Introduction: Honoring the Past
World War II gave rise to some of the most iconic and elite fighting forces in military history. Among these was the 1st Special Service Force, famously known as the Devil’s Brigade, an elite joint American-Canadian commando unit renowned for its daring missions and relentless determination. Today, modern soldiers from various special forces and military units are often called to honor that legacy, facing grueling training regimes designed to emulate the experience and tactics of the original Devil’s Brigade.
For modern recruits, stepping into the boots of their WWII predecessors isn’t just about physical endurance; it’s a mental, strategic, and emotional challenge that pushes them to their limits. In this article, we explore how modern soldiers prepare for their first mock mission, training in the manner of the WWII Devil’s Brigade, and the hurdles they face while testing their mettle against the past’s rigorous standards.
The Legacy of the Devil’s Brigade
Formed in July 1942, the Devil’s Brigade was a specialized commando unit made up of both American and Canadian soldiers. The unit was established to perform special operations, including stealthy raids, reconnaissance, and guerilla warfare behind enemy lines. Their missions were known for their high level of risk and required exceptional physical stamina, mental resilience, and tactical adaptability.
The Devil’s Brigade earned a fearsome reputation, even gaining the nickname “Black Devils” from the Germans, who feared their stealth tactics and nighttime assaults. Members of the unit were trained in hand-to-hand combat, mountaineering, parachuting, and demolition. Their skill and discipline played a crucial role in key operations, particularly in Italy and Southern France.
In modern times, these traits and tactics still serve as a blueprint for many special forces units worldwide. For today’s recruits, facing a training regime based on the Devil’s Brigade means not only preparing for physically intense missions but also adopting the same psychological fortitude that made their WWII predecessors so effective.
Training Begins: Emulating WWII Commandos
Modern commando recruits stepping into a Devil’s Brigade-style mission begin their journey with a sense of reverence for the past. Their training kicks off in much the same way it did for the original WWII commandos—with intense physical conditioning, map-reading, and weapon-handling courses. Unlike regular soldiers, commando trainees are expected to surpass normal expectations, often performing tasks under extreme conditions to simulate the real-life pressures faced in combat.
Modern recruits understand that they are not just learning military tactics; they are stepping into the shoes of one of history’s most formidable fighting forces. The legacy of the Devil’s Brigade is one of resilience, innovation, and bravery, qualities that recruits must internalize from the very start. Every drill, every march, and every obstacle they encounter is meant to connect them with the mindset of WWII commandos, preparing them to operate with the same level of grit and ingenuity required to survive and succeed behind enemy lines.
The First Challenge: Endurance
The training starts with a focus on physical endurance, pushing the recruits to their breaking point. Modern soldiers are put through grueling exercises that include long marches carrying full gear, simulating the pack loads that WWII commandos would have carried through hostile territory. In extreme weather conditions—whether heat, rain, or snow—recruits must navigate challenging terrain, including mountainous regions similar to those that the Devil’s Brigade scaled in Italy.
Endurance is more than just a test of physical strength; it’s a mental battle. Much like their WWII counterparts, modern recruits quickly learn that their body’s ability to keep moving forward when fatigued comes down to their mindset. The grueling demands of long-distance hikes, often under strict time constraints, teach soldiers the importance of pushing through pain, exhaustion, and self-doubt.
Weaponry and Combat Training
The next phase of training involves familiarization with a range of weapons. For modern soldiers, this is a blend of classic WWII weaponry—like the Thompson submachine gun or the M1 Garand—and modern-day rifles and explosives. This dual focus provides recruits with a link to the past while ensuring they are prepared for contemporary combat scenarios.
Hand-to-hand combat training is another crucial element. Much like the Devil’s Brigade, which was trained in unarmed combat and knife fighting, modern recruits undergo rigorous close-quarters battle (CQB) training. Learning to disarm and neutralize enemies without relying on firearms becomes an essential skill, as it was for WWII commandos operating behind enemy lines.
Recruits practice a combination of martial arts, grappling, and self-defense techniques, drawing from both historical WWII manuals and modern special forces handbooks. They are taught to fight in confined spaces, often in low-light conditions, replicating the challenges the Devil’s Brigade faced during nighttime operations.
Mountaineering and Tactical Navigation
The Devil’s Brigade was famous for its ability to traverse harsh, mountainous terrain, particularly during the Italian Campaign. Modern soldiers facing their first practice mission in the spirit of the WWII commandos must undergo similarly challenging mountaineering exercises.
Recruits are tasked with scaling rock faces, crossing rivers, and navigating forests—often with little more than a map and compass. GPS technology is deliberately removed from these exercises, forcing soldiers to rely on traditional navigation methods. This tests not only their technical skills but also their ability to remain calm and collected when things go wrong.
In many cases, modern recruits have to complete nighttime navigation drills, working as a unit to locate objectives without the luxury of daylight. This level of stealth and precision echoes the Devil’s Brigade’s signature ability to surprise enemy forces with nighttime assaults.
The Psychological Toll: Mental Fortitude and Leadership
One of the most significant challenges modern recruits face during their first mission is the psychological toll of elite commando training. WWII commandos had to be not only physically capable but also mentally tough, able to endure isolation, fatigue, and the constant threat of danger. Modern-day recruits are placed in similar conditions during simulated missions. They experience sleep deprivation, hunger, and continuous pressure to make quick, life-or-death decisions.
One exercise, known as “The Kill House,” places soldiers in a simulated building raid. Here, recruits must work as a team to clear rooms, identify threats, and eliminate enemy targets—all while avoiding civilian casualties. This type of urban warfare training replicates the psychological stress of combat, where mistakes can have deadly consequences. It forces soldiers to balance aggression with control, a hallmark of the Devil’s Brigade tactics.
Leadership is another critical component of this training. Much like the original commandos, modern recruits are often put in leadership roles, requiring them to make difficult decisions under pressure. Whether directing a team through hazardous terrain or leading a high-stakes assault, recruits learn that effective leadership is the key to survival and success.
The Final Test: The Practice Mission
After weeks of intensive training, modern recruits face their final challenge: a full-scale practice mission designed to test all of the skills they’ve acquired. This mission is a tribute to the Devil’s Brigade’s bold, behind-enemy-lines raids. Recruits are tasked with infiltrating a simulated enemy base, gathering intelligence, and executing a series of objectives, all while evading detection. The mission is set up to mimic the chaos and uncertainty of real wartime conditions.
Recruits must operate in small units, relying on stealth, communication, and teamwork to complete their objectives. They face simulated enemy fire, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and sudden ambushes, all designed to test their tactical adaptability and decision-making under duress. The practice mission not only measures the recruits’ physical and tactical readiness but also their ability to function as a cohesive unit, much like the Devil’s Brigade of WWII.
Conclusion: Shaping the Future
For modern recruits, facing their first mission under the rigorous training style of the Devil’s Brigade is a powerful way to honor the legacy of WWII commandos while preparing for the realities of modern warfare. The endurance, precision, leadership, and resilience required to complete such training echo the values that made the original Devil’s Brigade legendary. By undergoing this intense preparation, modern soldiers gain more than just tactical skills; they gain a deep appreciation for the sacrifices and achievements of those who came before them.
In doing so, they carry forward the spirit of the Devil’s Brigade, ensuring that the lessons of the past continue to shape the future of military excellence. This training instills in them a profound respect for the historical significance of their role, bridging the gap between past and present. By embracing the challenges faced by their WWII predecessors, modern recruits not only enhance their own combat capabilities but also uphold the proud tradition of elite military service, ensuring that the bravery and innovation of the Devil’s Brigade are never forgotten.
