GRUMEC
Encyclopedia
The Combat Diver Grouping, in Portuguese Grupamento de Mergulhadores de Combate, abbreviated to GRUMEC, is a special forces
unit of the Brazilian Navy
.
The GRUMEC was created in 1974 and is subordinate to the Submarine Force, which provides the primary means of transport for combat diver missions. GRUMEC teams can be transported to the target by a submarine, from which can reach the target by swimming, in kayak
s, or in inflatable boats that can be launched from the submarine while it is still under water. The GRUMEC can also reach the target by parachute or helicopter.
The function of the GRUMEC is to infiltrate undetected in coastal and riverine environments in order to perform tasks such as reconnaissance, sabotage and the elimination of targets of strategic value. In this sense it is similar to the U.S. Navy SEALs
and British Special Boat Service
.
A member of the force is known as a "MEC", which is an abbreviation of "mergulhador de combate", meaning "combat diver".
SEALs
, British
SBS (Special Boat Service
) or the DINOPS (Detachement d'Intervention Operationelle Subaquatique) belonging to the French
Foreign Legion
, to name just three of the best known. The course is conducted in the MEC Cry.
For officers of the Corps of Army or Navy Supplementary Table, the initial requirements include passing medical and psychological examinations, testing in a recompression chamber and arduous physical tests. The call CAMECO (Enhancement Course for Officers Combat Diver lasts 41 weeks, divided into four phases and aims to enable the military to operate diving equipment, weapons, explosives, tactics and techniques used for unconventional warfare and conflict low intensity, enabling them to perform, in short, the various types of Special Operations. Officials, of course, special emphasis is given to planning operations, but as a whole, the materials include: physical training and military defense; hygiene and first aid campaign, self-contained open-circuit, fighting techniques, riverine operations, demolition, weapons, communications, recognition techniques shore, submarine special operations, military planning process and case study, contemporary management, leadership; introduction to microcomputers, communications system of the Navy, and Intelligence.
For squares (cables or male sergeants with less than 30 years of age and able to re-engage), there is a C-ESP-MEC - Special Course Combat Divers, whose requirements for admission are the same as CAMECO. The duration is 42 weeks of instructional activities also drawn as to the officers, but those who resist the enormous physical and mental pressure of the course will be adequately prepared for the specialized tasks assigned to MECS.
Throughout the period of the course, candidates are submitted to MEC to extreme physical and psychological hardships, and emphasized the attributes of combat leadership, wisdom, objectivity, improvisation, serene environment when subjected to high risks or stress, among other . The weather is always kept as close as possible to what would be found in a real operational situation. The pressure is constant so that, typically, a group that started the course, only about 30 to 40 percent receive final approval and with it the coveted wings (badge). All applicants are volunteers and may request the termination of the activity at any time. Clam also gives the C-EXP-MAUT-GAS-Diver Course Expedito of Closed-Circuit, available for both official and squares that have been judged fit to psychophysical control annual swim (or equivalent examination) for less than one year. Its duration is four weeks and is open also for military Marine Corps, Army and Air Force Brazilian Brazilian. It is always important to emphasize that the techniques of closed-circuit scuba diving with equipment that does not produce bubbles, are essential for most jobs in special operations, thanks to the discretion, silence and invisibility of the virtual operators to visual observation and detection by the enemy.
After graduating MEC, the military is called to serve in GruMeC, where he has a full complement of training program and conduct advanced courses and internships in various areas such as deactivation of explosive devices (EOD
), basic skydiving (static line jump), jumpmaster
, HALO jump, HALO jumpmaster, precursor paratrooper (PREC), folding, maintenance and supplies by air (DOMPSA) stage basic mountaineering course in jungle operations, operational stage in the Pantanal , stage sniper (sniper), among others.
In fact, the MECS have participated in all the Fleet amphibious operations in support of launching torpedoes and missiles, riverine operations in the Amazon and the Pantanal, as well as the constant exercise of recovery ships and oil platforms, "attacks "The ships of the Fleet Forces District, etc..
Aiming to keep up with the state of the art of his specialty, worldwide, the group has sought the maximum, conducting exchanges with their counterparts in friendly countries. Among them we can mention: Operation "Unitas", where they operate along with the MECS U.S. Navy (SEAL).
Thus, the Grouping of the Navy Combat Divers of Brazil, even though it may be numerically small compared to the troops of the largest and richest countries, is fully ready to respond to any call.
Special forces
Special forces, or special operations forces are terms used to describe elite military tactical teams trained to perform high-risk dangerous missions that conventional units cannot perform...
unit of the Brazilian Navy
Brazilian Navy
The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...
.
The GRUMEC was created in 1974 and is subordinate to the Submarine Force, which provides the primary means of transport for combat diver missions. GRUMEC teams can be transported to the target by a submarine, from which can reach the target by swimming, in kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
s, or in inflatable boats that can be launched from the submarine while it is still under water. The GRUMEC can also reach the target by parachute or helicopter.
The function of the GRUMEC is to infiltrate undetected in coastal and riverine environments in order to perform tasks such as reconnaissance, sabotage and the elimination of targets of strategic value. In this sense it is similar to the U.S. Navy SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
and British Special Boat Service
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
.
A member of the force is known as a "MEC", which is an abbreviation of "mergulhador de combate", meaning "combat diver".
