Special Operations.Com

Brazil

Special Operations and Counterterrorist Forces

Following a 1988 aircraft hijacking the Brazilians found that they were not prepared and the Federal Police were to expand the existing Tactical Operations Command Team (Comando de Operaciones Tacticas). They had inherited the aircraft hijacking mission from the Air Force Search and Rescue SAR units who had that duty in the early 1980's, but lacked judicial authority. There are also 'military police' units in the different states. These are not Armed Forces police, but rather they are a separate branch of uniformed police from the Federal Police, more as a military-type of police, such as the Gendarmerie units prevalent throughout Europe, or the National Guard in the United States.

Brazil has maintained a CT response capability since 1953, when the Ministry of Aviation formed its own unit to combat hijackings. As the number of international terrorist incidents grew both in number and visibility, the Brazilian government recognizing the need for a team able to respond to a wider variety of situations. It was out of this new mindset that the Project Talon was born. Volunteers for this duty are carefully screened by a discriminating selection board. Only those who have served in airborne or special operations units are permitted to take part in the 14 day selection program. It has been reported that this program has an attrition rate of somewhere near 90 percent. Those students who pass this initial phase are then sent on to a thirteen week training evolution located at a camp outside of Rio de Janiero.

Counterterrorist Detachment - 1st Batalhio de Forcas Especiais (1st Special Forces Battalion)

The other major player in Brazilian CT is the Counterterrorist Detachment of the 1st Special Forces Battalion. The Detachment is similar in missions to the US Ranger units (the other SF units being similar to US SF units in mission) however since they have the CT mission they have modified the organization to more closely follow Britain's SAS. The SF Battalion falls under the Army's Airborne Brigade and is located at the Brigade's headquarters in Villa Miltar, Rio de Janiero. The Detachment was given the CT mission in the mid-1980s, following the expansion to create the 1st SF Battalion. Unit strength is approximately 200 men divided into platoons.

Grupo Especial de Resgate (GER) - Special Rescue Group

This is a 120 man unit of the Brazilian Marines' Tonelero Battalion and is both diver- and airborne-trained.

GERR/MEC - Retake and Rescue Special Group - GRUMEC - Brazilian Navy Combat Divers Group

GRUMEC was formed in 1970 when small cadres were sent to the naval special operations schools in the US and France. Graduates returned to form the Brazilian Combat Diver Course. Today, operatives are trained in a variety of insertion methods, including open and closed-circuit diving apparatus, HALO and HAHO parachuting, explosives, and the operation of small submersibles. They are also trained in submarine lock-in lock out procedures.

The primary GRUMEC course, located at the Brazilian Navy Diving and Submarine Center (CIAMA) in Nitieroi City, is divided into four phases. The first is a five-week course on open circuit SCUBA, followed by another five week section, this one emphasizing rigorous physical and mental conditioning. The third phase teaches basic and advanced amphibious reconnaissance, closed-circuit (rebreather) diving operations, and attacks against enemy shipping using limpet mines and other explosives. The fourth phase is devoted to land operations, including raids, terrain orientation, riverine and jungle environment actions, SERE skills, and unarmed combat. If the trainee graduates from this six-month course, he is then assigned to duty with GRUMEC where he will be sent on to further advanced training courses, such as military intelligence, military climbing, static and free-fall airborne operations, etc. A small unit within GRUMEC, known as GERR/MEC (Retake and Rescue Special Group) has the CT and hostage rescue mission for incidents occurring on naval installations, ships, and oil rigs. During wartime, GRUMEC would be tasked with operations against enemy ships, intelligence gathering, anti-mine duties, oil-rig destruction, and other missions.

Força de Ação Rápida

- Brigada de Infantaria Pára-quedista

- 12 ª Brigada de Infantaria Leve (aeromóvel)

- 1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais

- Esquadrões de Aviação do Exército

The Fast Action Force has the mission to act, immediately, in any strategic area. The military commands are located (do from west to south east in conditions of, quickly, get ready or rapid deployment. It is composed of the following elements:
· Paratrooper Infantry Brigade
· 12th Light Infantry Brigade (airborne)
· 1st Special Forces Battalion
· Army Aviation Squadron.

The Paratrooper Infantry Brigade is composed of three infantry battalions, an Artillery group, a logistic battalion, a cavalry 
squadron, an engineer company, a communications company, a command company and a (precursores??) company. All brigade military organization commands are located in the Vila Militar (RJ), and are supported by the 1st troop transport group, V air force, located in Afonsos Air Base (RJ).  Also in the vila militar, the 1st Special Forces Battalion is composed by a commandos company, two special forces companies, and a Command and Services companies.

12th Light Infantry Brigade (airborne) has its command based in Caçapava (SP). Its subordinated elements are located in cities in the Paraiba valley, in the west region of grande Sao Paulo. In Taubate (SP) you can find the 1st, 2nd and 3rd army aviation squadrons, they provide the brigade its transport (helicopters). The 4th army aviation squadron, is located in Manaus, in conditions of supporting any operation that is carried in that area. The Fast Action Force has, also, the possibility, offered by the Army Training Aviation Center (CAAdEx) to provide their basic training, by cooperative terrain exercises, using modern simulation devices, that makes the combat simulation very close to reality.