Jagdkommando
Encyclopedia
The Jagdkommando is the Austrian Armed Forces' Special Operations
group. The duties of this elite unit match those of its foreign counterparts, such as the United States Army Special Forces, being amongst others Counter-terrorism
and counter-insurgency
. Jagdkommando soldiers are highly trained professionals whose thorough and rigorous training enables them to take over when tasks or situations outgrow the capabilities and specialisation of conventional units.
.
Most of the missions are classified, but the Jagdkommando usually operates in theaters, where regular Austrian troops are also located - like in the Balkans (KFOR, etc.), Afghanistan (ISAF
, until 2005) and Chad (EUFOR Tchad/RCA
, since 2008). In the east of Chad about 50 Jagdkommando soldiers will protect refugee camps next the border to Darfur
from early 2008 on.
Special Reconnaissance : Gathering of higher-level military intelligence
Command Operations : High-profile operations such as rescue of hostages or arresting of war criminals
Personal Security :(this task was handed over to the Austrian Military Police in 2008)
Counter-Terrorism : Fighting subversive forces such as terrorists
Evacuation : Evacuation from dangerous areas of conflict
Only upon successful completion of the course, the typically small percentage of soldiers who passed are awarded the highly prestigious insignia for wearing on their uniform and become members of the Jagdkommando.
Requirements for entering the Grundkurs:
Special operations
Special operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
group. The duties of this elite unit match those of its foreign counterparts, such as the United States Army Special Forces, being amongst others Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
and counter-insurgency
Counter-insurgency
A counter-insurgency or counterinsurgency involves actions taken by the recognized government of a nation to contain or quell an insurgency taken up against it...
. Jagdkommando soldiers are highly trained professionals whose thorough and rigorous training enables them to take over when tasks or situations outgrow the capabilities and specialisation of conventional units.
History
In 1961, 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. Since then, the officers and soldiers of Jagdkommando continued to evolve by taking part in similar courses in the United States and all over Europe and by combining the lessons learned with "homegrown" tactics and knowledge. The unit has earned the respect by other nations special forces very quickly. The headquarters of the Jagdkommando is located in Wiener NeustadtWiener Neustadt
-Main sights:* The Late-Romanesque Dom, consecrated in 1279 and cathedral from 1469 to 1785. The choir and transept, in Gothic style, are from the 14th century. In the late 15th century 12 statues of the Apostles were added in the apse, while the bust of Cardinal Melchior Klesl is attributed to...
.
Most of the missions are classified, but the Jagdkommando usually operates in theaters, where regular Austrian troops are also located - like in the Balkans (KFOR, etc.), Afghanistan (ISAF
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
, until 2005) and Chad (EUFOR Tchad/RCA
EUFOR Tchad/RCA
European Union Force Chad/CAR, also EUFOR Tchad/RCA after the French, was the European Union mission in Chad and the Central African Republic , authorized in late 2007. EUFOR Chad/CAR was authorized under the same United Nations Security Council resolution that mandated MINURCAT, a UN force tasked...
, since 2008). In the east of Chad about 50 Jagdkommando soldiers will protect refugee camps next the border to Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
from early 2008 on.
Tasks
The duties of the Jagdkommando include:Special Reconnaissance : Gathering of higher-level military intelligence
Command Operations : High-profile operations such as rescue of hostages or arresting of war criminals
Personal Security :(this task was handed over to the Austrian Military Police in 2008)
Counter-Terrorism : Fighting subversive forces such as terrorists
Evacuation : Evacuation from dangerous areas of conflict
The "Basic Course"
In order to become a Jagdkommando soldier, a member of the Austrian Armed Forces has to take the Grundkurs ("Basic Course"). The Grundkurs is a 27-week training course, during which potential future Jagdkommando soldiers are pushed to the limits in a variety of disciplines. The essentials of this course include:- Alpine training
- Swimming training
- Parachuting
- Combat training
- Close-Quarter combat
- Medical training
- Survival training
- Military hand-to-hand combat
- Explosives training
Only upon successful completion of the course, the typically small percentage of soldiers who passed are awarded the highly prestigious insignia for wearing on their uniform and become members of the Jagdkommando.
Requirements for entering the Grundkurs:
- Exceptional mental and physical fitness
- Completed "vorbereitende Kaderausbildung" (Cadre Preparation Course) for enlisted soldiers
- No criminal record
Equipment
- Barrett M95Barrett M95The Barrett M95 is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in .50 BMG , and manufactured by Barrett Firearms Company.-Overview:The M95 is an improved version of the earlier Barrett M90. It is a bolt-action sniper rifle in a bullpup design...
- FN Herstal P90FN P90The FN P90 is a selective fire personal defense weapon designed and manufactured by FN Herstal in Belgium. The P90's name is taken from 1990, the year it was introduced...
- Glock 17 / 18 / 21 / 26
- Steyr AUGSteyr AUGThe AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1970s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG . The AUG was adopted by the Austrian Army as the StG 77 in 1977, where it replaced the 7.62mm StG 58 automatic rifle...
- Steyr SSG 69Steyr SSG 69The SSG 69 is a bolt-action sniper rifle produced by Steyr Mannlicher and serves as the standard sniper rifle for the Austrian Army....