and psychological potential needed to work into the marine commandos . The historical roots of commando training date back to the Second World War , when volunteers of the Free French Navy went to the Commando training center in Achnacarry , Scotland . Since then , naval commandos has kept by tradition the green beret pulled right with the bronze shield badge on the left , the only such exception in the French armed forces . They have mostly retained the principle of exceptional training without compromise , based on immersion in a highly stressful environment , close to the conditions of combat operations . The Commandos in training are constantly under stress and pressure from instructors leaving them no respite . All activities are timed and scored : marching several tens of kilometers with equipment and weapon , obstacle course , combat strokes , navigation at night on the ground . The training is punctuated by firearms training and special combat techniques , rappeling and climbing , boating , explosives and hand - to - hand combat . The instructors are usually former commando operatives who monitor and punish any misconduct with extra - hard physical activity . The Commandos Marine have evolved to be broadly comparable to the British Special Boat Service . Composition . Their personnel is distributed between 6 commando s , named after former naval fusilier officers killed in action , and a special counter - terrorist unit :