Principles Of Assault

Detailed Planning
Ideally, the leader of the assault team gathers all available intelligence about the crisis scene, targets, and innocents. He diagrams and discusses the proposed plan, outlining each team’s actions and responsibilities, location, fields of fire, and special tasks even to the point of a wall-by-wall and door-by-door layout of the objective, where available. Since the assault team usually already has specialized training, the operation is based on well-understood, pre-established standing operating procedure. When considerable preparation time is available, the team sometimes conducts step-by-step walk-through exercises on a mock-up that duplicates the target environment. Some units maintain permanent "shoot houses" or even airliner/ship mock-ups for practicing marksmanship and tactics more realistically.
In a prolonged standoff, the attackers can sometimes bring in specialized equipment for probing the inside of a well-defended area. Sensitive thermal cameras can help locate the occupants, and surveillance personnel can run microphones and fiber-optic cameras through walls, ceilings, and floors. If hostages escape or can communicate/signal the attackers, they can provide more information from inside.
However, the time and resources to carry out such luxurious preparations are not always there. Not every attacker can field an overwhelming force of specially trained and equipped men with reinforcements standing by. Information about the inside of an enemy-held building or vehicle may not be accessible beyond studying it through binoculars or a rifle scope. While some attackers can go to the lengths of wearing the enemy down by siege or even tunneling under them, others must get the current job done immediately with the force available in order to move on to the next.


Surprise
An assault should come at a time when least expected, taking into consideration fatigue, normal sleep periods, and other factors that detract from the target's alertness. Diversions are an essential element in achieving surprise. Staged emergencies, such as a mock auto accident, fire, or explosion near the crisis site, can divert the target's attention away from the assaulting elements. Explosive breaching and diversionary devices, such as flashbang, smoke, or gas grenades can be employed to distract and disorient the targets. Negotiators can try to manipulate the defenders into a more vulnerable position or convince them that their position will not be stormed.


Methods Of Entry
When law enforcement clears a building, they usually work in a slow and deliberate manner using ballistic shields and mirrors for searching. This affords the highest degree of safety and security for the police, as well as any uninvolved bystanders inside the search area, who can be identified and safely removed without subjecting them to the shock and danger of a sudden assault. When suspects are encountered, the police can confront them with an alert, armed force and try to take control without shooting. If the searchers meet heavy resistance, they can usually pull back without harm and prepare for a dynamic entry.
However, against determined, well-armed opponents who fight in concert to defend an area and keep it under their control, slow stop-and-go movement can cause the deaths of many attackers and hostages. That leads to dynamic entry used in military operations or hostage rescues. It is the popular image of CQC: a flood of gunmen who burst in without warning and attempt to seize the area. Dynamic entry tactics must be rapid and aggressive, ideally a continuous flow using overwhelming force that does not stop until the threat is eliminated.
In the vast majority of hostage rescue and other dynamic CQC operations, it is desirable to use multiple simultaneous attacks from different entry points to overload the target's ability to react effectively. The more entry points the attackers can choose from, the better their chances. The teams actually entering the objective usually have to synchronize with snipers, negotiators, power technicians, perimeter guards, and others who assist from the outside. Medical personnel, investigators, and bomb experts may be prepped to enter the scene as soon as the initial attackers get control.
It is important that a central commander coordinate all armed elements, not only to better complete a sweep of the target area, but especially to guard against friendly fire. When large areas must be searched, leaders will assign boundaries between elements and may track them by radio to ensure they do not interfere with each other. The goal is to establish overlapping fields of fire, so that multiple shooters can attack at once from different directions without danger of hitting one another.
Also, it is possible that a point of entry can be created by a precision explosive device to catch the adversary by surprise.


Speed
Once the assault begins, the team must gain control before the target understands what is happening and can prepare an effective defense or mount a counterattack. The defenders sometimes have a contingency plan that could cause the attack to fail instantly, such as killing hostages, detonating bombs, or destroying evidence. If they can execute an organized plan, such as falling back into a prepared stronghold, or breaking through the perimeter, the possibility of friendly casualties increases. Speed is achieved through well-designed tactics, such as gaining proximity with an undetected approach, the use of multiple entry points, and explosive breaching. Note that the need for speed does not necessarily translate to individual operators choosing to run in these situations.


Violence Of Action
For the dynamic entry team, gaining and maintaining physical and psychological momentum is essential. They smash down doors, blast holes in walls, come through windows, and drop from helicopters. Vehicle-mounted rams and platforms are used to create unexpected entry points. The sensory onslaught from tear gas, explosive breaching, flashbangs, and gunfire is complemented by the intimidating and aggressive actions of the assault team. Hostiles do sometimes hide among the hostages, so once the shooting has stopped, operators must maintain dominance over anyone still alive.
The defenders try to stop enemies close to the entry points. The "fatal funnel" is the dangerous area where the assaulter is silhouetted against his own entry point from the perspective of defenders inside the room. Once operators begin to enter, the defenders try to keep them from escaping the fatal funnel. The attackers are also vulnerable from the corners closest to the entry point, the first place from which they can be hit from behind as they enter the room. If the first attackers cannot clear the corners and get out of the fatal funnel, allowing those behind to move in and help, the attack can bog down.
Military uses of close quarters battle vary by unit type, branch and mission. Military operations other than war MOOTW may involve peacekeeping or riot control. Specialized forces such as the U.S. Marine Corps specialized units like: RTT, FAST, SRT and U.S. Marine Corps special operations teams such as Recon and MSOB platoons, U.S. Coast Guard VBST Vessel Board and Search Team, PSU Port Security UnitMSST Marine Safety and Security Team TACLET Tactical Law Enforcement Teamor U.S. Navy VBSS Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure teams may adapt CQC tactics to their specific needs, e.g. for the boarding of compliant and non-compliant vessels at sea. Hostage rescue or extraction by commando troops such as the British or Australian Special Air Service, Delta Force, U.S. Navy SEALs or Sayeret Matkal may involve even more esoteric adaptations or variations, depending on specialized environments, weapons technology, political considerations or a mixture of friendly, unfriendly or civilian personnel.
Armies that often engage in urban warfare operation may train most of their infantry in basic CQC doctrine as it relates to common tasks such as building entry, "clearing a room" and concussion and other grenades.

Special Police

Special Police does not have a consistent international meaning. In many cases it will describe a police force or a unit within a police force whose duties and responsibilities are significantly different from other forces in the same country or significantly different from other police in the same force as described in the following sections. The status of Special constable in many (if not most) cases does not indicate a member of a special police force; in countries in the Common wealth of Nations and often elsewhere it will usually describe a voluntary or part-time member of a national or local police force or a person involved in law enforcement who is not a police officer but has some of the powers of a police officer.

CQB(CLOSE QUARTER BATTLE)

Battles that occur at close quarters, such as within a room or hallway, must be planned and executed with care. Use room clearing techniques when the tactical situation calls for room to room clearing with enemy combatants and non-combatants. Units must train, practice, and rehearse the techniques until each team operates smoothly. Each operator must understand the principles room clearing, such as surprise, speed, and controlled violence of action.
Surprise
The key to a successful assault at close quarters. The entry team clearing the room must achieve surprise, if only for seconds, by deceiving, distracting, or startling the enemy. Sometimes stun grenades are used to achieve surprise. Surprise is when your entry is not compromised
Speed
This provides a measure of security to the clearing team. Speed allows the operators to use the first few vital seconds provided by surprise to their maximum advantage. Speed is moving only as fast as you can shoot.
Violence of Action
This eliminates or neutralizes the enemy while giving him the least chance of inflicting friendly casualties. Violence of action is not limited to the application of firepower only. It involves a operators mind-set of complete domination. Each of the principles of precision room-clearing has a synergistic relationship to the others.
If you don’t have speed and surprise you can’t have violence of action.

