Hunter Corps

Danish Huntsman Corps
Jægerkorpset
Unit insignia of Jægerkorpset
Active	1 November 1961 – present
Country	Denmark
Branch	Royal Danish Army
Type	Special Operations Force
Role	Primary tasks: Unconventional Warfare Covert Ops Combat Search And Rescue Direct Action Counter-terrorism Other roles: Information operations Hostage Rescue Humanitarian missions
Size	≈200 Commandos
Part of	Danish Special Operations Command
Base	Aalborg Air Base
Nickname(s)	The Elite, Jæger
Motto(s)	Plus Esse Quam Simultatur (Rather to be, than to seem)
Engagements	The Cold War United Nations Protection Force NATO intervention in Bosnia Kosovo Force (KFOR) The Stabilisation Force (SFOR) Task Force K-Bar Operation Anaconda Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Panther's Claw Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Inherent Resolve
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation
Website	Official Facebook
Commanders
Chief of SOKOM	Major general Jørgen Høll
Chief of the Hunter Corps	Lieutenant colonel Kåre Jakobsen

The Danish Huntsman Corps (Danish: Jægerkorpset) is an elite, special operations force of the Royal Danish Army based at Aalborg Air Base.

History

The first incarnation of the corps was formed in 1785 as Jægercorpset i Sielland (The Hunter Corps of Zealand) and existed in various forms until it was remade in its current form in 1962 where Major P.B.Larsen and First lieutenant Jørgen Lyng were the first two to complete the training.^[1] Their hunting origin is recalled in the hunting horn on their insignia. In the year 1995, the Corps was deployed for the first time. A six-man team was sent to Sarajevo, Bosnia as a counter-sniper reconnaissance team.

Throughout the Cold War, the Jaegers' primary tasking was that of a long-range reconnaissance unit, with wide renown for their skills in parachute operations.^[2] However, with the advent of the post-9/11 Global War on Terror, the Jaegers were modernized to better meet the developing threat of global terrorism. As such, the Jaegers increased their proficiency in counter-terrorism skills, while still maintaining their excellence at reconnaissance operations.^[3]

In 2002, the Jaegers were deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Danish contribution to Task Force K-Bar, along with the Frogman Corps. During these operations, the Jaegers took part in de-mining operations, reconnaissance in support of conventional forces, the capturing of high-value targets, and direct-action raids on Taliban and al-Qaeda positions.^[4] As part of Task Force K-Bar, the Jaegers were awarded "The Presidential Unit citation" on December 7, 2004 for its effort as part of the joint-forces special forces group in Afghanistan.^[5]

Selection and training

The selection course to become a Jægersoldat (a member of Jægerkorpset) is very demanding, both mentally and physically. For a candidate to be accepted into the corps, he/she must complete the following:

• Pre-course 1 (5 days)

Introduces the candidate to the subjects covered in the patrol course, and gives the candidate a feel for what he/she must get better at. (Orienteering, swimming, etc.)

• Pre-course 2 (2 days)

More training and evaluation in the above covered subjects.

• Pre-course 3 (2 days)

More training and evaluation in the above covered subjects with tougher requirements.

• Patrol Course (8 weeks)

Basic patrol skills. This course must be completed at a satisfactory level to continue to the aspirant course.

• Aspirant Course (6 weeks)

Very demanding course teaching the candidate the physical limits of himself/herself and his/her patrol. If passed the candidate is awarded his/her "bugle" for the beret.

• Basic parachuting course (2 weeks)
• Combat Swimming Course (2 weeks)

When all this has been completed to a satisfactory level, the candidate can begin their actual training. Following the successful completion of a years full time training, the maroon beret is awarded, and the soldier is considered a full member of the corps.

Insignia and status

Jægerkorpset wears the maroon beret with a brass emblem depicting a hunter's bugle on a black felt liner. After one year of satisfactory service and training in corps the wearer is issued the shoulder patch "JÆGER" (English: Hunter) and may call himself by this name.

Jægerkorpset is composed of around 150 highly trained soldiers with special expertise in counter-terrorism, demolitions, parachuting, and combat swimming, HAHO and HALO parachuting, infiltration, sabotage, reconnaissance and more. The corps regularly trains with similar units from different countries, such as the US Navy SEALs, US Army DELTA , British SAS and the Danish naval special forces group, the Frogman Corps. The corps is based on the structure and modus operandi of the British SAS.

Their slogan, which is Latin, Plus esse, quam simultatur translates to Hellere at være, end at synes ("Rather to be, than to seem") in Danish, meaning that the soldier's capabilities do not have to be widely recognized or boasted—they are only more effective if unknown.

Armament

International Joint Training

Like most western Special Operations Forces, the Jaegers regularly take part in joint training operations with other NATO and Coalition SOFs. These exercises include reconnaissance patrols throughout Europe, arctic survival training, helicopter insertion techniques, parachute insertion techniques, hostage rescue training, Close Air Support training, medical training, and other SOF-specific skills.

Allied units that the Jaegers regularly train with include:^[6]

• Danish Frogman Corps
• US Army Special Forces
• US Navy SEALs
• US Army DELTA
• 22nd Special Air Service Regiment
• Forsvarets Spesialkommando (FSK)
• SASR
• Särskilda operationsgruppen
• Kommando Spezialkräfte

See also

• Special Support and Reconnaissance Company

References

External links

• Official webpage of Jægerkorpset