Brazilian Special Police Battalion - Special Forces Elite
In Brazil, as in many other states, there are special operations forces. As a rule, they are part of the armed forces and the police.
In the Brazilian army, units of special operations forces are represented by the First Battalion of Special Forces of the Airborne Brigade, as well as four special infantry battalions, which are designed to conduct operations in the jungle. In addition, there are also special forces of the Air Force and Navy.
History The first battalion of special operations forces begins in the 1983 year. His location is Vila Militar. As part of the unit there is a special counter-terrorism unit, the number of which is about 200 people.
As part of the air force there is a counter-terrorist unit "Talon", which was formed in 1953 year. In this squad recruit volunteers who managed to pass a hard two-week selection, and who received training for a period of thirteen weeks.
The Navy has a group of GRUMES combat swimmers, which was formed in 1970 year. Its main tasks include covert penetration into the enemy’s rear with the help of underwater breathing apparatus and parachute jumping, the use of blasting shells.
All of them are an effective military force. But the special pride of the Brazilian government is the elite unit of the police special forces BOPE, which is deployed in Rio de Janeiro. This unit is well trained and has first-class weapons. Its main distinguishing feature is a completely black uniform with a patch on the sleeve, which shows a skull pierced with a dagger against the background of 2 crossed pistols. BOPE is an ideal tool for conducting operations against drug traffickers not only in city conditions, but also on rough terrain.
The battalion consists of approximately 400 people.
The history of the unit began in 1978, when the government of the country thought about creating a special unit that would be engaged in the release of hostages. In January, 1978, a government special order appeared, according to which the creation of a group of special operations was planned as part of the military police. Four years later, in 1982, the group was reorganized into a company of special operations, which became part of a separate police battalion. The main task that was set in front of this division was to take measures to combat organized crime. From that time, the company came under the command of the Chief of the Military Police of Rio de Janeiro, where she was located.
The subsequent activities of the special forces were aimed at combating drug traffickers who found shelter in favelas. The company’s work was so successful that it was reorganized into a separate company of special operations by order from 23 March 1988. After that, the company changed its name several times, and also passed into the subordination of various structures. This continued until 1 March 1993, when the unit was finally given the name of a battalion of special police operations (BOPE, port. Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais). This name still exists.
However, despite the fact that the battalion is very active in the fight against drug trafficking in Rio de Janeiro, and this work is very, very successful, until recently almost nothing was known about the existence of the unit itself. And only in 2008, when the film “Elite Squad” appeared, did the public learn about the thief. The plot of the picture was based on the memories of the captain, who in the past served in this battalion. Since then, the battalion fighters have become almost national heroes. On the streets of the city you can see a huge number of trinkets, T-shirts, souvenirs, T-shirts and baseball caps with the symbols of the battalion. In addition, the exploit of VOR is praised by Brazilian rappers, who in their works glorify the simple guys in black, leading a difficult but effective fight against organized crime and drug dealers.
Immediately it should be noted that the glory that had suddenly fallen upon the fighters of the unit had no effect on their work. They were and remain the elite of the Brazilian special forces.
To date, the battalion commanded by Alberto Pinheiro Netto. In the structure of the subdivision, one can single out the command, the operational group, the combat units and the training unit. The combat divisions include sniper pairs, assault groups and support groups. As for the tasks that are entrusted to the time, they are divided into three main types: police, special and training.
Among the police tasks, it is possible to distinguish the organization of escort of especially dangerous criminals, the suppression of riots in prisons, the conduct of operations to free the hostages, the organization of the struggle against organizational prosperity. In addition, the scope of this type of task also includes increased security during special events, in particular, the World Football Championship 2014 of the year or the Summer Olympic Games 2016 of the year.
Special tasks include carrying out operations to destroy drug gangs and dens, carrying out assaults on barricades built by drug dealers in favelas, conducting special operations in mountainous and wetland areas, as well as organizing rescue activities of wounded policemen and civilians injured in gunfights, providing military support to civilian police. patrolling adverse areas.
The training tasks are aimed at providing training for future VORE fighters and other special forces and Brazilian police.
A few words must be said about the requirements for candidates for the battalion. If earlier the age of candidates was limited to 23-35 for years, now this restriction has been removed. Moreover, since 2009, women can also become unit fighters (by the way, this is the only special unit in the country where women can serve). But this in no way means that the requirements for candidates have become softer. No, the point is that if a person is able to pass all the tests necessary to join a battalion, then gender and age do not matter.
The selection in time is extremely tough. All tests are held at the limit of mental and physical forces of man. Already preliminary selection consists of two stages. Anyone who wants to become a member of an elite special forces unit must serve in the military police for at least two years, have Brazilian citizenship and positive characteristics from the place of service. In addition, at the same stage, the fighters are checked for a lack of convictions or links to organized crime, as well as for access to classified information. Fighters must undergo a medical examination and a special examination and meet all the criteria for professional fitness. During the second stage, candidates are checked for the presence of tactical, fire, medical, special and engineering training. Do not forget also about psychological testing and physical fitness, and the standards are very strict.
And only after the candidate passes all the tests of the first two stages of selection, he is enrolled in preparatory courses, which include several stages.
On the first tactical course, fighters study 6 weeks for methods of conducting patrol operations and procedures during high-risk operations. In the second year of special operations, which lasts 15 weeks, cadets are taught all the tricks of operations in various conditions. And only after this, the fighters consolidate their skills and abilities at special proving grounds, as well as during real special operations.
During the training, special attention is paid to physical and special training. All units are engaged in jiu-jitsu, Thai boxing, Krav Maga (Israeli self-defense system), Lucha libre combate (Brazilian equivalent of Sambo).
Despite the fact that service in VOR is much more dangerous than in ordinary police units, this does not prevent fighters from actively striving to become members of this team. The fact is that they all have one essential motive - the feeling of belonging to the elite. It is the elitism that affects everything that the battalion does, it is also visible in the training. It is enough to draw a small parallel between the service in the VOR and a simple police unit. Every year, each fighter spetsbatalona makes about 2,5 thousands of shots, while the police - ten times less. Special Forces fighters have better training of snipers and methods of conducting special operations in difficult conditions. In addition, they have more and better weapons. In addition to the usual weapons, which is used in the army and the police, the VORA is also armed with assault rifles Colt М16 Commando, H&K G3, Colt M4 A1, submachine guns МР 5 К, H&K and МР5, rifles Remington 700 and Benelli M3 Super 90, as well as machine guns М60 caliber 7,62 millimeters and "Medsen". At the moment, the detachment is being rearmed with more lightweight and compact 5,56mm Minimi. Snipers use German 7,62mm HK PSG1 rifles.
Today, in connection with the upcoming world-class events (football championship and Olympiad), the issue of acquiring for the battalion new types of small arms, equipment, special explosives, assault equipment and communications equipment necessary to protect sports facilities and VIPs is being addressed.
Materials used:
http://tchest.org/special_forces/444-bope-braziliya.html
http://tchest.org/special_forces/449-specnaz-bope.html
http://www.bratishka.ru/archiv/2011/12/2011_12_15.php
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