Earth Kingdom Commandos, sometimes called Army Commandos, are elite Earth Kingdom troopers. These commandos are selected from a pool of the most talented Earth Kingdom troopers with the best stats. These commandos are a mix of benders and nonbenders. These troopers are trained in stealth, reconnaissance, black ops, protecting key military personnel, and reinforcing standard units. Commandos often travel in squads of six or seven troopers but sometimes they move in small groups of two to three commandos.
The average commando is said to be able to take on at least three enemy soldiers at once. The more elite commandos are capable of taking down entire squads alone. Commandos are particularly deadly working in teams or pairs where they have been able to defeat Fire Nation units that are three to tens times bigger than their own. Commandos are required to pass agility, speed, endurance, accuracy, intelligence, strategy, basic math, and sparring tests to get their position. Commandos participate in live drills where they could be killed. These drill include running through obstacle courses with several deadly hazards. They also include fighting dangerous predatory animals.
To even be considered for a commando position, one must be able to defeat several initiates in sparring. Only the top 10% of the sparring competitors are offered positions. Members must also be at least twenty-two years old to get the position and cannot be older than thirty-seven years old to be a standard member. Any member that is above thirty-seven will either have to retire or be made into an intelligence officer. Intelligence officers help plan and organize reconnaissance missions for the commandos. However, the spots available for such positions are limited.
Unlike the Dai Li and Fire Nation's Intel Troopers, Earth Kingdom Commandos are an elite group within the Fire Nation Army. This means their loyalty is ultimately to the Fire Nation Army Generals and Administrators instead of the Earth monarch or political leaders.
Armor
Earth Kingdom Commandos have yellow-green armor with tan stripes and bronze markings. These commandos wear masks. Commandos have a lighter variant of the standard Earth Kingdom troopers that allows them to travel faster than most Earthbenders.
Abilities
Earth Kingdom Commandos are faster than normal Earth Kingdom troopers. They tend of have sharper reflexes and are more accurate. Commandos specialize in ambushing, flanking, and overwhelming their enemies. A squad of commandos is capable of taking down elite fire and earth benders. Sometimes, just two or three commandos is enough to beat a top thirty bender. The commandos have been a respected force for ages and many of them have taken down elite benders by using great tactics and their experience to outsmart their opponents.
The Earth Kingdom Commandos have also taken down dangerous bounty hunters and nonbenders throughout history, if they threatened the interests of the Earth Kingdom. The Earth Kingdom Commandos were some of the most skilled and formidable enemies that Macai's 31st Company had ever faced.