BASIC

Most missions will require using a combination of stealth and dynamic techniques. Stealth being a slow and quiet approach to the area to be cleared. When all are in place and if not compromised, you switch to dynamic techniques with speed, surprise and violence of action. Room clearing is generally accomplished using a four man team. Entry does not always require four operators. If a specific room is too small or there are less than four operators, the room may be cleared with less. However, never clear a room with less than two operators and 1 to provide backup. Choose the entry technique based on the mission, layout of the room and the teams ability. The term point of domination refers to the two corners of the room assigned to the numbers 1 and 2 operators. These points allow the team to gain control of the objective. Each team member is assigned a different, but interlocking field of fire / AOR (Area Of Responsibility). This ensures mutual supporting fires. CQB is dynamic in nature. When completed with precision, it overwhelms the enemy and allows the team to move on to the next objective very quickly. When a room is cleared, the exiting procedure for leaving the room varies depending on the location of the entry point

Read systems and no read systems
The two different types of entry options are read systems and no read systems. In no read systems the direction to move in the room is predetermined. In read systems you have to watch the operator in front of you and then go to the opposite direction:
Predetermined
Some teams use the technique of predesignating which way each man will move after entering a room. For example. First man always goes left, the second always goes right, or vice a versa.

The path of least resistance
When using a doorway as the point of entry, the path of least resistance is determined initially based on the way the door opens; if the door opens inward he plans to move away from the hinges. If the door opens outward, he plans to move toward the hinged side. Upon entering, the size of the room, enemy situation, and furniture or other obstacles that hinder or channel movement become factors that influence the number 1 man's direction of movement. The point of using this technique is to get the first man into the room as quickly as possible to allow him to clear the fatal funnel quickly and allow the rest of the team to make a smoother entry rather than keep them bogged up at the fatal funnel.
Immediate threat
Another method is to allow the first man to pick his direction based on immediate threat. The partner then takes the opposite side of the room. This can only be done once the assault has been initiated.
Buttonhook
First operator always make a turn around the doorframe, clearing a large portion of the room while entering. The second operator then moves across the doorway and clears the hard corner. If the first operator sees a threat when he enters he will move to it and the second operator will take the opposite AOR of the room.
The Stack up
Once the approach to the room or building is completed, the team stacks in a single file to ease the flow into the room, parallel to the outside wall. Muzzle discipline and awareness is vital. The first operator provides security on the entry point. This point is normally a door. The second operator provides security to the front of the team. The number 3 and 4 operator cover opposite threat areas in the stack, and if none exist the weapon is placed is in ready position. Operators shut get as close as possible to the operator in front of him. A support element shut cover the rear of the entry team.
When the situation allows, it is important to ensure that each team member is prepared to enter the entry point to the room before the assault. This is achieved while in the stack position.
When operator number 4 is ready, he squeezes the shoulder of operator number 3 with the non firing hand. This action continues up the line. When the signal reaches operator number 1, he knows that the rest of the team are ready to follow him into the room. If the team decides to use a flash grenade the number 2 man shows this grenade to number 1 man instead of squeezing the shoulder. (The grenade is shown to the front man, by holding it up in front of his eyes, while he continues to provide cover).
If someone inside opens the door before this sequence is completed, the team will immediately enter the room.
If the team uses the technique of predesignating, the operators shut stack tight with the weapon oriented in the direction he will move when he enters the room. If he is to clear to the left, his weapon will be on the left side of the operator in front of him. This ensures rapid target acquisition without sweeping his weapon across the body of the man in front.

BREACHING
A part of room clearing is the ability to gain access quickly to the rooms to be cleared. Breaching techniques vary based on the type of construction encountered and the types of munitions available to the breaching element. Techniques range from simple mechanical breaching to complex, specialized demolitions. A closed door is considered locked in all cases when a breacher is present, assuming the breacher has the means available to defeat the lock. Once the other team members are stacked, the breacher moves to the door and breaches it on the signal of operator number 1. The brecher then steps back in order to clear the path for operator number 4. If no breaching equipment is available, a quick attempt to open the door, from the side may be made. If the door is locked, kick it open. However, this should be the last choice for defeating a locked door. Kicking generally requires more than one attempt to defeat the lock. After the first attempt, the breacher's chances of drawing fire through the door are significantly increased.

Read more of this in BREACHING found on the menu on the top of this page.
ROOM ENTRY
The entire team enters the room as quickly and smoothly as possible and clears the doorway immediately. If possible the team moves from a covered or concealed position already in their entry order. Ideally, the team arrives and passes through the entry point without having to stop.
The door is the focal point of anyone in the room. It is known as the fatal funnel , because it focuses attention at the precise point where the individual team members are the most vulnerable. Moving into the room quickly reduces the chance anyone will be hit by enemy fire directed at the doorway. The team may choose to create a diversion (use a stun-hand grenade) to momentarily distract the defender while it enters and achieves domination of the room.
On the signal to go, the clearing team moves through the door quickly and takes up positions inside the room that allow it to completely dominate the room and eliminate the threat. Team members stop movement only after they have cleared the door and reached their designated point of domination. Each member of the team must know his sector of fire (AOR) and how his sector overlaps and links with the sectors of the other team members. Team members do not move to the point of domination and then engage their targets. They engage targets as they move to their designated point. However, engagements must not slow movement to their points of domination. Team members may shoot from as short a range as 1 to 2 inches. They engage the most immediate enemy threats first. Examples of immediate threats are enemy personnel who are:
-Armed and prepared to return fire immediately.
-Blocking movement to the position of domination.
-Within arm's reach of a clearing team member.
-Within 3 to 5 feet of the breach point.


CLEAR A CONNECTED ROOM
Open door:
If the door to the connected room is open, and a threat is identified in the room, it may be engaged from the cleared room. Once this firing has stopped, the SITREP will be restarted if necessary. The team stacks in preparation for entry into the next room. When the team leader declares the first room clear, the team will automatically stack on the entrance to the next room. If the team is spread out in the room, crossing the doorway would not only place a soldier in the fatal funnel unnecessarily, it could also mask the cover fire other team members. Therefore it might be necessary to stack up on both sides of the door.
Closed door:
Standard room clearing SOP.
CLEAR A FLOOR
When clearing a single floor complex, the principles discussed in room clearing and connecting room clearing are used. The only added features are the hallways and an additional teams
CLEAR A STAIRWAY
When multilevel structures are encountered, stairs become an added obstacle that will require manoeuvre. One of the more dangerous stair situations that a team is likely to encounter is a stairway with a turn between floors. Besides the blind spot at the turn, these stairways often have a loft that overlooks the bottom portion of the stairway. If the team is ascending, the number 1 soldier (as always) provides security to his direct front. Soldier number 2 secures the top row of stairs. Soldier number 3 secures the loft area. If a loft area does not exist, soldier number 3 secures the top of the second row of stairs. If the team is descending, each soldier has the same area of responsibility, except that the bottom of the stairway is secured, as opposed to the top.
Stairs with split level landings that have a space allowing one to see up through to the top from below should be cleared as follows:
The first operator stands on the first level looking up covering the space between the stairs as the second operator takes Point and clears ahead of the Train to the next landing, where he stops and also takes up an upward cover position. The train moves up the stairs past the first operator who falls in at the rear. He is now the last man. He will fall in walking backwards covering the rear. Once the train reaches the second operators position, the operator in front of the train takes over the point and moves to the next landing while the second operator now covers the space above the moving Train. During movement, the Train always moves close to the wall, under the staircase, to stay out of sight and enemy-fire. Those covering the movement must stand in view so that they can see through the spaces to the top and bottom of the stairs.
Internal Stairs with no gab between the stairs are normally cleared using a l man clearance. An operator will clear ahead of the Train.

