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Special Operations Regiment (Albania)

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Special Operations Regiment
Regjimenti i Operacioneve Speciale[1]
Special Operations Regiment insignia
Active16 October 1998 – Present[2]
CountryAlbania Albania
BranchAlbanian Armed Forces
TypeSpecial forces
RoleSpecial operations
Counter-terrorism
Close-quarters combat
Urban warfare
Nickname(s)The Unit
Motto(s)We better die for something than live for nothing[2]
ColorsMaroon
EngagementsKosovo War
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Ajet Jata
Insignia
Right shoulder patch

The Special Operations Regiment (Albanian: Regjimenti i Operacioneve Speciale),[1] commonly known as B.O.S is the main special forces unit of the Albanian Armed Forces. It is the most elite unit of the Albanian Army. The unit is tasked with special operations in wartime, and primarily with counter-terrorism in peacetime.

The BOS members can be recognized by their maroon berets, and the unit insignia which is carried on the right sleeve of their uniforms.

History

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The Special Operations Battalion was created in 1998 as a direct answer to the region's geopolitical situation. Shortly after their creation, teams of BOS operators were deployed along the Albanian-Yugoslav border during the Kosovo War in 1999 and later along the Albanian-Macedonian border during that country's war in 2001. During these two conflicts, BOS' main tasks were reconnaissance and long-range patrol. In 2002, BOS operators were deployed in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. In Afghanistan, the first contingents operated under Turkish command and their tasks mainly dealt with patrolling the areas around Kabul.

In 2004, Albania sent a unit from the Special Operations Battalion to Mosul as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit together with other units from the Commando Regiment were responsible for base security and perimeter defense. In July 2010, a detachment of 44 men (codenamed EAGLE 1) from the S.O.B led by Colonel Dritan Demiraj was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Differing from previous Albanian deployments, this detachment was directly involved in combat special operations.

The unit worked closely with US military intelligence and was responsible for deep reconnaissance behind Taliban lines, as well as intelligence collection on high-value targets.

Recruitment, selection and training

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All members of the Albanian land forces can be considered for special forces training. After applying, the candidates go through a 26-weeks selection process. During the first 12 weeks, the candidates are forced to march cross country against the clock, with increasing distances covered each day, culminating with a 27 km running with full kit in mountainous terrain. This is called the Commando phase.[3]

In addition, the candidates have to go through marksmanship, navigation and physical endurance tests. During the last week of the selection process, the tests and marches go on for more than 24 hours without stopping. The candidates that are able to pass the selection process, then go through a 14-week-long training process in which they learn survival skills and master their shooting techniques. After that they undergo 4 weeks special operations and CQB course.

For the final test, the candidates are left without food for 72 hours in a remote area of the country; their objective is to evade any possible pursuer and return to base undetected.

Commanders of note

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  • Colonel Dritan Demiraj, Commander 2007-2013 (7 Years). He is the most awarded officer in AAF. He is awarded among other medals the Presidential "Medal of Honor" 2014, Presidential "Golden Eagle Medal" 2011. Presidential Medal "Grand Master of Sports" 2018, Medal as "The best military officer of Albanian Armed Forces on 100 Anniversary of Albanian State, November 28, 2012, Minister of Interior of Albania in 2017.
Albanian special operations forces soldier provides security as Afghan Border Police break ground on a checkpoint near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province, Afghanistan, March 25, 2013.
Albanian special operations forces provide security for coalition forces at an Afghan Border Police checkpoint.

Equipment

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Weapons

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Pistols
Model Image Caliber Country
Beretta Px4 Storm 9×19mm  Italy
FN Five-seven 5.7×28mm  Belgium
Glock 19 9x19mm  Austria
Heckler & Koch USP .45 ACP  Germany
Beretta 92
Yavuz 16 		9×19mm  Italy
 Turkey
Submachineguns
HK MP5
MKEK MP5 		9x19mm  West Germany
 Turkey
HK MP7 HK 4.6×30mm  Germany
HK UMP .45 ACP  Germany
Assault rifles and Carbines
Heckler & Koch G36 5.56×45mm  Germany
Heckler & Koch HK416 5.56×45mm  Germany
Beretta ARX 160 5.56×45mm  Italy
AKM 7.62×39mm  Soviet Union
Machine guns
Rheinmetall MG3 7.62x51mm  Germany
Heckler & Koch MG4 5.56×45mm  Germany
Heckler & Koch MG5 7.62×51mm  Germany
Shotguns
Benelli M4 Super 90 12-gauge  Italy
Sniper Rifles. Designated Marksman Rifles and Anti Materiel rifles
Heckler & Koch HK417 7.62×51mm  Germany
Sako TRG .308 Winchester  Finland
Barrett M82 .50 BMG  United States
Heckler & Koch SR9 7.62×51mm  Germany
Heckler & Koch PSG1 7.62×51mm  Germany
Anti tank Systems
AT4 84mm  Sweden
 United States
RPG-7 40 mm Grenade  Soviet Union
BGM-71 TOW 150mm  United States

Vehicles

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Land Vehicles
Model Image Country Quantity Note
Land Rover Defender  United Kingdom N/A
Humvee  United States N/A Used in Iraq And Afghanistan
International MaxxPro  United States 40 Used by Eagle-2-8 at Kandahar

Aircraft

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Helicopters
Model Image Country Quantity Note
CH-47 Chinook  United States 5 To be Delivered[4]
MBB Bo 105  Germany 6
Bell UH-1 Iroquois
AB205 		 United States
 Italy 		7 3 received in 2004, with a further 4 ordered for delivery through 2006[5]
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar  France 2 [6][7]

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special Operations Battalion (Albania).
  1. ^ a b "Regjimenti i Operacioneve Speciale, elita e FA, feston 10-vjetorin e krijimit të tij". Albanian Armed Forces (Press release) (in Albanian). 21 October 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  2. ^ a b Aguila, 1st Lt. Veronica (2 December 2012). "From the beginning: learning to give everything". U.S. Army. Retrieved 14 September 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Lufta për Beretën Vishnje". Revista Mapo (in Albanian). Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  4. ^ "Albania Bought The CH-47 Chinook. The helicopter Used In the Iraq and Kosovo wars". YouTube. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  5. ^ Das, Wim; Otten, Kees. "ALBANIAN AIRFORCE - Tirana's moving steps" (PDF). Retrieved 2008-12-26.
  6. ^ Support, Web. "Arrival ceremony of the new Cougar helicopter for the Air Force, version "MEDEVAC"". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 2019-04-23.
  7. ^ "The fourth Cougar AS532 AL helicopter arrives".
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