COMANDOS N°6 (Variant 1981)

Exceptional Chilean Army Special Operations unit insignia, originating from the elite Commando forces established in northern Chile during a key period of operational development.

In April 1978, the command of the VI Army Division ordered the creation of a Commando Battalion based in Iquique, under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Héctor Bobadilla Álamos. The unit grouped four Commando companies, tasked with conducting special operations along Chile’s northern border.

In 1981, the battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel René Vuskovic Gatica personally designed the unit’s emblem. The insignia takes the form of a shield featuring an iron gauntlet holding a Chilean corvo, set over a red background symbolizing the blood of those who fell heroically in action. The unit motto, “Aquí y Ahora” (“Here and Now”), reflects the immediate determination of the Commando—always ready to act: when needed, however needed, wherever needed.

The example offered here is the 1981 variant, recognized as one of the earliest embroidered versions issued to Special Forces operators assigned to this battalion, shortly before the unit was redesignated as “Regimiento de Comandos N°6 Iquique.”

Standout Features:

Early 1981 embroidered issue

Designed personally by the unit commander (Lt. Col. René Vuskovic Gatica)

Iconic imagery: gauntlet + corvo over red field

Strong historical connection to Chilean Army Special Operations in the north

Highly desirable for advanced collectors of Chilean militaria

Collector Notes:

Early variants like this are seldom encountered, especially with direct ties to the battalion’s formative years and its transition into Regimiento de Comandos N°6.

A true centerpiece piece for any serious collection focused on Chilean Special Forces history.