--- title: "6 female military units you don’t want to mess with" date: "2018-04-16" modified: "2021-04-16" authors: - name: "Logan Nye" job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/logan-nye/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/lists/female-military-units/" categories: - "Special Operations" - "Tactical" --- # 6 female military units you don’t want to mess with ![]() Men aren't the only ones lighting up their enemies on the battlefield. These 6 elite military units are staffed entirely by women. --- ### 1. Kurdish Women's Defense Units ![]() *Photo: flickr/free kurdistan* The Kurdish YPJ is a female militia that began in 2012 as part of the Kurdish resistance to ISIS and the al-Nusra Front. They've fought in numerous [battles]() and have a [psychological impact]() on the men they fight because ISIS fighters believe they can't go to heaven if killed by a woman. ### 2. Russia's female Spetsnaz Spetsnaz has allowed female members for some time, and women have been [incorporated into Spetsnav officer training]() in recent years. While most female Spetsnaz members are placed into co-ed units, some [have been used in female detachments]() for foreign intelligence gathering and as "beacons" to lead in assaulting troops during a foreign raid or invasion. ### 3. Chinese Special Forces China has a single female special forces unit. Based in Hong Kong, the unit boasts 50 highly-trained combatants. ### 4. Russian female airborne battalion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLiwRcOZhgI These women train at the Russian airborne academy to become officers in charge of paratroopers. They learn how to conduct an airborne insertion, how best to maneuver as a unit on the battlefield, and how to shoot their enemies center mass. ### 5. Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Service Commonly called the [Lotta Corps](), these women are part of the national defense plan for Sweden should it be invaded. They are trained in basic military tactics and strategy, but are a reserve force. Like the U.S. Army Reserves, their primary jobs are combat support or combat service support rather than frontline combat. ### 6. Libyan "Revolutionary Nuns" ![]() *Photo: Wikipedia/James Gordon* Though it was disbanded following the Libyan Civil War, this elite cadre of bodyguards were key to dictator Muammar Gaddafi's personal security. They were highly trained in [firearms and martial arts](). In an [attack in 1998](), one woman was killed after leaping onto Gaddafi while he was being shot at by Libyan rebels. ## Author Logan was an Army journalist and paratrooper in the 82nd. Now, he's a freelance writer covering military history, culture, and technology. He has two upcoming podcasts and a Twitch channel focused on basic military literacy. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Facebook]()