Группа специального назначения Carabinieri: GIS

Elite unit of the Italian Gendarmerie

The Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS) ("Special Intervention Group") is the special forces unit of the Carabinieri. The Carabinieri, a branch of the Italian Armed Forces responsible for both military and civil policing, formed GIS in 1978 as a police tactical unit. The unit has taken part in counter terrorism operations and VIP, executive and dignitary protection security. Since its inception, GIS has distinguished itself throughout Italy for efficiency and excellent preparation, and has also operated and operates in several theatres of war including the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa, as well as in all the countries where Italian diplomatic offices are at risk. In Italy, GIS is one of three police tactical units that can operate throughout the country, the other two being Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS) of the Polizia di Stato and Antiterrorismo Pronto Impiego (ATPI) of the Guardia di Finanza.

The Special Intervention Group is employed in high risk special actions against terrorism. The GIS specializes in hostage rescue, prioritizing their physical safety, in the reconquest of vital targets and facilities held by terrorists, in resolutive intervention against hijacking, and in intervention in environments featuring NBCR dangers.

The Special Intervention Group ensures the permanent availability of personnel to the Ministry of the Interior for immediate deployments. The Ministry of the Interior employs the GIS for the release of hostages from airplanes, ships, trains, buses and buildings. It also calls them to protect sensitive targets from terrorist or criminal attacks and to ensure surveillance and security at high risk events (in coordination with Public Security authorities). Aside from the permanent availability ensured to the Interior Ministry, the GIS is used by the General Command of the Carabinieri to guarantee the security of threatened personalities or to assist territorial units in crisis situations such as kidnapping and capturing criminals, fugitives or dangerous evades. The GIS also trains and certifies other Carabinieri assigned to escort duties, and provides security services to important persons.

The GIS is also deployed abroad, to perform foreign hostage rescue operations, to protect Italian embassies and consulates in highly dangerous situations, as well as for special intervention in Carabinieri deployments and operations abroad. Occasionally they are also in charge of training foreign police personnel.

In 2004, GIS became a special forces unit responsible for special operations, including direct action, special reconnaissance, military assistance and counter terrorism, part of Comando interforze per le Operazioni delle Forze Speciali (COFS) of the Armed Forces, in addition to its civilian police tactical unit role.

During the seventies of the last century (the so called years of lead) the Italian political and civil institutions suffered a violent assault by endemic terrorist groups. Although the Government had not taken any official initiatives, units were set up in the elite units of the Armed Forces and Police for the development and experimentation of intervention techniques in crisis situations in the presence of hostages. On 18 October 1977, the political will changed as a result of the success of Operation Feuerzauber (Magic Fire) conducted by the Germans of the GSG 9 that in Somalia succeeded in freeing 86 passengers and 3 crew members of the Lufthansa 181 flight hijacked and still in the hand of terrorists. Feasibility studies were immediately carried out. Following this action, interior minister Francesco Cossiga on 6 January 1978 ordered the creation of the UN. I. S. (Unità di Intervento Speciale, Italian for "Special Intervention Units"), in order to support anti terrorism investigations. In a feasibility study conducted on 24 October 1977, the Carabinieri foresaw the establishment of the Special Intervention Group within the Battalion "Tuscania", in order to enable the Group to act both framed the larger Battalion and alone.

GIS has been involved in various multinational operations, both war and peacekeeping, since its creation. What follows is a list of confirmed operations in which GIS operators took part. 1982–1984 Lebanon, Multinational Force in Lebanon, investigation and protection activities. 1989–1990 Namibia, UNTAG, protection for the Italian personnel in the area. 1991 Turkey, Operation Provide Comfort, support to the Italian search and rescue unit. 1992 Cambodia, UNTAC, protection for the Italian personnel in the area. 1994 Israel, TIPH, protection for the Italian personnel in the area. 1996–2003 Bosnia, IFOR, SFOR, GIS operators fight alongside NATO troops in the area. 1996 Palestine, TIPH, protection for the Italian personnel in the area. 1997 Albania, Operation Alba, support to the Italian operations in Albania and counter rebel activity. 1999–2000 Kosovo, Kosovo War, peacekeeping operations and fight against crime. 2003–2004 Iraq, Operation Ancient Babylon, various combat and investigation activities. 2002–2008 Afghanistan, War in Afghanistan, counter talibans operations. 2008–2021 Afghanistan, ISAF, later RSM, GIS operators become part of the Italian Task Force 45 for special operations against insurgents.

Being an elite unit, the path that candidates have to make to access it is particularly hard and selective from the first phase which includes interviews and psycho physical visits. The competition announcement (interpellation in jargon) was opened, in 2011, to members of the Carabinieri who are no more than 33 years old. It is therefore no longer an indispensable condition to be of the 1st Paratroopers Carabinieri Regiment "Tuscania". The course is called "G. I. S. operator with the military patent of raider", because at the end of the training process the military receives the military patent of raider, as happens in the other three Italian Special Forces already mentioned. The carabinieri who apply are sent to the 1st Tuscania Regiment. The first selection phase for the GIS involves an interview with a senior GIS officer who verifies motivation, a key element in becoming part of the department, followed by an examination by psychologists and medical doctors. This first selection is passed by 40 per cent of the candidates.

Parachuting course with the technique of free fall (TCL). It takes place at the Parachute Training Center (CAPAR) of Pisa for a period of between five and six weeks, during which launches are made from a maximum height of 3000–4000 metres (10,000 feet)
Advanced parachuting course, lasting 3–4 weeks, for learning the techniques for high altitude launches (of 7.000–11.000 metres) with oxygen at low altitude opening—HALO (High Altitude Low Opening)—or with opening at high altitude and sailing under sail—HAHO (High Altitude High Opening).

Finally, there are ongoing collaborative relationships with military departments, including foreign ones. In fact, other courses are held abroad by the International Special Training Center—ISTC in Pfullendorf, Germany, the NATO Special Forces school, and various joint exercises with the colleagues of the SF and Antiterrorism (SAS —Great Britain, SWAT —USA, GSG9—Germany, GIGN—France) of other countries.

GIS has very good relations with other top class CT units in the world, among these are Great Britain's SAS, Ireland's ARW & ERU, Spain's GEO and UEI, France's GIGN, United States's Hostage Rescue Team, Germany's GSG 9 and SEK, Belgium's ESI, Austria's EKO Cobra and the Netherlands's DSI.

The uniform utilized by this elite force is normally the dark blue, even though mimetic and desert variations exist. Its reinforcements such as helmets, knee pads, elbow pads or bulletproof jackets are composed of fireproof and insulating materials.