Jagdkommando (Federal Army)

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Jagdkommando
- JaKdo -

Lineup May 4th 1963
Country AustriaAustria Austria
Armed forces Roundel of Austria.svg Federal Army
Armed forces Roundel of Austria.svg Special forces
Type Special unit
Strength 400 soldiers
Location Wiener Neustadt (Lower Austria)
motto Numquam Retro
(Never Back)
Awards Bronze Star Medal Combat Distinguishing Device
commander
Current commander Philipp Ségur-Cabanac

The Jagdkommando (JaKdo) is a special unit of the Austrian Armed Forces stationed in Wiener Neustadt . The tasks include the liberation of hostages abroad, the fight against terrorism , as well as building protection of the Austrian embassies and operations in war or crisis areas .

assignment

The Jagdkommando provides a presence unit of the special forces, which has quickly available elements for operations at home and abroad. Hunting commandos are usually deployed in small, unrecognized units and can perform the following tasks:

  • Special education to obtain information for the management level;
  • Command companies , such as the arrest of wanted persons, for example war criminals, the destruction of positions of heavy weapons, or the release of prisoners and hostages of persons held abroad.
  • Military support , which includes the training of soldiers at the request of partners or friendly nations (also in a hostile environment).
Parachutists of the Jagdkommando
Combat divers of the Jagdkommando

Hunting commandos can also participate in:

  • the protection of search and rescue operations
  • Evacuations from crisis and war zones
  • Counterterrorism
  • The Jagdkommando supports conventional forces on international missions if the special hazard situation of a crisis area so requires
  • Property security for Austrian institutions abroad.

In 2008, personal protection in the interests of the republic was transferred to the Military Patrol & Military Police Command .

organization

  • Staff department
  • Basic department
  • Public Relations & Communication Department
  • Base of operations
    • 1. Task Group
    • 2. Task Group
    • 3. Task Group (mob)
  • Teaching department

Calls

Fighter commandos during an exercise on a Bell OH-58

Operations by the Jagdkommando are fundamentally confidential ; operations that have become known to date have taken place in Chad , Mali , Afghanistan , Kosovo , Bosnia , Albania and Macedonia as well as in the context of various international observer missions .

In addition, soldiers were hunting commands to evacuations including in North Africa , the Turkey , in Peru and in the course of COVID-19 pandemic also involved in numerous European countries, are to tug fight inserted at the Austrian border and regularly assume in international exercises and I took part in training courses in various countries, including Norway, Denmark, Germany, Croatia, the USA and South American countries.

Mission in Chad

In December 2011, Profil magazine reported a battle between rebels and soldiers from the Jagdkommando, according to which Austrian soldiers killed several opponents near Guéréda.

  • Jagdkommando soldiers during an exercise

  • Abseiling exercise from S-70 Blackhawk helicopters

  • Simulated hostage rescue on a ship

  • Parachute jump from a C-130 Hercules of the Federal Army

  • Hunting commandos during amphibious training in a speedboat

Recruitment and training

Selection and qualification

Any Austrian citizen without a criminal record can apply to the Jagdkommando. The prerequisite for this is a completed basic military service with completed extended cadre training, the obligation as a regular soldier and a rating number (fitness level) of 7–9. In addition, the three-week selection process, which is composed as follows, is a prerequisite for admission to the Jagdkommando basic course:

  • 8 km express march with 20 kg backpack over undulating terrain in a maximum of 60 minutes
  • 30 m rope climbing in an inclined rope
  • 300 m swimming in clothes (without shoes) in 11 minutes
  • Jump into water from a height of 10 m on command without time delay
  • Obstacle course under 5:10 minutes
  • "AE testing" (there is a one-minute break between the exercises. ):
    • at least 6 pull-ups in 60 seconds
    • at least 48 squats in 120 seconds
    • at least 31 pushups in 120 seconds
    • at least 25 sit-ups in 120 seconds
    • at least 19 squat jump jumps in 60 seconds
    • 2400 m run in under 12 minutes

In addition, the following checks must be passed:

  • Psychological and sensorimotor aptitude assessment
  • A stress exercise to check performance and motivation
  • Passing the full contact fight

However, passing the selection process does not guarantee admission to the Jagdkommando basic course. Instead, applicants are ranked according to their individual results and only the number of soldiers actually required is admitted to the course.

