Jagdkommando
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| Jagdkommando | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1962 - Present |
| Country | Austria |
| Branch | Austrian Army |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Airborne operations, Unconvetional Warfare, Raids, Counter-Terrorism |
| Garrison/HQ | Vienna, Austria |
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The Jagdkommando (lit. Hunting Command) is the Austrian Armed Forces' Special Operations group. The duties of this elite unit match those of its foreign counterparts, such as the United States Army Special Forces, being amongst others Counter-Terrorism and Counter insurgency. Jagdkommando soldiers are highly trained professionals whose thorough and rigorous training enables them to take over when tasks or situations outgrow the capabilities and specialisation of conventional units.
[edit] History
In 1961, a group of Austrian officers participated in the US Army's Ranger School as part of their training in order to set up a similar course for the eventual establishment of Jagdkommando. Throughout the Cold War, the officers and soldiers of Jagdokommando continued to evolve, adding training course in parachuting for instance, and improving its command structure. Their first headquarters was in Vienna, until they were transferred out. It is believed that the unit's Headquarters have since been transferred to its newest location, and although the exact site is classified, it is still somewhere in the capital.
[edit] Tasks
The duties of the Jagdkommando include:
- Special Reconnaissance
- Gathering of higher-level military intelligence
- Command Operations
- High-profile operations such as rescue of hostages or arresting of war criminals
- Personal Security
- Counter-Terrorism
- Fighting subversive forces such as terrorists
- Evacuation
- Evacuation from dangerous areas of conflict
[edit] The "Basic Course"
In order to become a Jagdkommando soldier, a member of the Austrian Armed Forces has to take the Grundkurs ("Basic Course"). The Grundkurs is a 27-week training course, during which potential future Jagdkommando soldiers are pushed to the limits in a variety of disciplines. The essentials of this course include:
- Alpine training
- Swimming training
- Parachuting
- Combat training
- Close-Quarter combat
- Medical training
- Survival training
- Military hand-to-hand combat
- Blast training
Only upon successful completion of the course, the typically small percentage of soldiers who passed are awarded the highly prestigious insignia for wearing on their uniform and become members of the Jagdkommando.
Requirements for entering the Grundkurs:
- Exceptional mental and physical fitness
- Completed "vorbereitende Kaderausbildung" (Cadre Preparation Course) for enlisted soldiers
- No criminal record
The minimum fitness guidelines are as follows:
- 5000 metre run in under 24 minutes
- 30 metres of rope climbing up a shallow slope
- 300 metres of swimming with clothes, no time limit
- Jump into water from a 10 metre tower
- Standardised AAF obstacle track in under 4:30 minutes