Formation
The formation of the Combat Diver Navy of Brazil is as good to other similar international organizations such as AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
, British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
SBS (Special Boat Service
Special Boat Service
The Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
) or the DINOPS (Detachement d'Intervention Operationelle Subaquatique) belonging to the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Foreign Legion
French Foreign Legion
The French Foreign Legion is a unique military service wing of the French Army established in 1831. The foreign legion was exclusively created for foreign nationals willing to serve in the French Armed Forces...
, to name just three of the best known. The course is conducted in the MEC Cry.
For officers of the Corps of Army or Navy Supplementary Table, the initial requirements include passing medical and psychological examinations, testing in a recompression chamber and arduous physical tests. The call CAMECO (Enhancement Course for Officers Combat Diver lasts 41 weeks, divided into four phases and aims to enable the military to operate diving equipment, weapons, explosives, tactics and techniques used for unconventional warfare and conflict low intensity, enabling them to perform, in short, the various types of Special Operations. Officials, of course, special emphasis is given to planning operations, but as a whole, the materials include: physical training and military defense; hygiene and first aid campaign, self-contained open-circuit, fighting techniques, riverine operations, demolition, weapons, communications, recognition techniques shore, submarine special operations, military planning process and case study, contemporary management, leadership; introduction to microcomputers, communications system of the Navy, and Intelligence.
For squares (cables or male sergeants with less than 30 years of age and able to re-engage), there is a C-ESP-MEC - Special Course Combat Divers, whose requirements for admission are the same as CAMECO. The duration is 42 weeks of instructional activities also drawn as to the officers, but those who resist the enormous physical and mental pressure of the course will be adequately prepared for the specialized tasks assigned to MECS.
Throughout the period of the course, candidates are submitted to MEC to extreme physical and psychological hardships, and emphasized the attributes of combat leadership, wisdom, objectivity, improvisation, serene environment when subjected to high risks or stress, among other . The weather is always kept as close as possible to what would be found in a real operational situation. The pressure is constant so that, typically, a group that started the course, only about 30 to 40 percent receive final approval and with it the coveted wings (badge). All applicants are volunteers and may request the termination of the activity at any time. Clam also gives the C-EXP-MAUT-GAS-Diver Course Expedito of Closed-Circuit, available for both official and squares that have been judged fit to psychophysical control annual swim (or equivalent examination) for less than one year. Its duration is four weeks and is open also for military Marine Corps, Army and Air Force Brazilian Brazilian. It is always important to emphasize that the techniques of closed-circuit scuba diving with equipment that does not produce bubbles, are essential for most jobs in special operations, thanks to the discretion, silence and invisibility of the virtual operators to visual observation and detection by the enemy.
After graduating MEC, the military is called to serve in GruMeC, where he has a full complement of training program and conduct advanced courses and internships in various areas such as deactivation of explosive devices (EOD
Bomb disposal
Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
), basic skydiving (static line jump), jumpmaster
Jumpmaster
Jumpmasters are the expert Paratroopers in an Airborne unit who train and teach the military techniques for jumping from airplanes. They are responsible for transforming Soldiers who enter Army Airborne School into Paratroopers and managing Airborne jump operations in Airborne units across all...
, HALO jump, HALO jumpmaster, precursor paratrooper (PREC), folding, maintenance and supplies by air (DOMPSA) stage basic mountaineering course in jungle operations, operational stage in the Pantanal , stage sniper (sniper), among others.
Training and Exchange
The day-to-day members of GruMeC constitutes a countless array of activities, and mixed among the inevitable administrative tasks, and said more still needed, of training, retraining and exercise. In "Operation Dragon" they perform hydrographic reconnaissance and information about the surf, training of patrols, terrestrial orientation, infiltration dipped, parachute jumping (free, or semi-automatic), release and collection of personnel and materiel by aircraft wing rotary (helicopter), submarines and surface ships;In fact, the MECS have participated in all the Fleet amphibious operations in support of launching torpedoes and missiles, riverine operations in the Amazon and the Pantanal, as well as the constant exercise of recovery ships and oil platforms, "attacks "The ships of the Fleet Forces District, etc..
Aiming to keep up with the state of the art of his specialty, worldwide, the group has sought the maximum, conducting exchanges with their counterparts in friendly countries. Among them we can mention: Operation "Unitas", where they operate along with the MECS U.S. Navy (SEAL).
Thus, the Grouping of the Navy Combat Divers of Brazil, even though it may be numerically small compared to the troops of the largest and richest countries, is fully ready to respond to any call.
Chronology
- 1964: The first Brazilian MECs (Mergulhadores de Combate = Combat Divers) were two officerOfficer (armed forces)An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
s and two privatePrivate (rank)A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
s who had been through the USA UDTUnderwater Demolition TeamThe Underwater Demolition Teams were an elite special-purpose force established by the United States Navy during World War II. They also served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War...
course. - 1970: From their experience, the Divisão de Mergulhadores de Combate (= Combat Divers Division) was created in the "Base Almirante Castro e Silva".
- 1971: Two more officers and three privates qualified for the French NavyFrench NavyThe French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
as "nageurs de combat". - 1974: At what is now the Centro de Instrução e Adestramento Almirante Áttila Monteiro Aché (CIAMA) in BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
was trained the first group of combat divers. - 1983: Because this frogman unit were getting more calls, Combat Divers Division was transformed into GRUMEC, as an integral part of the Comando da Força de Submarinos (= SubmarineSubmarineA submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
Force Command). - 1997 Dec 12: The Minister of the Navy created GRUMEC, whose headquarters are in Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
city and is directly subordinate to the Submarine Force Command. - 1998 March 10: GRUMEC was activated.