Storm commandos functioned as the Galactic Empire's Stormtrooper Corps' special forces, with training focused on handling the most intense combat scenarios. These specialized troopers were identifiable by their black armor and typically armed with E-11 medium blaster rifles. Furthermore, these stormtroopers were authorized to employ any weapons deemed appropriate by their commander based on the mission's specific requirements. Some storm commandos served within the prestigious 501st Legion, the personal stormtrooper legion of the Sith Lord Darth Vader. A company was a possible organization for Storm commandos.
General Weir was seen wearing storm commando armor. On one occasion, Colonel Sadao Emtri from the Imperial Security Bureau orchestrated a deceptive combat tournament within the Nouane sector, deploying an Imperial-class Star Destroyer and storm commandos; this event was, in reality, a carefully designed trap by the Empire intended to capture suspected individuals with Force-sensitives.
Within the established Star Wars canon, the debut of storm commandos occurred in Star Wars: Galactic Defense, a tower defense game created by DeNA Co., Ltd. This game was launched in 2014 but was subsequently discontinued in 2016. In Galactic Defense, storm commandos appeared as enemy units during "Light Side" missions, specifically in levels inspired by the original trilogy that recreated the Galactic Civil War Battle of Tatooine, which unfolded in 0 BBY. During these scenarios, players utilized defense towers and rebel forces to defend against waves of Imperial units; successfully eliminating a storm commando would grant the player "Scrap," a form of currency used to upgrade or purchase towers. While Galactic Defense was considered canon, its gameplay elements were not; as a result, the presence of storm commandos on the planet Tatooine is not considered part of the official canon.
Within the Star Wars Legends continuity, the initial introduction of storm commandos took place in Galaxy Guide 5: Return of the Jedi, a 1990 Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game supplement authored by Michael Stern and published by West End Games. Subsequently, storm commandos made their comprehensive debut in the 1996 novel X-Wing: Rogue Squadron, penned by Michael A. Stackpole. The 2003 video game Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike confirmed Captain Sarkli's status as a storm commando. Sarkli's initial appearance was in the 1983 original trilogy film Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, retroactively establishing it as the commandos' first appearance in Legends.