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| Austrian Special Operations Forces | |
|---|---|
| Jagdkommando | |
Jagdkommando Logo
| |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Country |  Austria |
| Branch | Special Operations Forces |
| Type | Special forces |
| Role |
|
| Size | ≈400 |
| Part of | Austrian Armed Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Wiener Neustadt, Austria |
| Nickname(s) | JaKdo |
| Motto(s) | Numquam Retro (Latin) (Never retreat) |
| Engagements |
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Colonel Philipp Ségur-Cabanac |
The Jagdkommando (English: Hunting Commando) is the Austrian Armed Forces' special forces unit. The unit is based at Wiener Neustadt and is known to have a manpower of 400 operators.
The history of the Austrian Special Operations Forces begins in 1961, when 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. Jagdkommando training courses were set up on May 4, 1963, to train the first operators.[1][2]
The Jagdkommando is the Austrian Armed Forces' special forces unit.[3] The name Jagdkommando has its origins in the time of World War I, when small assault squads of the Austro-Hungarian Army were called what translates to "manhunt command".[citation needed]
Most of the missions are classified, but the Jagdkommando usually operates in places where regular Austrian troops are also located - such as the Balkans (KFOR, etc.), Afghanistan (ISAF/Resolute Support), and Chad (EUFOR Tchad/RCA). In the eastern area of Chad, about 50 Jagdkommando soldiers were deployed to protect refugee camps near the border to Darfur from early 2008 to 2009.[4]
The unit is based at Wiener Neustadt.[9] It is known to have a manpower of 400 operators.[1] The unit is structured according to the following:[9][1]
Jagdkommando is known to operate under the following roles:[1]
The unit was formerly in charge of VIP protection, but the responsibility was handed to Austrian Military Police units.[5]
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Selection is usually held once a year and has a duration of 6 months. The program normally begins in January with 3 weeks (21 days) of pre-selection. During this time the candidate will take the physical tests required, receive additional training, and undergo a 72-hour (3-day) Field Exercise, which is the core event of the selection process.[citation needed]
Most candidates will fail during the 72-hour (3-day) exercise, which includes long road marches in squad size elements, psychological test batteries, and total sleep deprivation. The pre-selection course is conducted both by active operators and by enablers of the unit.[citation needed]
Normally, 20-25% of all candidates will pass the pre selection course and continue with the so-called Jagdkommandogrundkurs, the basic course of selection. The first few weeks are held in the remote area of Allentsteig, a giant military training area in close proximity to the Czech border. The first seven weeks of small unit tactics are overshadowed with plenty of snow, freezing weather, very small amounts of sleep, and continuous physical performance. Candidates get used to a heavy Lowe Rucksack and spend most of their day with it on their backs while conducting patrols, ambushes, and raids in the forests around Allentsteig.[citation needed]
After the small unit tactics phase, which eliminates the last few unfitting candidates, the basic course continues with block courses of two or three weeks each:[9]
The final and most infamous course is the SERE training. Over the last few years,[when?] the SERE training has been taking part in the AlpsofSalzburg. The "run phase" lasts up to ten days, while the candidate must check in at given checkpoints every 24 hours. The checkpoints are set 20–30 km (12–19 mi) apart. Considering the mountains in between the points and the tactical need to stay off roads and trails, the candidates are typically very busy meeting their time limits, and they have little time to sleep. Finally, after days on the run and being hunted down by infantry units, helicopters, and K9 units, the candidates are ambushed and captured at one of their checkpoints. This marks the beginning of the "captivity phase". Being the last phase of the selection course, this phase lasts 72 hours (3 days).[citation needed]
