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Special Forces In modern language, special forces or special operations forces are relatively small military units raised and trained for special operations missions such as Special Reconnaissance, Unconventional Warfare, Direct Action, Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, and Foreign Internal Defense. While special forces units could be up to Brigade size during the Second World War, they have evolved in the postwar era to become highly-trained, often self-sufficient units relying on stealth, speed, close teamwork, and specialized equipment, usually employed in small groups. Special operations forces have played an important role throughout the history of warfare when the aim has been to achieve disruption by "hit and run" and sabotage, rather than more traditional face to face combat. Other significant roles lay in reconnaissance, providing essential intelligence from close to or among the enemy, and increasingly in combating terrorists, their infrastructure and activities. During the Napoleonic wars, rifle and sapper units existed who were not committed to the formal lines that made up most battles of the day. They instead held more specialized roles in reconnaissance and skirmishing. The formation of the Bushveldt Carbineers in the Second Boer War may also be seen as an early manifestation of a unit for unconventional warfare. Canadian special forces units were first organized during the Second World War, and gained in importance afterwards, as the threat of full scale modern war diminished in favor of the likelihood of involvement in small scale "irregular" conflicts.
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