External stairs primarily are located on a main superstructure. The best method for clearing stairs is with a four man clearance team. The standard operating procedure is as follows: Left, right. forward, and back. The number 1 man always clears left, number 2 man always clears right. Number 3 man in the stack clears forward. The number 4 man clears back. This way 360 degrees of security is maintained.
COMMUNICATION
When the room has been dominated, communication is required between the team members in order to clear the room quickly and move on to the next objective. Whether scanning the room or providing security on possible threats, the team members cannot shift their atention around the room to ascertain the current situation. To solve this problem, the team leader calls for a status when he determines that no immediate threat exists. This status or situation report consists of each clearing operators current condition and any possible threat in his sector. The number 1 operator states his situation to the rest of the team. The number 2 operator follows with his report and so on down the line. The team leader absorbs all this information and then gives directions based on the information. The conversation should be at a level that each team member may hear, but no louder. If operator number 1 fails to sound off, operator number 2 states his status. If operator number 1 is down, the team will know it. If soldier number 1 fails to sound off due to a mental lapse, he may give a SITREP once the other team members have given theirs.
Read more of this in SIGNALS found on the menu on the top of this page.
SECURE UNKNOWNS
The clearing team secures and identifies all personnel found in a room or building that is being cleared. Until identified, they approach non combatants in the same manner as combatants.

Read more of this in HAND 2 HAND found on the menu on the top of this page
GENERAL RULES

No matter what the room configuration, there are a few rules that should always be adhered to. These rules include the following:

Know that it does not matter if the person in front of you goes the wrong way when entering the room. Just go the opposite way of the operator in front of you and it will work out.
Enter the room as quickly and smoothly as possible and do not waste movements. Remember smooth is fast. The faster each team member picks up its initial point of aim, the more difficult it becomes for the defender. Even a prepared defender can be caught off guard.
Clear (do not stop) the fatal funnel. The number 3 and number 4 soldiers are especially prone to stopping in the funnel.
Ensure that the doorway is completely cleared before assuming a final position in the room.
Stay focused. Never stop scanning your sector for targets unless:
You identify a threat in your sector. This threat could be an open door leading to an uncleared room, a person in the room other than one of the team members, an obstacle that cannot be cleared visually from your position, or anything else that you may determine as a threat. If such a threat exists, provide security for the team by covering it with your weapon. You are ordered by the team leader to perform another task.
Ensure that if you fall down while entering the room, you stay down and do not move. Do not get up until a team member places his hands on you and lifts you up. If a team member arbitrarily gets up, he may become an impediment to the rest of the team's movements. Another possibility is that he would rise into the path of a team member's bullet.
Rehearse communication. As stated above, speed and momentum will make or break this type of action. Poor communication techniques will slow your building clearing to a crawl.
Ensure that each team member knows the procedures for each position. After the first room is cleared in a multi room objective, a team member may find that he is in a different position in the stack than when the assault started.
The team leader should always attempt to avoid being the number 1 soldier when entering a room. This can normally be accomplished, but in some situations it will be unavoidable.
Ensure that you never enter a room alone. Two personnel are the minimum room-clearing team. If two soldiers are entering a room (either due to the size of the room or attrition), they should assume the number 1 and number 2 soldiers' positions.
Ensure that you never flag a fellow team member. Flagging is defined as pointing your weapon at or sweeping your weapon across another team member. Muzzle awareness, at all times, is imperative.
Short Reminder:
-Move tactically and silently while securing the corridors to the room to be cleared. Carry only the minimum amount of equipment.
-Arrive undetected at the entry to the room in the correct order of entrance and be prepared to enter on a single command.
-Enter quickly and dominate the room. Move immediately to positions that allow complete control of the room and provide unobstructed fields of fire.
-Eliminate the enemy in the room by fast, accurate fire.
-Gain and maintain immediate control of the situation and all personnel in the room.
-Confirm whether enemy casualties are wounded or dead. Disarm and segregate the wounded. Search all enemy casualties. Handcuff everyone.
-Perform a cursory search of the room. Determine if a detailed search is required.
-Evacuate all wounded and any friendly dead.
-Mark the room as cleared using a simple, clearly identifiable marking according to the unit SOP.
-Maintain security and be prepared to react to more enemy contact at any moment. Do not neglect rear security

Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM)

Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) is responsible for all special forces operations that will be capable of responding to terrorism and threats to Canadians and Canadian interests around the world.

Composition
CANSOFCOM is composed of:
• Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2), the Canadian Forces’ special operations and counterterrorism unit
• 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
• Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence Company
• Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR)
CANSOFCOM is capable of operating as an independent formation but its primary focus is to generate Special Operations Forces (SOF) elements to support Canada Command (CANCOM) and the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM). Integrating special operations forces in this manner increases their impact in operations, as well as the range of options available to the government in the deployment of the Canadian Forces.
Commanding officers
Colonel David Barr, CD, was the Commander of CANSOFCOM from its formation to 2007. Colonel D. Michael Day, CD is the current Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command .
Uniform
All members of CANSOFCOM wear the Tan beret. This includes both members of the Navy and Air Force, who in turn trade in their respective peak cap and wedge. However, they do retain their original cap badge.
Other Elite
Canadian Forces members undergo rigorous training of a variety of types; these soldiers are not necessarily employed in "special forces" roles. Some of this specialized training includes Army snipers, parachutists, pathfinders, and combat divers, as well as foreign training such as Ranger training with the US Army Rangers. Many soldiers who have received such training utilize these skill sets in regular combat arms units, and are not considered "special forces".
Marine Commando Regiment
On January 30, 2007, the Ottawa Citizen reported on the forthcoming creation of a Marine Commando Regiment, to be based in Comox, B.C., and will initially consist of 250 members. The unit will be responsible for responding to seaborne terrorist incidents, as well as Non-combatant Evacuation Operations in countries accessible by water.[1]

bOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais, or Special Police Operations Battalion)

BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais, or Special Police Operations Battalion), is the elite group of the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


Urban Warfare
Due to the nature of crime in favelas, BOPE units have extensive experience in urban warfareas well as progression in confined and restricted environments. It also utilizes equipment deemed more powerful than traditional civilian law enforcement, such as weapons chambered in .50 BMG.
The armored vehicles - The "Caveirões"
The force has a fleet of armored vehicles, which are known as “Pacificador” (Peacemaker), or “Caveirão”[1] (Big Skull). These vehicles are used in operations in slums (favelas) where BOPE faces intense conflicts with drug dealers. They are equipped with heavy armament: firing portsfor IMBEL MD2 rifle variants of the FN FAL, or the H&K G3 rifle, and in the back and front, .50 caliber machine guns.
Missions
• Break barricades constructed by drug traffickers;
• Extract police officers or civilians injured in confrontations;
• Serve high-risk arrest warrants;
• Hostage rescues;
• Suppress prison rebellions;
• Special missions in swamps or mountainous terrains;

BOPE using the caveirão as a cover

BOPE policemen in training
Criticism
In 2004, the Project on Extrajudicial Executions (New York University School of Law) reported that BOPE had been implicated in the killing of four youths under the false pretense of their being drug traffickers who resisted arrest: "BOPE officers falsified the crime scene to incriminate the victims in an attempt to make them seem like members of a drug trafficking gang. No weapons were found with the victims and none of them had a history of criminal activity."[1] Amnesty International has stated that, "Brazil's police forces use violent and repressive methods that consistently violate the human rights of a large part of the population," and attribute a number of civilian deaths to BOPE in particular.[2] In March 2006, Amnesty specifically condemned the use of the Caveirão, stating that by deploying the vehicle aggressively, and indiscriminately targeting whole communities, it "has become a powerful symbol of the failings of public security policies in Rio de Janeiro. It typifies the police's confrontational and divisive approach to Rio's public security crisis." Amnesty highlighted civilian deaths directly resulting from Caveirão use, and noted that BOPE as a whole, "has been involved in a string of human rights abuses."[3]

"Elite da Tropa"
In 2006, a book by sociologist Luiz Eduardo Soares and one BOPE officer and a former policeman, Major André Batista and Captain Rodrigo Pimentel, provided a semi-fictional account of the daily routine of the BOPE as well as some historical events, based on the experiences of the latter two. The book was controversial at the time of release, and reportedly resulted in Batista being reprimanded and censured by the Military Police. The book was controversial in its description of the BOPE as a "killing machine", as well as detailing an alleged aborted assassination attempt by some police officers on then-governor Leonel Brizola.[2] The book has been made into a movie, Tropa de Elite, directed by José Padilha (the director of Bus 174), with a screenplay by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Bráulio Mantovani

YAMEN SPECIAL POLICE FORCE(Yeḥidat Mishtara Meyuḥedet)

The Yamam (Hebrew: ימ"מ‎), is the acronym forSpecial Police Unit (יחידת משטרה מיוחדת, Yeḥidat Mishtara Meyuḥedet), Israel's elite civilian counter-terrorism unit. The Yamam has a world-wide reputation as a professional and successful paramilitary force and it is capable of both hostage-rescue operations and offensive take-over raids against targets in civilian areas. Besides military duties, it also performs SWAT duties and undercover police work.

