The unit was established in 1982[2] due to the increased risk of terrorist activity against Norwegian interests, including the oil platforms in the North Sea.

[4] Very little is known publicly about FSK, as the Norwegian government denied their existence and participation in any military operations for a long time.

During a hijacking in Norway in 1985, it was reported that FSK operatives had been put on alert in their base at Trandum, but not requested to assist in any action.

A proposal to disband the FSK in 1988, as a financial measure, was met with protests, especially from the oil industry and the military.

Aftenposten reported on the unit as a "special military command composed of highly trained operators from Hærens Jegerkommando at Trandum and Marinejegerkommandoen, in addition to other specialists.

The first time FSK was publicly mentioned by a representative of the armed forces, was in connection with the hijacking of SAS Flight 347 at Gardermoen Airport in September 1993.

Forsvarets Spesialkommando can trace its roots back to the Second World War, when Norwegians served in the Norwegian Independent Company 1 (NOR.I.C.1) of the British Special Operations Executive including the famous Operation Gunnerside raid of the heavy water plant at Rjukan.

[4] Based on an increase in international terrorism and Norway's newly developed offshore oil services, the government decided in 1979 to establish a counter-terrorism capacity within the Norwegian Armed Forces.

[9][4] FSK has gone from being a cadre and training-unit for paratroopers and the mobilization army, to being a professional unit with substantial experience, robustness, competency and capacity.

[16] FSK and the Naval Special Operations Commando alternated on the training of CRU from 2016 until June 2021,[18] when the mission was terminated after the Fall of Kabul.

[19] "Forsvarets spesialkommando (FSK) has a role in the Norwegian Armed Forces' independent responsibility to handle an act of terrorism that is considered to be an "armed attack" on Norway, but also has a dedicated mission to support the police in the event counter-terrorism operations at sea.

First, one must go through a general selection to separate out those who do not have the physical and mental strength to start the special forces recruitment school.

This selection lasts three weeks and comprises hard physical and mental exercises with little food and little sleep.