“This new structure brings clarity for all participants,” KSM commander Frigate Capt. Jörg Buddenbohm said when the new formation emerged last year. “And that makes it easier for us to fulfill our objectives. Ultimately, the most important thing for me is that the guys can do their job at the highest level. That remains the case.”

The KSM regularly trains with the U.S. Navy SEALs in a partnership that dates back around 40 years. At any time, at least one SEAL instructor embeds with the KSM, in exchange for a German frogman.

The naval commandos also maintain close ties with the French navy’s combat swimmers, known as the Commando Hubert.

The German military hasn’t revealed exactly how many soldiers wear the swordfish insignia of the KSM. But the number is likely close to 130, according to German media reports. Unlike most of Berlin’s other military units, KSM remains an exclusively male domain.

During the course of the three-year training period, around 70 percent of applicants fail to make the grade. That’s actually an improvement on previous levels, which saw a washout rate of around 90 to 95 percent.

The fact that the KSM is getting better candidates is a direct result of Germany doing away with its conscription system—a Cold War relic. Around half of all applicants to the organization now come from other branches of the armed forces.

Between 2003 and 2014, the commandos—then part of SEKM—established a reputation as one of the busiest operational units in the German military.

While their exploits were not widely publicized, the 600 or so SEKM troops were active in Afghanistan, Cyprus, Lebanon, Kosovo and Somalia.

In Lebanon, a force of around 45 mine-clearance divers carried out harbor security operations, while their comrades stayed on German warships patrolling off the coast. Near Somalia, soldiers contributed to the European Union’s anti-piracy mission known as Operation Atalanta.

The training is rigorous. After passing physical and weapons tests, the frogmen focus on particular elements of their mission, be it diving, parachuting, land warfare, weapons or powered boats.

The Kampfschwimmer typically carry out three kinds of missions.

For one, the divers reconnoiter port facilities, beaches and hinterland. There’s direct action—which can involve freeing hostages or seizing material or equipment. And then there’s training foreign military and police units.

Among the equipment available to the frogmen are the locally-made Dräger LAR-V chest-mounted rebreather, which produces next to no bubbles. They also have the secretive P11 underwater pistol developed by Heckler & Koch, which fires steel darts rather than conventional ammunition.