Name and organization
Yamam stands for Special Police Unit. In Israel it is also called Unit for Counter-Terror Warfare (היחידה ללוחמה בטרור). The Yamam answers to the Israel Border Police central command and belongs to the civilian Israel Police forces rather than the military. Its operators and officers are professional policemen on payroll, usually with combat experience from their military service within the Israel Defense Forces. Yamam recruits its members almost exclusively from Israelispecial forces units. The Yamam is self-dependent, training its own operators in all fields, such as sniping, reconnaissance, dog operating, bomb disposal, etc. As a result, the Yamam has a rapid deployment time and high coordination between various squads (sniping squad, entry team, engagement force, etc.). The Yamam's primary duties are:
1. Hostage rescue.
2. Offensive or preemptive operations.
3. SWAT duties - handling dangerous criminals.
4. Undercover police operations.
5. VIP security.
Most of the Yamam's activity is classified, and published Yamam operations are often credited to other units. Nevertheless, the Yamam enjoys a high reputation among SF professionals and the Israeli public.
History
The Yamam was established after the Ma'alot massacre, where a failed operation by military special forces units ended with 21 children murdered before the hostage takers were killed. Since hostage rescue in friendly territory is different from that in hostile areas, it was decided to establish an elite civilian force, which develops and practices a special CQB (Close Quarters Battles) doctrine for "counter-terrorism" operations in friendly territory and hostage rescue. In late 1974, the Yamam was established and has since fallen under the direct jurisdiction of theIsrael Border Police — the combat arm of the Israel Police.
Operational record 1974 - September 2000
The Yamam has carried out many paramilitary operations. Some of the missions known to the public prior to the al-Aqsa Intifada are listed below:
• In March 1988, the Yamam was called into action after a group of three Palestinians hijacked a bus full of women returning from work at the Negev Nuclear Research Centernear Dimona, in an incident known as the "Mothers Bus". The Yamam struck, killing all three targets, but not managing to prevent three Israeli passengers from being killed.
• On March 3, 2000, the Yamam captured an armed group hidden in the Israeli-Arab town of Taibe with the aid of Sayeret Duvdevan and an IDF Caterpillar D9 bulldozer. In the end of the raid, one man was arrested and four were killed.[1] (password-restricted link)

UNIT TINDAK CEPAT (MALAYSIA)

Unit Tindakan Cepat in Malay (English: Quick Actions Unit) is an armed specialist unit of the Royal Malaysian Police and comes under the direct command of theCriminal Investigations Department. Based at all police contingent headquarters inMalaysia, it is the main anti-dangerous crimes and disaster-management unit of the police force. They are also called upon to first responder of counter-terrorist in progress, before the arrives of Pasukan Gerakan Khas reinforcement.
History
Formed in the early 2000s, this unit arrived at the law enforcement scene and replaced roles with the Pasukan Gerakan Khas (main elite Counter-Terrorist unit) which was the main SWAT duty team throughout Malaysia. It has been formed also for enhancing the capabilities of Criminal Invesitgation Division (which the UTC is a division of) in facing and handling all dangerous criminal activities; from both individuals and groups. There has always been a rising requirement for a quick, always-ready unit in various city areas throughout Malaysia. The new units role is to handle cases of serious crime in progress, particularly cases involving firearms, such as dealing with bank/jewellery robberies, murder, kidnapping, prison escapes, and raiding the hideouts of armed criminals.
This unit will aid the elite counter-terrorist force - the Pasukan Gerakan Khas - in handling situations more suited to normal SWAT units. Before the formation of the UTC, the Pasukan Gerakan Khas handled all serious situations from armed robberies to hostage rescue. Two states had recently set up UTC Headquarters of their respective areas - Terengganu and Johor.
The UTC are trained by the experienced Pasukan Gerakan Khas, and are fully and equipped for all situations of urban combat or CQB. This unit's rapid responses and deployments have been effective in capturing many criminals since its formation in the 2000s.
[edit]Role
UTC's special role enabled the Criminal Invesitgation Division to have its own professional and skilled unit in facing all dangerous threats when required.
This unit has also been specially trained to secure samples of crime scene evidence safely to the forensic agencies for examinations. The unit's main HQ is located at the Police HQ at Bukit Aman in Kuala Lumpur. Orders and commands are controlled by the Director of Criminal Invesitgation Division and also assisted by the Deputy Director.
[edit]Training
As mentioned above, all UTC members get special training from the Pasukan Gerakan Khas unit to enable the unit UTC to engage missions effectively. Most of the training conducted are urban battle and CQB. Special Operations Forces' training are conducted to the UTC to increase the strength and endurance of unit members, maximizing mentality strength and exposure to critical and tactical operations. Also among the training absorbed into this unit are:
1. Operation planning
2. Quick and effective raids of buildings, road vehicles, and trains
3. Expertise use of firearms and explosives
4. Sharpshooting and sniper
However, this unit does not just get training from PGK. The UTC men are regularly sent to take courses outside of the country to train with foreign units with similar roles.
[edit]Equipment
UTC uses all up-to-date equipments for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
[edit]Specific clothing
Specific uniform for the UTC is very similar to the ones used by the Pasukan Gerakan Khas.
[edit]Beret
Dark blue berets are used by the UTC. Berets of senior officers bear a cloth badge embroidery, while members of lower ranks bears badges on their berets, which are made from silver.
[edit]Combat boots
Combat Boots used by the UTC are the same as to those used by the Federal Reserve Unit operators.
[edit]Bulletproof vests
Bulletproof vests are the most important gear equipped to any personnel of security forces.
Vests used by the UTC has a slight difference from the PGK's vest. The latter's vest also has pockets for small tools required in special operations. Vests for the UTC is also used by the members of CID, and has a simple design with no pockets. The standard UTC vests are made from Kevlar and are capable of stopping ammunition thrusts as powerful as the 5.56mm NATOs, and the ultimate UTK vests are capable to restrain 7.62 mm NATO bullets. The UTC vests have "POLICE" embedded to its front and back.
[edit]Communication equipment
Communication equipment also required to make sure task carried out stated effective and fluent. Each stated equipment only will be used by operation officer officiate operation in the area determined. Communication equipment or walkie talkie of the type ASTRO Motorola measuring medium become choice this unit. There were also stated communication system equipped with headset to facilitate operator use him without the need hold him by stated operating times.
[edit]Firearm and explosive
UTC also furnished with weaponry suitable and light to carry any operation entrust. Commanding officer entrust to determine fire and ammunition kind of weapon which are used. Nor with explosive if needed in the operation. Explosive used is the same with special all teams police and military worldwide, viz from type of bomb C4's plastic and it obtainable from branch of bomb disposal each police contingents. Used to explode shaped any object obstacle while raid made, for example a locked doors. But only UTC's officers and men accredited only those allowed to use. Firearm that timber used are from version standard which are used by existing permanent members RMP. All weaponry is from the fully and semi-automatic types. Type some firearm series which used by UTC is semi-automatic handguns including Browning HP Mk.III, Glock 19, Heckler & Koch P9S, Sig Sauer P226, Steyr M9, Vektor SP1 and Yavuz 16 Compact.
UTC also used the shotgun from the Winchester type for operation conducted and it use non-lethal ammunition, spreads and buck-shots supply to break down the door during conducted the raid.
Submesingan that timber used are consisted of Heckler & Koch MP5A2 and A3's versions. Other than that, assault rifles use also encouraged, depend from the Commanding Officer decisions. The rifle from Colt M16A1 type is among rifles which used by UTC with role as riflemen or marksmen. And there is also HK G3/SG-1 precisions rifle which is used by UTC in certain contingents only supply officiate him as sniper persons.
[edit]Special vehicles
This unit also owns the medium and light special undercover vehicles, to enable to enable them to move more tactically.
Each contingent and Bukit Aman have at least a special vehicle which furnished with equipment that is required, for example communication equipment who act as "Command Vehicles".
[edit]Recent Operations
 In August 13, 2004 - An UTC Selangor contingent successfully overcame five criminals who had just robbed jewellery worth RM500,000 from a jewellery store in a shopping centre at Endah Parade, Sri Petaling, Selangor. All the criminals, who were wearing baseball hat and armed with semi-automatic pistols and revolvers and self-made bomb were killed but UTC member, Corporal Amran Abd. Aziz, was wounded during the shoot-out incident outside shopping complex.[1]

