Special Brigade

Structure

History

Serbian army Special Brigade was formed in 2006, but she continues traditions of the much older units.

72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion and Counter-terrorist Battalion "Hawks"

Bouth 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion and Counter-terrorist Battalion "Hawks" were parts of a 72nd Special Brigade which was formed in 1992. Main parts of this brigade were battalion of military police for counter-terroris operations, 1st reconnaissance-commando battalion, sudden strikes battalion, support battalion and logistic units. Later sudden strike battalion became 2nd reconnaissance-commando battalion. In 2006 when Special Brigade was formed, 1st reconnaissance-commando battalion and 2nd reconnaissance-commando battalion become 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion and battalion of military police for counter-terroris operations become Counter-terrorist Battalion "Hawks", keeping the hawk as their symbol (which was previously the symbol of 72 brigade), while 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion kept number 72 in their name to honor the tradition of the 72nd Special Brigade.

63rd Parachute Battalion

By Order No. 200 of the Armed Forces Supreme Command (VKOS) of 5 February 1953, the 63rd Parachute Brigade was formed at Šabac. The Brigade was relocated to Novi Sad in March 1954 thanks to more agreeable circumstances. Considerable errors have been committed in the understanding of this unit's use and combat tasks. The prevailing position was that the Yugoslav People's Army(JNA) did not need larger parachute units, as, presumably, battlefield drops from the air had no chance of success in a nuclear war and with modern anti-aircraft defence and mass armoured vehicles in use. On the order of the JNA General Headquarters, the 63rd Parachute Brigade was dismissed in late 1959, and out of it 3 independent parachute battalions were formed: 159th Parachute Battalion in Skopje; 127th Parachute Battalion at Batajnica; and 148th Parachute Battalion at Cerklje. In 1964, a Parachute Training Centre was formed by combining the 159th and 127th Parachute Battalions in Niš. The 63rd Parachute Brigade was once more formed on 5 December 1967 by combining the Parachute Training Centre and the 148th Parachute Battalion. From 1967 on, the 63rd Parachute Brigade has been stationed in Niš. The Parachute Brigade recruits have participated in numerous parachuting and other domestic and international sports events, where they achieved enviable results.

Military Police Special Operation Battalion "Cobras"

The unit was first established by the order of the Secretary of Defense in 1978. The unit was joined with the 282nd battalion of the JNA in 1988. By the 1999 it became a separate anti-terrorist squad with a recognizable symbol of winged cobra. Parts of this unit joined the Serbian army Special Brigade in 2006.

82nd Marine Center "Shadows"

"Shadows" were Yugoslavia version of US Navy seals. They were trained in reconnaissance on sea and land, demolition, sabotage, counter terrorism, parachuting... According to some they were the best special unit in JNA. From 1977 to 1991 they were stationed in Divulje, but after Croatia declared independence they were moved to Boka Kotorska in Montenegro. After the state union of Serbia and Montenegro effectively came to an end in 2006 this unit was disbanded and parts ended up in Serbian army Special Brigade.

Role and tasks

Serbian army Special Brigade is capable to fulfil many different roles, and to complete various list of tasks, thanks to the training of many different specialist in brigade antiterrorist, parachute and reconnaissance/commando battalions. All three battalions also have diving units.

Some of the tasks are:

In 2013 a 12 member team from a Special Brigade participated in EU mission Atlanta. Serbian Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment (AVPD) was operating as part of the European Union Naval Force providing close protection to the World Food Programme (WFP) on the ship MV Caroline Scan of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

Training

All members of the Special brigade are professional soldiers. To apply for position in the Special Brigade you first need to serve at least two years in some other unit of the Serbian armed forces. Also all candidates need to fulfill a lot of other requirements. For example, only about two-thirds of all candidates pass the psychophysical tests.

Training in Special brigade is divided in three stages, and lasts for three years.

Candidate specialization and further training depends on the team, unit and bataillon that he was assigned to and his role in them. Some parts of unit are focusing on parachuting, others on reconnaissance or counter terrorism, and some are trained for search and rescue... Also many members of the unit are having training and courses in training centers abroad, through cooperation with other countries special units.

