Särskilda Skyddsgruppen
Encyclopedia
Särskilda Skyddsgruppen is a special operations
unit of the Swedish
military which became active in 1994. The exact number of operatives is classified but is thought to be between 60 and 80, with an average age of 31. SSG can be deployed to achieve specific, well-defined and often time critical results of strategic or operational significance which cannot be achieved through the use of conventional forces. Typical missions undertaken by SSG are to engage and destroy targets of great significance to the enemy, to rescue people captured by the enemy or held hostage, and to gather intelligence through combat. SSG's missions require its operators to covertly infiltrate and move inside hostile territory and remain undetected for very long periods.
in support of the NATO group ISAF
, responsible for security in Kabul
and other areas, and to Congo
under French
command, where it engaged enemy forces several times without any losses of their own during Operation Artemis
.
On November 25, 2005, four SSG operatives were wounded during a reconnaissance
mission in northern Afghanistan
. Of the wounded, Jesper Lindblom died due to his injuries on December 9, 2005 and Thomas Bergqvist died after having been airlifted to a hospital in Europe.
In 2008, SSG and SIG
were deployed to Chad
, to prepare for the Swedish contribution of marines to EUFOR.
In 2011, the SSG and SIG were merged to create the Särskilda Operationsgruppen (Special Operations Group, SOG).
Because of its level of secrecy, the time it takes to train a recruit has not been made public by the SSG but according to the armed forces´ website, basic operator training takes more than one year. Each soldier receives common training including parachuting
, scuba diving
and protection. As an operative he will also receive special training within different areas such as HAHO/HALO parachuting, explosives, first aid, sniping and special weapons training. An SSG operative has the ability to insert and extract by several means such as on foot, paradrop, submerged, and by boat
and vehicle
.
Applications from both sexes are accepted, and females have to meet the same standards as male applicants.
Training is often held in countries other than Sweden, and joint exercises with other countries special forces are frequent.
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...
unit of the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
military which became active in 1994. The exact number of operatives is classified but is thought to be between 60 and 80, with an average age of 31. SSG can be deployed to achieve specific, well-defined and often time critical results of strategic or operational significance which cannot be achieved through the use of conventional forces. Typical missions undertaken by SSG are to engage and destroy targets of great significance to the enemy, to rescue people captured by the enemy or held hostage, and to gather intelligence through combat. SSG's missions require its operators to covertly infiltrate and move inside hostile territory and remain undetected for very long periods.
History
Some part of the unit is always held in a state of alert in case of an urgent situation within Sweden. The unit was also deployed in AfghanistanAfghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in support of the NATO group 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...
, responsible for security in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
and other areas, and to Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
under 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...
command, where it engaged enemy forces several times without any losses of their own during Operation Artemis
Operation Artemis
Operation Artemis was a short-term European Union-led military mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.In the beginning of 2003 United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, or MONUC, observer teams present in that country since 1999 monitored serious combats and human rights...
.
On November 25, 2005, four SSG operatives were wounded during a reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
mission in northern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Of the wounded, Jesper Lindblom died due to his injuries on December 9, 2005 and Thomas Bergqvist died after having been airlifted to a hospital in Europe.
In 2008, SSG and SIG
Särskilda Inhämtningsgruppen
Särskilda Inhämtningsgruppen is one of the two Swedish special operations units and was created in 2006, when it broke out of the Parachute Ranger School Fallskärmsjägarskolan. The exact number of operatives is classified but is thought to be between 50 and 70, with an average age of 30...
were deployed to Chad
Chad
Chad , officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, the Central African Republic to the south, Cameroon and Nigeria to the southwest, and Niger to the west...
, to prepare for the Swedish contribution of marines to EUFOR.
In 2011, the SSG and SIG were merged to create the Särskilda Operationsgruppen (Special Operations Group, SOG).
Recruitment and training
SSG draws its personnel from officers of all three branches of the military, however mainly from K3 (Airborne Infantry), Kustjägarna (Marines), Norrlandsjägarna (Arctic Rangers) and each applicant must pass a two-week long grueling selection process. Before selection takes place, the applicants are invited to attend a pre-selection weekend, where they will be tested and given notice of the likelihood of failure or success and how to improve themselves. Selection may only be attempted once unless there are certain mitigating circumstances that caused the applicant to fail.Because of its level of secrecy, the time it takes to train a recruit has not been made public by the SSG but according to the armed forces´ website, basic operator training takes more than one year. Each soldier receives common training including parachuting
Parachuting
Parachuting, also known as skydiving, is the action of exiting an aircraft and returning to earth with the aid of a parachute. It may or may not involve a certain amount of free-fall, a time during which the parachute has not been deployed and the body gradually accelerates to terminal...
, scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
and protection. As an operative he will also receive special training within different areas such as HAHO/HALO parachuting, explosives, first aid, sniping and special weapons training. An SSG operative has the ability to insert and extract by several means such as on foot, paradrop, submerged, and by boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
and vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
.
Applications from both sexes are accepted, and females have to meet the same standards as male applicants.
Training is often held in countries other than Sweden, and joint exercises with other countries special forces are frequent.
See also
- Swedish Armed ForcesSwedish Armed ForcesThe Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
- Särskilda InhämtningsgruppenSärskilda InhämtningsgruppenSärskilda Inhämtningsgruppen is one of the two Swedish special operations units and was created in 2006, when it broke out of the Parachute Ranger School Fallskärmsjägarskolan. The exact number of operatives is classified but is thought to be between 50 and 70, with an average age of 30...
- Special ForcesSpecial forcesSpecial 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...
- FallskärmsjägarnaFallskärmsjägarnaFallskärmsjägarna, , also known as Fallskärmsjägarkåren , is a Swedish parachute unit....