AUSTRALIAN T.A.G

The Tactical Assault Groups (TAG) is a counter-terrorism units of Australia. The two TAGs, East and West, are structured to conduct offensive domestic counter-terrorist operations focusing on incident resolution and the recovery of hostages. They maintain a short notice capability to conduct military operations beyond the scope of State and Federal Police tactical teams. These aims are achieved through various highly specialised skill sets, niche capabilities and supporting Australian Defence Force (ADF) The Sydney Hilton bombing on 13 February 1978 was the catalyst for the Commonwealth Government to initiate an urgent review of security procedures to combat the threat of international terrorism.
The anti-terrorist agencies (the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) were placed on heightened alert and a Protective Security Coordination Centre was established. The Prime Minister proposed the establishment of a Standing Advisory Committee on Commonwealth State Cooperation for Protection against Violence, which would be primarily responsible for the coordination and funding of various organisations involved. He also directed that police forces around Australia absorb the counter-terrorist role. However, a study by Sir Robert Mark, at that time recently retired from the London Metropolitan Police, concluded that this was a task for 'sophisticated soldiery' and should not be given to the police but rather to the Army. Sir Robert’s advice was further strengthened by the Ironbark Report, written by Colonel John Essex-Clark, in which he advised the urgent formation of a special counter-terrorist force within the Army.
In August 1978, it was proposed to allocate the task of raising, training and sustaining the conter-terrorist force to the Special Air Service Regiment to follow similar lines from the British Army with their counter-terrorist team from within their SAS. The force was to be called the TAG and was to be commanded by the Commanding Officer SASR. On 3 May 1979, the Government approved the raising of a dedicated counter-terrorist force in the SASR, with final authorisation to raise the TAG given on 31 August 1979.
The tasks allocated to the group included:
 The neutralisation, including capture, of terrorist groups, which might include snipers, hijackers, kidnappers, bombers or assassins, and the neutralisation of aircraft or ships;
 The recovery of hostages and property held by terrorists; and
 The recovery of buildings and installations held by terrorists.
The training began officially in March 1980 and the force became fully operational in the following May. In July 1980, the SASR was directed to develop an offshore (maritime) capability, concerned primarily with retaking Bass Strait oil rigs in the event of terrorist capture. These operations were to be handled by a dedicated water operations team which included 17 Navy personnel from the RAN’s Clearance Diving Teams, who were placed under operational control of the SASR from 4 August 1980 as part of the TAG.[1]
TAG (East) was raised on 22 July 2002 in order to increase the ADF's domestic conter-terrorist capability. TAG (East) mirrors the original Tactical Assault Group, which was redesignated TAG (West). The dual basing enables the ADF to readily respond to simultaneous and geographically separate domestic incidents.[2]
[edit]Organization


TAG-East during training at Holsworthy Barracks in 2003
At present there are two Tactical Assault Groups, East and West. Each belongs to a different parent unit and each protect a different domestic geographical area of Australia.
TAG East draws its members from the 2nd Commando Regiment, supplemented by a small number of subject-matter expert SASR personnel and the Royal Australian Navy's Clearance Diving Teams.[3] The Royal Australian Navy component consists of an Operations Officer, a Clearance Diver (CD) assault platoon, one team of CD maritime snipers, and an Underwater Medic.[4][dead link] TAG East has the primary response to domestic counter-terrorism within Australia
TAG West on the other hand draws its members from the Australian Special Air Service Regiment and rotates one Squadron through the role for a pre-determined length of time. TAG West has the primary responsibility for offshore recovery operations, such as ship boarding or incidents on oil platforms etc and also international/overseas incidents.[5]
Both have their own world class training facilities including advanced outdoor close quarters battle ranges, MOUT villages, urban CT complexs, full size aircraft mock-ups, and sniper ranges.[6]
Both participate in NATEX (National Anti Terrorism Exercise) throughout the year. Exercises of various types are run and tested several times per year testing various elements of the Australian Defence Force including both the Tactical Assault Groups, Special Operations Command (Australia) and Incident Response Regiment. Exercises involve various elements of State/Territory Police Forces such as their respective Police Tactical Group and various intelligence agencies and units such as ASIO.[7] TAG-West conducts annual training courses for Police Tactical Group members from each state and territory.[8] Each year as part of the National Counter-Terrorist Committee Skills Enhancement Course, each state and territory sends up to three members of its PTG to participate in a concentrated three-week course to strengthen standards of policing in urban counter-terrorist tactics and ensure all states are training consistently to the same codes and standards of counter-terrorism.
[edit]Operations
 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games: [9]
 2000 Sydney Olympics Security: Joint Task Force Gold [10]
 2001 South Tomi boarding: [11]
 2001 MV Tampa boarding: MV Tampa (see Tampa affair). [12]
 2003 Pon Su boarding: [13]
 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games: Operation Acolyte [14]
 2007 Sydney APEC Conference: Operation Contego [15]
The Pong Su incident occurred during April 2003 when members of Special Operations Command (Australia) intercepted and boarded the Pong Su, a 4,000 ton North Korean ocean freighter in Australian territorial waters. The ship was flying the flag of Tuvalu at the time, known as flying a flag of convenience[16] The boarding of the freighter was carried out by members of both TAGs and the Incident Response Regimentwhilst the ship was underway in rough seas[17] The reason for apprehending the ship was that it was suspected of being involved in smuggling almost 125 kg (300 pounds) of heroin into Australia. The Pong Su was berthed in Sydney and the crew extradited to Victoria for prosecution.[17] The Pong Su was later sunk by a Royal Australian Air Force F-111, using two 2000lb laser-guided bombs.

S.A.S

The Special Air Service or SAS is a special forces regiment of the British Armythat has served as a model for the special forces of other countries all over the world.[7][9] The Special Air Service together with the Special Boat Service (SBS),Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR), and the Special Forces Support Group(SFSG) form the United Kingdom Special Forces under the command of the Director Special Forces.
While the Special Air Service traces its origins to 1941 and the Second World War, they gained fame and recognition worldwide after successfully assaulting the Iranian Embassy and rescuing hostages during the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege, lifting the regiment from obscurity outside the military establishment.[10]
The Special Air Service comprises 22 Special Air Service Regiment of the Regular Army, 21 Special Air Service Regiment and 23 Special Air Service Regiment provided by the Territorial Army. The three regiments' tasks are special operations in wartime and primarily counter-terrorism in peacetime.
History
Main articles: History of the SAS and List of SAS operations
The Special Air Service was a unit of the British Army during the Second World War, formed in July 1941 by David Stirling and originally called "L" Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade — : the "L"designation and Air Service name being a tie-in to a British disinformation campaign, trying to deceive the Axis into thinking there was a paratrooper regiment with numerous units operating in the area (the real SAS would 'prove' to the Axis that the fake one existed).[1][11] It was conceived as a commandoforce to operate behind enemy lines in the North African Campaign[12] and initially consisted of five officers and 60 other ranks.[13] Their first mission, in November 1941, was a parachute drop in support of the Operation Crusader offensive.[11]Unfortunately, because of enemy resistance and adverse weather conditions, the mission was a disaster: 22 men, a third of the unit, were killed or captured.[14] Their second mission was a success: transported by the Long Range Desert Group, they attacked three airfields in Libya, destroying 60 aircraft without loss.[14] In September 1942 they were renamed 1st SAS, consisting at that time of four British squadrons, one Free French, one Greek, and the Folboat Section.[15]
In January 1943, Stirling was captured in Tunisia and Paddy Mayne replaced him as commander.[16] In April 1943, the 1st SAS was reorganised into the Special Raiding Squadron under Mayne's command and the Special Boat Squadron was placed under the command of George Jellico.[17] The Special Raiding Squadron fought in Sicily and Italy along with the 2nd SAS, which had been formed in North Africa in 1943 in part by the re-naming of the Small Scale Raiding Force.[18][19] The Special Boat Squadron fought in the Aegean Islands and Dodecanese until the end of the war.[20] In 1944 the SAS Brigade was formed from the British 1st and 2nd SAS, theFrench 3rd and 4th SAS and the Belgian 5th SAS.[21] They were tasked with parachute operations behind the German lines in France[2] and carried out operations supporting the Allied advance through Belgium, the Netherlands, and eventually into Germany.[21]
[edit]Post war
At the end of the war the British Government saw no further need for the force and disbanded it on 8 October 1945.[2] However, the following year it was decided there was a need for a long term deep penetration commando unit, and a new SAS regiment was to be raised as part of the Territorial Army.[22] Ultimately, the Artists Rifles, raised in 1860 and headquartered at Dukes Road, Euston, took on the SAS mantle as 21st SAS Regiment (V) on 1 January 1947.[3][22]