The best equipped training centers in Serbia are in Nis for parachute training, and in Pancevo for various other roles. Special brigade is also using other training centers, shooting ranges and military polygons of the Serbian armed forces.

Overview

From the forming of the Brigade until today, the paras have participated in 250 major combined tactical maneuvers, carried out with notable success. In the 1947-2014 period, 480,000 parachute dives had been taken, and more than 35000 paratroopers had been trained. From 1990 until now over 10,000 drops have been made each year. All active-duty officers have at least 1,100 parachute jumps.

The 63rd Parachute Battalion is a world-renowned and honoured unit. It also trains foreign armed forces in parachutist skills. The Battalion has been visited by many foreign delegations, which have assured themselves of the abilities and valor of the parachutists - their country's elite soldiers.

It is a fully professional unit consisting of: battalion command, command platoon, parachute company, three reconnaissance-commando companies, fire support company and a company of river commandos. Members of the battalion are trained and well equipped to complete their missions on land, air and water (or underwater) deep behind enemy lines.

In 2010 members of the 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando battalion participated in more than 250 firing drills with different kinds of weapons, more than 30 drills with explosive devices, divers from the company of river commandos had over 500 hours of dive, and paratroopers from the parachute company had over 300 jumps. And that's the regular year in the 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando battalion.

Equipment

Weapons

Vehicles

Cooperation with other units

Cooperation with military and police units from Serbia

In Serbia the Special Brigade has a well developed cooperation with Serbian police special units (Special Anti-Terrorist Unit (SAJ) and PTJ (Counter-Terrorist Unit) and with Military Police Battalion Cobra).

The aim of the exercises was that the Serbian Army and police, particularly those trained in the tasks to confront internal threats to security, help demonstrate the ability to civilian structures in the fight against terrorism, separatism and organized crime and in the event of natural disasters, technical technological and other disasters.

International cooperation

Special brigade also have intensive corporation with many units from Europe and rest of the world. Excellent cooperation is established with units from Greece, Turkey and Italy, but also with units from Spain, Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and US.

In 2013 in Serbia was held international special forces exercise of Balkan countries "Eagle 2013" with participation of members from armed forces of Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro. It is annual exercise first time held in 2012 in Macedonia, and host for 2014 is Turkey.

In a deal between Serbia and Croatia it was agreed that Serbian divers will train in Croatia, while Croatian paratroopers will train together with 63rd battalion in Serbia. Joint training predicts counter-terrorism operations, parachute training, training in winter conditions, and the training of combat search and rescue.

63rd parachute battalion also provides training for Montenegro army special units and trains with US army paratroopers.

Notable members

Goran Ostojić

With his brigade he participated in many different actions during the Yugoslav wars. With only 18 paratroopers, Goran Ostojic held the airport Cerklje, enabling evacuation of planes and equipment. He was killed in 1998 near Junik. Posthumously, he was promoted to the rank of second-lieutenant.

A commemorative cup lieutenant-colonel Goran Ostojic traditionally take place in Jagodina, every year. In the memory of lieutenant-colonel Ostojic, the primary school was founded in Jagodina, which was named after him, and on whose day (21 May), every year, this cup is held.

Goran Todorović

Nicknamed Faca is an ex member of the Serbian 63. parachute brigade (today 63. parachute battalion of the Serbian army special brigade). After an accident in 2003 when his parachute failed to open at 1200m, he was severely injured. Today he is a record holder with his jump from 8350m in 2008. This record jump was performed in Slovenia in Slovenj Gradec airport and is a part of his campaign for raising funds for a medical treatment.

Miroljub Janićijević

Sergeant Major Miroljub Janićijević was born in Krusevac, in 1970, where he completed his elementary and high school and became involved in aerial skydiving club "Mihailo Zivic." In 1990 he started working in the 63rd Parachute Brigade. Janićijević was a national champion in various sports disciplines in parachute jumps, his biggest accomplishment is winning 8th place in World Championship in 1997 in the discipline jump on the mark.

He has already trained more than 400 paratroopers through instructional work.