Who Is the Green Beret in Commandos? Jack O'Hara Explained

If one soldier defines the fantasy of Pyro Studios' Commandos, it is the Green Beret—Sergeant Jack O'Hara, nicknamed "Tiny" with classic military irony. He is the big Irish close-combat specialist who turns crowded German bases into quiet puzzles: one knife, one body at a time.

O'Hara debuts in Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines (1998) as the squad's workhorse. While the Sniper owns long sightlines and the Sapper owns explosives, the Green Beret owns the dirty middle distance—the alleys, tents, and doorways where a loud gunshot would ruin the whole plan. His combat knife is the signature: silent, intimate, and perfect for eliminating isolated guards without starting a firefight.

Strength is his other identity. Tiny can knock enemies out, haul bodies fast, and physically do the jobs lighter specialists struggle with. In many missions he is also the digger—creating hide holes that let him vanish under the map's nose. Pair that with decoys and careful timing, and he becomes a one-man stealth engine: lure, stab, hide, repeat.

Personality matches the toolkit. O'Hara is blunt, brave, and built for the front of every infiltration. Players remember him not because he has the flashiest gadget, but because so many perfect routes begin with his knife clearing a path the rest of the team can use. He is the character who teaches Commandos' core lesson: patience beats firepower.

New players often overuse him as a generalist. The best use is more surgical. Let Tiny remove the guards that block access. Let teammates handle range, locks, or demolitions. When the Green Beret, Sniper, and Sapper click together, Behind Enemy Lines stops feeling unfair and starts feeling like choreography.

If you are revisiting the series, start a mission by asking what Tiny can clear safely in the next two minutes. Then watch Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines footage on this site—count how often the green beret and the knife open the map for everyone else.