21 SAS soldier after a night parachute drop exercise in Denmark, 1955
In 1950, a 21 SAS squadron was raised to fight in the Korean War. After three months of training in England, they were informed that the squadron would no longer be required in Korea and so they instead volunteered to fight in the Malayan Emergency.[23] Upon arrival in Malaya, they came under the command of Mike Calvert who was forming a new unit called the Malayan Scouts (SAS).[23] Calvert had already formed one squadron from 100 volunteers in the Far East, which became A Squadron — the 21 SAS squadron then became B Squadron; and after a recruitment visit to Rhodesia by Calvert, C Squadron was formed from 1,000 Rhodesian volunteers.[24] The Rhodesians returned home after three years service and were replaced by a New Zealandsquadron.[25] By this time, the need for a regular army SAS regiment had been recognised; 22 SAS Regiment was formally added to the army list in 1952 and has been based at Hereford since 1960.[7] In 1959 the third regiment, 23 SAS Regiment, was formed by renaming the Reserve Reconnaissance Unit, which had succeeded MI9 and were experts in escape and evasion.[26]
[edit]22 SAS Regiment
Since serving in Malaya, men from the regular army 22 SAS Regiment have taken part in covert reconnaissance and surveillance by patrols and some larger scale raiding missions in Borneo.[27]An operation against communist guerillas included the Battle of Mirbat in the Oman.[28] They have also taken part in operations in the Aden Emergency,[29] Northern Ireland,[30] and Gambia.[27]Their Special projects team assisted the West German counter-terrorism group GSG 9 at Mogadishu.[27] During the Falklands War D and G squadrons were deployed and participated in the raid on Pebble Island.[31] Operation Flavius was an anti–terrorist operation in Gibraltaragainst the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA).[27] The SAS counter terrorist wing famously took part in a hostage rescue operation during the Iranian Embassy Siege in London.[32] They directed NATO aircraft onto Serb positions and hunted war criminals in Bosnia.[33][34]
The Gulf War, in which A, B and D squadrons deployed, was the largest SAS mobilisation since the Second World War, also notable for the failure of the Bravo Two Zero mission.[35] In Sierra Leone they took part in Operation Barras, a hostage rescue operation, to extract members of the Royal Irish Regiment.[27] In the Iraq War, they formed part of Task Force Black and Task Force Knight, with A Squadron 22 SAS being singled out for exceptional service by General Stanley McChrystal, the American commander of NATO forces: during a six month tour they carried out 175 combat missions.[36] In 2006 members of the SAS were involved in the rescue of peace activists Norman Kember, James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden. The three men had been held hostage in Iraq for 118 days during the Christian Peacemaker hostage crisis.[37] Operations against the Taliban in Afghanistan[38] involved soldiers from 21 and 23 SAS Regiments.[5]


Bravo Two Zero patrol members
In recent years SAS officers have risen to the highest ranks in the British Army. General Peter de la Billière was the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in the 1990 Gulf War.[39] GeneralMichael Rose became commander of the United Nations Protection Force in Bosnia in 1994.[40] In 1997 General Charles Guthrie became Chief of the Defence Staff the head of the British Armed Forces.[41] Lieutenant-General Cedric Delves was appointed Commander of the Field Army and Deputy Commander in Chief NATO Regional Headquarters Allied Forces North in 2002–2003.[42]
[edit]Influence on other special forces
Following the post-war reconstitution of the Special Air Service, other countries in theCommonwealth recognised their needs for Special Forces-type units. Australia formed the 1st SAS Company in July 1957, which became a full regiment the Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) in August 1964.[43] The New Zealand Special Air Service squadron was formed in 1954 to serve with the British SAS in Malaya.[25] On their return from Malaya, the C (Rhodesian) Squadron formed the basis for creation of the Rhodesian Special Air Service in 1961.[26]
Non-commonwealth countries have also formed units based on the SAS. Impressed by the Australian SASR methods in Vietnam, American General William Westmoreland ordered the formation of a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) unit in each infantry brigade, modelled on the SASR.[44] Another American unit, Delta Force, was formed by Charles Alvin Beckwith, who served with 22 SAS as an exchange officer, and recognized the need for a similar type of unit in the United States Army.[45] It is claimed the Israeli Sayeret Matkal was also modelled on the SAS and even shares the same "who dares wins" motto.[46] The French 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment can trace its origins to the Second World War 3rd and 4th SAS, also adopting their "who dares wins" motto.[47]
[edit]Organisation
Little publicly verifiable information exists on the SAS, as the United Kingdom Government does not usually comment on special forces matters.[48][49] The Special Air Service comprises three units: one Regular and two reserve Territorial Army (TA) units. The regular army unit is 22 SAS Regiment and territorial army units are 21 SAS Regiment (Artists) and 23 SAS Regiment.[4]
[edit]Squadrons
The 22 SAS Regiment has four operational squadrons: A, B, D and G. Each squadron consists of approximately 60 men commanded by amajor, divided into four troops and a small headquarters section.[36][50] Troops usually consist of 16 men,[38] and each patrol within a troop consists of four men, with each man possessing a particular skill: signals, demolition, medic or linguist in addition to basic skills learned during the course of their training.[50] The four troops specialise in four different areas:
 Boat troop — are specialists in maritime skills using scuba diving, kayaks and Rigid-hulled inflatable boats and often train with the Special Boat Service.[51]
 Air troop — are experts in free fall parachuting, High Altitude-Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude-High Opening (HAHO) techniques.[51]
 Mobility troop — are specialists in using vehicles and are experts in desert warfare;[52] they are also trained in an advanced level of motor mechanics to field-repair any vehicular breakdown.[53]
 Mountain troop — are specialists in Arctic combat and survival, using specialist equipment such as skis, snowshoes and mountain climbing techniques.[51]
In 1980 R Squadron was formed which has since been renamed L Detachment; its members are all ex-regular SAS regiment soldiers who have a commitment to reserve service.[50][nb 1]
22 Special Air Service Regiment 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) 23 Special Air Service Regiment
'A' Squadron (Hereford)[5]
'A' Squadron (Regent's Park)[5]
'B' Squadron (Leeds)[55]

'B' Squadron[56]
'C' Squadron (Bramley)[57]
'D' Squadron (Scotland)[58]

'D' Squadron[59]
'E' Squadron (Wales)[60]
'G' Squadron (Manchester)[61]

'G' Squadron[59][nb 2]

