The core principles of being a Commando

1. Courage

Courage in the Commando context isn’t just physical bravery in combat.

It includes:

• Doing difficult tasks even when you’re exhausted or afraid
• Making decisions under pressure
• Stepping forward when others hesitate
• Being honest about mistakes and learning from them

It’s about controlled action, not reckless behaviour.

2. Determination

Determination is the ability to keep going when things stop going your way.

In training and operations this means:

• Continuing after failure or setbacks
• Completing tasks in extreme fatigue, cold, or discomfort
• Staying focused on the mission no matter the difficulty
• Refusing to quit when things become unpleasant or uncertain

This is one of the biggest separating factors in training.

3. Unselfishness

Commandos operate as part of a team where individual ego is secondary.

This principle involves:

• Putting the team and mission first
• Supporting others even when you’re struggling yourself
• Sharing workload, responsibility, and hardship
• Trusting and relying on your section

A single weak link affects the entire team, so cooperation is essential.

4. Cheerfulness in Adversity

This is one of the most unique Commando traits.

It means:

• Maintaining a positive attitude under stress
• Staying calm and controlled in difficult situations
• Avoiding panic or negativity when things go wrong
• Keeping morale high within the group

It’s not about pretending things are easy—it’s about not letting hardship break the team mentally.