72nd Brigade for Special operations

The 72nd Brigade for Special operations (72. бригада ѕа специјалне операције) formed under that name since late 2019 , is an elite unit of the Serbian Armed Forces overseeing the various special operations in the Serbian Army. It consists of special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, commando, and diving units. Unit is under direct command of Chief of the Serbian General Staff.

The 72nd Brigade for Special operations was in 2006 reduced to battalion level (72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion) and was part of the Special Brigade which was formed on 29 September 2006 by combining the elite special forces units of Military of Serbia and Montenegro; 72nd Special Brigade, 63rd Paratroop Brigade, Cobra anti-terrorist squad, and parts of the 82nd Marine Center. Under order of the president Aleksandar Vučić, 72nd Brigade for Special Operations was reactivated on December 21st 2019.

Members of the 72nd Brigade for Special operations are mostly stationed in Pančevo, that includes Battalion for special operations "Sokolovi" and Battalion for special operations "Grifoni".

Structure

 * 72.Бригада За Специјалне Операције.png 72nd Brigade for Special operations Command (Pančevo)
 * Command Battalion
 * Logistic Company
 * Military_Police_Counter-terrorist_Battalion.png Counter-terrorist Battalion of MP under 72nd Brigade for special operations
 * 72nd_Reconnaissance-Commando_Battalion.png Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion

History
Serbian army Special Brigade was formed in 2006, but she continued traditions of the much older units. 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion and Counter-terrorist Battalion "Hawks". But since of late 2019, 72nd Brigade for Special operations was again formed as brigade instead Special brigade effectively gaining most of its assets and members except airborne battalion continuing traditions of 72nd Special Brigade formed in june of 1992.

Both 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.

Since late 2019. Special brigade was discontinued and newly formed 72nd Brigade for Special operations continued most of her work without 63rd airborne battalion.

Historical Structure of Special Brigade

 * Spec_brigada.pngSpecial Brigade Command (Pančevo)
 * Command Battalion
 * Logistic Company
 * Military_Police_Counter-terrorist_Battalion.png Hawks — Counter-terrorist Battalion
 * 63. Падобранска Бригада.png 63rd Parachute Battalion
 * 72nd_Reconnaissance-Commando_Battalion.png 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion

History of 63rd Parachute Battalion within Special brigade

From the forming of the Brigade until 21.12.2019., the paras from 63 parachute battalion 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 honored 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.

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. Since 2008, the unit was transferred to the jurisdiction of Military Police Directorate.

82nd Marine Center "Shadows"

"Shadows" were Yugoslavia's version of the US Navy SEALs. They were trained in reconnaissance on sea and land, demolitions, sabotage, counter terrorism, and 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 the Serbian army's 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:


 * Counter-terrorism
 * Hostage situations
 * Reconnaissance
 * Demolition and sabotage
 * Operations behind enemy lines
 * Securing army and state officials
 * Securing important buildings
 * Forward observer role for other units
 * Peacekeeping operations

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.


 * Selective training lasts from 9 weeks for 72. commando battalion to 13 weeks for 63. paratrooper battalion. The focus of the training is aimed at selecting the best mentally and physically capable and highly motivated candidates that can withstand the challenges they may encounter during the service. During selective training candidates need to complete the following courses: physical training, shooting and fire training, tactical training, tactical training for special units, topography and orientation on the ground, parachute training and a final exam.
 * Basic training for special forces lasts for one year, and consists of: physical training, shooting and fire training, tactical training, tactical training for special units, topography and orientation on the land, resources and systems for fire support, resources and procedures for telecommunications traffic and tactical exercises.
 * Advanced training for special forces lasts for two years and includes training through exchange rate revaluation, while attending the following courses: reconnaissance-commando, course for officers and non-commissioned officers, advanced parachute training, course for parachuting instructor, course of English language, sniper course, training of survival in nature, alipinism course, divers course, demolition course, and cours about improvised explosive devices.

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


 * Battalion "Sokolovi"

It is formed from former 72nd Reconnaissance-Commando battalion members as 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
In 2011, the Special Brigade took part in joint exercises in Niš with Serbian police special units (specijalnih jedinica and Protivterorističke jedinice).

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.