[edit]Special projects team
The special projects team is the official name for the Special Air Service anti–hijacking counter–terrorism team.[50] They are trained in Close Quarter Battle (CQB) and sniper techniques and specialize in hostage rescue in buildings or on public transport.[63] The team were formed in 1975 when then Prime Minister Edward Heath asked the Ministry of Defence to prepare for any possible terrorist attack similar to themassacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics and ordered that the SAS Counter Revolutionary Warfare (CRW) wing be raised.[64]
Once the wing had been established, each squadron rotated on a continual basis through counter–terrorist training including hostage rescue, siege breaking, and live firing exercises — it has been reported that during CRW training each soldier expends as many as 100,000 pistol rounds. Squadrons refresh their training every 16 months, on average. The CRW wing's first deployment was during the Balcombe Street Siege. The Metropolitan Police had trapped a PIRA unit; they surrendered when they heard on the BBC that the SAS were being sent in.[64]
The first documented action abroad by the CRW wing was assisting the West German counter-terrorism group GSG 9 at Mogadishu.[27] In 1980 the SAS were involved in a hostage rescue during the Iranian Embassy Siege. Five of the six terrorists involved were killed while one survived by passing himself off as a hostage.[65]
[edit]United Kingdom Special Forces
The Special Air Service are under the operational command of the Director Special Forces (DSF), a major-general grade post. Previously ranked as a brigadier, the DSF was promoted from brigadier to major-general in recognition of the significant expansion of the United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF).[66] The UKSF originally consisted of the regular and the reserve units of the SAS and the Special Boat Service, then joined by two new units: the Special Forces Support Group and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment.[66] They are supported by the 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment and the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, part of which (8 Flight Army Air Corps) is based in Hereford with the SAS.[67][68][69]
[edit]Recruitment, selection and training
Main article: United Kingdom Special Forces Selection


Pen y Fan 2,907 feet (886 m) above sea-level. The location for the Fan dance.
All members of the United Kingdom armed forces can be considered for special forces selection,[nb 3] but historically the majority of candidates have an airborne forces background.[71]All instructors are full members of the Special Air Service Regiment. Selections are held twice yearly, in summer and winter,[70] in Sennybridge, Powys in the Brecon Beacons. Selection lasts for five weeks and normally starts with about 200 potential candidates.[70] On arrival candidates first complete a Personal Fitness Test (PFT) and a Combat Fitness Test (CFT).[nb 4] They then march cross country against the clock, increasing the distances covered each day, culminating in what is known as the Fan dance: a 14 miles (23 km) march with full equipment scaling and descending Pen y Fan in four hours.[70] By the end of the hill phase candidates must be able to walk four miles in 30 minutes and swim two miles in 90 minutes.[70]
Following the hill phase is the jungle phase, taking place in Belize, Brunei, or Malaysia.[73]Candidates are taught navigation, patrol formation and movement, and jungle survival skills.[74]Candidates returning to Hereford finish training in battle plans and foreign weapons and take part in combat survival exercises,[75] the final one being the week-long escape and evasion. Candidates are formed into patrols and, carrying nothing more than a tin can filled with survival equipment, are dressed in old Second World War uniforms and told to head for a point by first light. The final selection test is arguably the most gruelling: resistance to interrogation (RTI), lasting for 36 hours.[76]
Typically, 15–20% of candidates make it through the hill phase selection process. From the approximately 200 candidates, most will drop out within the first few days, and by the end about 30 will remain. Those who complete all phases of selection are rewarded with a transfer to an operational squadron.[77]
[edit]SAS Reserve selection
The Territorial Army Special Air Service (reserve) Regiments undergo the same selection process, but as a part-time programme over a longer period:
 nine weekends of endurance training;
 one week endurance training in the Brecon Beacons, followed by
 a one week assessment (Test Week) at the Beacons.[78]
This is followed by Standard Operational Procedure (SOP) Training, comprising:
 nine weekends patrol SOP's including surveillance and reconnaissance;
 one week live firing including patrol contact drills and troop offensive action;
 a nine day battle camp comprising live firing assessment and field training exercise to test the skills learned throughout selection;
 culminating in Conduct after Capture (CAC) training.[78]
On successful completion of this training, ranks are badged as SAS(R) and deemed fit for appointment. They enter a probationary period during which they complete final training:
 Basic Parachute Course;
 Special Forces Communications Course; and
 a main training period to be fit for mobilisation.[78]
[edit]Uniform distinctions
The Special Air Service, like every British regiment, has its own uniform distinctions. Their normal barracks headdress is the sand-coloured beret,[7] their cap badge is a downward pointing winged sword worked in cloth of a Crusader shield with the motto Who Dares Wins.[nb 5]SAS pattern parachute wings, designed by Lieutenant Jock Lewes and based on the stylised sacred Ibis wings of Isis of Egyptianiconography depicted in the décor of Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo, are worn on the right shoulder.[80] Their ceremonial No 1 Dress Uniform is distinguished by a light blue stripe on the trousers; the Commanding Officer and officer of the day wear a black leather pouch belt mounted with a silver whistle chain and the Mars and Minerva badge of the Artists Rifles.[7] Their Stable belt is a shade of blue similar to the blue stripe on the No 1 dress uniform.[7]
[edit]Battle honours
In the British Army, battle honours are awarded to regiments that have seen active service in a significant engagement or campaign, generally with a victorious outcome.[81] The Special Air Service Regiment has been awarded the following battle honours:[82][83]
North-West Europe 1944-45 • Tobruk 1941 • Benghazi Raid • North Africa 1940-43 • Landing in Sicily • Sicily 1943 • Termoli • Valli di Comacchio • Italy 1943-45 • Greece 1944-45 • Adriatic • Middle East 1943-44 • Falkland Islands 1982 • Gulf 1991 • Western Iraq

[edit]Order of precedence
Preceded by:
Line Infantry and Rifles
British Army Order of Precedence[84]
Succeeded by:
Army Air Corps

[edit]Memorials
The names of those members of the SAS who have died on duty are inscribed on the regimental clock tower at Sterling lines.[85] Inscribed on the base of the clock is a verse from the The Golden Road to Samarkand by James Elroy Flecker:[86][87]
We are the Pilgrims, master; we shall go
Always a little further: it may be
Beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow
Across that angry or that glimmering sea ...
The other main memorial is the SAS and Airborne Forces memorial in the Cloisters at Westminster Abbey. There is also the SAS Brigade Memorial at Sennecey-le-Grand in France commemorates the wartime dead of the Belgian, British and French SAS and recently a memorial plaque was added to the David Stirling Memorial in Scotland. There are other smaller memorials "scattered throughout Europe and in the Far East".[88]

Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale

The National Gendarmerie Intervention Group, commonly abbreviated GIGN(French: Groupe d'Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale), is the French National Gendarmerie's elite Special Operations counter-terrorism and hostage rescue unit. Even if its members belong to the military, they are now charged with police duties outside urbanised areas. As such, GIGN units are closer to enhanced SWAT teams than to pure military units such as the British Army's Special Air Service. Its operators are trained to follow police regulations and include negotiation and investigation specialists.
It is composed of 380 men, including 11 commissioned officers.[citation needed]
It is a counterpart to the RAID unit of the National Police, with enhanced resources and expanded areas of responsibility. In contrast to RAID, GIGN is also responsible for conducting operations outside of France (such as hostage rescue for example). Its missions include the arrest of armed criminals, in particular those takinghostages, counter-terrorism and dealing with aircraft hijacking, and prevention ofprison riots.
History
After the Munich massacre during the Olympic Games in 1972, and a prison mutiny in Clairvaux Prison the next year, France started to study the possible solutions to extremely violent attacks, under the assumptions that these would be difficult to predict and deflect.[1]
In 1973, the GIGN became a permanent force of men trained and equipped to respond to these kind of threats while minimizing risks to the public and hostages, for the members of the unit, and for the attackers themselves. The GIGN became operational on the first of March, 1974, under the command of Lieutenant Christian Prouteau.
Ten days later, a deranged person was successfully stopped in Ecquevilly, validating the techniques of the unit and proving its necessity. GIGN initially had 15 members, which increased to 48 by 1984, 57 by 1988, and 87 by 2000.[1]
[edit]Structure
The GIGN is divided into a command cell, an administrative group, four operational troops of twenty operators, an operational support troop including negotiation, breaching, intelligence, communications, marksmanship, dogs and special equipment cells.[2] The special equipment group equips the unit with modified and high-tech equipment, by either selecting or designing it. GIGN is called about 60 times each year.[3]
All members go through training which includes shooting, long-range marksmanship, an airborne course and hand-to-hand combat techniques (Krav Maga). Members of the GIGN are widely regarded as having some of the best firearms training in the world.[1] It is for this reason that many of the world's special operations and counterterrorist units conduct exchange programs with the GIGN.[1] Mental ability and self-control are important in addition to physical strength. Like most special forces, the training is stressful with a high washout rate of only 7–8% of volunteers making it to the training process. GIGN members must be prepared to disarm suspects with their bare hands.[3]
There are two tactical specialties in the group : HALO/HAHO and divers. Members learn several technical specialties among police dogs, breaching, long-range sniping, negotiation, etc.[1]
[edit]Future
In the future, the newly recruited police officers will be trained for intervention, then will have the opportunity to be trained in protection and/or research/observation (GSPR old missions and the EPIGN). The total will increase to about 420 soldiers in 2010, compared to 380 today. It will then be possible to hire up to 200 men, trained and accustomed to working together in large-scale interventions (mass hostage-taking for example, as in Beslan). The acronym GSIGN has become moot and the acronym "GIGN" refers no longer the same small unit. The collaboration of GIGN and RAID is more and more practiced in large hostage-rescue exercises.
[edit]Operations


