In the fall 1977 the Carabinieri's HQ decided to establish a CT Unit to counter the growing terrorist phenomena. Few months later, the GIS "Gruppo Intervento Speciale" was born. GIS is the Carabinieri CT Unit and it responds directly to the Carabinieri' HQ and to the Ministry of Interior.  The focus of GIS has always been on very high risk CT operations, such as the storming of hijacked aircraft.

The 100-man GIS has 3 operational sections and 1 sniper/reconnaissance team.  Every section is divided into detachment of four men. In every moment there's a section ready to leave the base in 30 min. Sniper team is usually formed by two snipers, equipped with Mauser 86SR, and by a scout, usually with a semi-automatic H&K PSG/1. During action men alternate in the scout role.
Every GIS soldier is a volunteer from the 1st Carabinieri Airborne Regiment "Tuscania". As first selection, all candidates go to an interview with a GIS high officer to verify their motivation, which is a key element. The soldiers who pass the first selections go to a basic course which last 5 months. A great amount of time is devolved to martial arts (Wushu and Thai boxing), explosives, tactics, English language, topography, terrorist ideology and photography as well as combat shooting. They use FATS (Fire Arms Training System), a laser-system which project on a screen interactive images and can record all students' reactions. Usually during this first course 50% retires. From them who pass, only the better ones are selected to go to the Specialization Course which lasts other six months, after which they become operative members. They are trained in combat driving too (reportedly held at Ferrari's famed factory and speed roadway).

GIS has very good relations with many top class CT units in the world, amongst these are Great Britain's 22nd SAS, Spain's GEO and UEI, France's GIGN, Germany's GSG-9 and SEK, Belgium's ESI, Austria's GEK and Holland's BBE.

GIS is equipped with many sophisticated weapons and tools. Beretta 92F and H&K MP-5 (in A5, SD3 and KA4 versions) are the most common weapons, but they use also Beretta M12, Steyr TMP, S&W Patrolman .357 Magnum. Among the shotguns they prefer SPAS 12 and 15 and the PA3. In their arsenal there are also Beretta SCP 70/90 and Steyr AUG but they don't use it often. Snipers use Mauser 86SR equipped with a Syncrofire system which make all rifle shoot simultaneously. Recenty GIS bought also some Accuracy International AWP Suppressed.

In 1998 a group of GIS operators was deployed in Albania with the mission "ALBA" after the riot, like immediate reaction force and CT function.

 

 

Note: In Italy there isn't a unit that is primarily responsible unit for CT duties. GIS and Police State's NOCS live together like State Police and Carabinieri does. Carabinieri indeed are an Army's Corp which has the task to guarantee public safety and to make the state law to be respected, as well as MP common tasks. So both Carabinieri and State Policemen patrol the Italian streets and both of them have a CT unit. The only difference between them is that NOCS can operate only inside Italian borders, while GIS can be called outside Italy working with "Tuscania" Regiment, when host nation agrees.