Special Operations.Com
Lithuania
Special Operations and Counterterrorist
Forces
ARAS (Eagle)
Lithuania's premier counter-terrorism unit was
born out of the uncertainty leading up to and following
the collapse of the Soviet Union. As waves of democracy
swept throughout Eastern Europe, so did the presence
of organized crime, most notably the Russian Mafia.
Formed in 1991 to directly counter the threat of organized
crime in Lithuania, ARAS was as much a symbol of democracy
and stability of the new Baltic state as it was a crime-fighting
force. Immediately setting to work, ARAS conducted a
series of midnight raids on Mafia establishments, systematically
removing key players from the world of organized crime
and putting them behind bars. The failure of large "Mafia"
syndicates to take hold of Lithuania in its early days
is directly attributed to the actions of the ARAS, something
that sets it apart from other Eastern European countries.
The ARAS unit is placed under the Ministry of Interior
and is a 250-strong force. Operators are spread out
throughout major cities of the country in 30-man "companies,"
and an elite within an elite, the "Special Team" is
located in the capital, Vilnius. From its inception,
ARAS has performed a variety of tasks, acting as border
guards in its early days. Indeed, the unit suffered
two casualties in 1991, while manning a checkpoint
on the border with Byelorussia when two officers were
shot dead by Soviet special forces. Since then, ARAS
has expanded its mandate to include hostage rescue,
internal security, investigation of organized crime
and armed robbery.
Before becoming an ARAS operator, one must have
at least five years prior experience in the police
or military, must be at least 23 years of age in excellent
mental and physical condition and must pass through
a rigorous training course, designed to test his intelligence,
physical capabilities and resourcefulness. The course
lasts three months where the hopeful is taught rudimentary
skills, including detailed instruction on procedures
for armed confrontations. ARAS prides itself on being
a life-saving unit, using lethal force only when absolutely
necessary. If accepted, the trainee will learn such
skills as CQB, sharpshooting, EOD, op planning, field
medicine and hostage negotiation. ARAS operators are
also experts at rappelling and climbing ropes, and
Lithuania has its share of high-rise buildings where
these skills may be required.
The ARAS "Special Team" is a 32-man company of hand-picked
operators who have served for at least two years in
ARAS. If picked for the Special Team and if they are
willing to join, the operators are subjected to a
7 day around the clock selection course. Usually,
five operators are selected from around 15, and they
go on to Special Team training.
ARAS uses many of the "standard" counter-terrorist
gear that can be found in the majority of special
forces units today. The preferred firearm is the H&K
MP5 submachine gun, although the AK-74 and its variants
are also in the team's armory. Czech-made CZ75 pistols
are carried by most operators. Layered Kevlar body
armor is worn for protection from small arms fire,
along with Russian-made ballistic helmets. For transportation,
ARAS has access to two Kamov Ka-26 helicopters, which
are due to be replaced shortly.
ARAS has trained with American counter-terrorist
units such as the FBI HRT and Delta Force, and with
New Zealand's SAS. There is no denying that Lithuania's
ARAS is a professional and responsible unit dedicated
to upholding the law and saving lives.
By Peter Tomich
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