Boarding of the Pascal Paoli by the GIGN, on 28 September 2005. The ship had been occupied by the Corsican trade union STC.
Since its creation, the group has taken part in over 1000 operations, liberated over 500 hostages, arrested over 1000 suspects, and killed a dozen terrorists. The unit has seen two members killed in action, and seven in training, since its foundation, and two of its dogs in action and one in training.[4]
Past actions include:
 The liberation of 30 school children from a school bus captured by the FLCS (front de libération de la côte somalienne, "Somali Coast Liberation Front") in Djibouti in 1976.
 Planning the liberation of diplomats from the French embassy in San Salvador in 1979 (the hostage-takers surrendered before the assault was conducted).
 GIGN commandos were instrumental in regaining control during the Grand Mosque Seizure inMecca, Saudi Arabia on November and December 1979.
 Arrest of a Corsican terrorist of the National Liberation Front of Corsica in Fesch Hostel in 1980.
 Liberation of hostages of the Ouvéa cave hostage taking in Ouvea in the New Caledonia in May 1988.
 Protection of the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville.
 In December 1994, the liberation of 229 passengers and crew from Air France Flight 8969 in Marseille. The plane, hijacked by four GIAterrorists that wished to destroy the Eiffel Tower, had been completely mined, and three passengers had been executed during the negotiations with the Algerian government. The mission was widely publicized.
 Arrest of Bob Denard in 1995 in Comoros.
 Operations in Bosnia to arrest persons indicted for war crimes.
 Seizing of 6 Somali pirates and recovery of part of the ransom after making sure "Le Ponant" luxury yacht hostages were freed in the coast of Puntland in Somalia on the Gulf of Aden. In conjunction with French Commandos Marines (Naval commandos) on April 2008.
The GIGN was selected by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to teach the special forces of the other member states in hostage-rescue exercises in planes.
[edit]Training
 Combat shooting and marksmanship training
 Airborne courses, such as HALO or HAHO jumps, paragliding, and heliborne insertions.
 Combat/Underwater swimming, diving and underwater combat.
 Hand to hand or unarmed combat (e.g., Knife fighting and martial arts)
 Psychological warfare, such as prisoner interrogation
 Police and detective work (investigating cases)
 Infiltration and escape techniques
 Sabotage and demolition.
 Weapon handling, such as knives, firearms, etc.
 Survival and warfare in tropical, arctic, mountain and desert environments.
 Language and culture: GIGN operatives are trained to know basic language and culture skills of several countries.
 Diplomacy skills, such as negotiating.
[edit]Equipment


Assault car of the GIGN
 Manurhin Revolver MR73 (4", 5" ¼, 8" and 10") in .357 Magnum
 Smith & Wesson Model 686 GFS Stainless in .357 magnum (4", till 10") for underwater actions
 Glock 19
 Glock 17
 Glock 26
 FN Five-seveN Tactical IOM (5.7x28mm) with Insight Technology M6X Laser
 FN P90 Tactical with Gemtech SP90 Silencer (5.7x28mm)
 FN Minimi
 FN 1200/1300 Shotgun (Winchester 1200/1300 build by FN When GIAT-Nexter hold the Both Companies) - Standard Gendarmerie weapons
 SIG P228 with 20rd Mag & 15rd Mag
 SIG P226 with 20rd Mag & weaponlight Insight Technology M3 LED
 SIG SP2022 - standard sidearm of French Interior Security Forces
 SIG SG550 with Hensoldt 6 x 42 BL (5.56x45mm NATO)
 SIG SG551 SWAT with Hensoldt 6 x 42 BL (5.56x45mm NATO)
 SIG SG552 Commando with Bushnell HOLOsight (5.56x45mm NATO)
 GIAT / Nexter PA MAC Modèle 1950 (MAC50) - standard French Army sidearm (French gendarmerie is part of French Army) Could support the punch of 9x19mm for SMG ammunition
 GIAT / Nexter PAMAS-G1S (Licence Beretta 92G) - standard French Army & Gendarmerie sidearm
 GIAT / Nexter MAT Modèle 1949 Submachingun (MAT49) in (9x19mm Parabellum) - standard gendarmerie weapons
 GIAT / Nexter FAMAS-F1 Infantry 5.56x45mm NATO - standard French Army weapon (French Gendarmerie is part of French Army)
 GIAT / Nexter FRF1 (7,5mm MAS Rifle with converion in 7.62x51mm NATO)
 GIAT / Nexter FSA MAS 49/56 MSE - standard Gendarmerie weapons
 H&K MP5 A5 (3-Round Burst), SD3 (SEF), SD6, and K-PDW (SEF) (Build by GIAT and Sound Silencer from STOPSON TFM)
 H&K UMP (9x19mm Parabellum) - standard gendarmerie weapons
 H&K G3 TGS (with HK 79 de 40 mm and MSG-90 Stock)
 H&K 416
 H&K 417
 H&K 33 EA2 with A3 Folding stock
 H&K G36KE & G36E with B&T Rail Handguard
 Remington 870
 Benelli Super 90 M3T
 Franchi SPAS 12
 Tikka (Beretta Holding Group) T3 Tactical (7.62x51mm NATO) - standard Gendarmerie weapons
 Accuracy International AICS AW with Schmidt & Bender Mil-Dot Mk.II 3-12 × 50 scope (7.62x51mm NATO)
 Accuracy International AICS AWS (7.62x51mm NATO)
 Accuracy International AICS SM in (.338 Lapua Magnum)
 Barrett M82 (.50BMG)
 Barrett M95 (.50BMG)
 McMillan 87R (.50BMG)
 PGM Ultima Ratio (7.62x51mm NATO)
 PGM Hecate II with Scrome J10 10 × 40 (.50BMG)
 PGM Hecate II Nemesis (.50BMG)
[edit]GIGN leaders
 Lieutenant Christian Prouteau : 1973-1982
 Capitaine Paul Barril : 1982-1983 (Interim)
 Capitaine Philippe Masselin : 1983-1985
 Capitaine Philippe Legorjus : 1985-1989
 Major (Commandant or Chef d'Escadron in Cavalry) Lionel Chesneau : 1989-1992
 Capitaine Denis Favier : 1992-1997
 Major (Commandant or Chef d'Escadron in Cavalry) Eric Gerard : 1997–2002
 Lieutenant-Colonel Frédéric Gallois : 2002-2007
 Brigade General Denis Favier : 2007-present
[edit]In fiction
GIGN members are present in several video games such as SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown, Joint Operations: Typhoon Rising, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Hitman: Contracts. GIGN uniforms are available in the gamesCounter-Strike and SWAT 4. The group was also mentioned in the Phoenix Force 1984 book Phoenix in Flames.