The Jagdkommando basic course itself has usually started in March every other year since 2009 and lasts 27 weeks, the training topics include advanced combat and weapons training, survival techniques, explosive training, military close combat , training in amphibious locomotion, parachute jump training ( military freefall ), alpine training (Summer and winter), house-to-house fighting as well as extended training courses in military medical service , orientation in the field and in telecommunications. After successfully completing the basic course, the soldier receives the hunting command badge with sword and parachute ("swing") and then either returns to his / her home unit or in future does his service in the hunting command and begins a multi-year special training there in one of the teaching groups.

Due to the physical and mental demands, only about 15% of applicants complete the course.

education

The main task of the Jagdkommando is to train Jagdkommando soldiers. In addition, the Jagdkommando trains specialists for other parts of the army. The special operations department is responsible for this. This department is divided into different teaching groups.

  • Teaching group 2 : Parachute training. This group also leads courses for Airborne Forces of Jäger Battalion 25 , military academics and NCOs.
  • Teaching group 3 : Combat swimmer and combat diver training. This teaching group also trains the pioneer divers of the army pioneer troops.
  • Teaching group 4 : Environment training in jungle, desert and mountains. Survival training for special forces and aircraft crews of the armed forces is also taught here.

equipment

STEYR AUG A3

When it comes to information about equipment, the Jagdkommando is usually very reserved.

In addition to the equipment introduced into the armed forces, it uses a whole range of additional weapons and equipment that are not available to other units, such as the Steyr AUG A3 SF .

Furthermore, the Jagdkommando has equipment that is also used by other special forces, such as B. modern digital communication means, receivers for satellite navigation, night vision goggles and target devices of the latest generation as well as special equipment for parachutists, combat divers, bodyguards and operations in the mountains or in built-up areas. Among other things, a separate meal packaged in daily portions was introduced.

Uniform and badge

The hunting command badge is worn on the uniform and beret . There are also badges made of fabric for the uniform (see picture below).
Combat swimmer badge (above) and basic course badge of the Jagdkommando made of fabric.

Originally, after completing the basic course, members of the Jagdkommando wore the wine-red beret customary for airborne units, since 2003 the color of the beret has been mud green.

After successfully completing the basic hunting command course, soldiers (even after leaving the unit) wear the command badge on the uniform over the left breast pocket and also wear the beret instead of the usual federal eagle.

Depending on the requirements of the mission, you wear your own uniform, half camouflage (opposing uniform parts or civilian clothing, is usually removed before the actual mission) or full camouflage (complete opposing uniform or civilian clothing also during the fight).

Others

  • The motto of the Jagdkommando is numquam retro (never go back), which goes back to the Payer-Weyprecht expedition from 1872 to 1874, as well as numquam perimus (we never give up).
  • In 2007, the Vienna Army History Museum dedicated a special exhibition to the Jagdkommando entitled "Your Buddy - The Hunting Command of the Austrian Armed Forces" .

Commanders of the Jagdkommando

  • Colonel dG Ferdinand Foltin, Kdt Army Sports and Close Combat School (HSNS)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Walter Persche, Kdt HSNS (1962)
  • Colonel dG Robert Lang, Kdt HSNS (1967)
  • Colonel Josef Wanetschek, Kdt HSNS (1983–1984)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Manfred Foidl (1986–1995)
  • Colonel dG Herbert Bauer (1995–1997)
  • Colonel dG Wolfgang Wosolsobe (1997–1998)
  • Colonel Reinhard Drazenowitsch (1998-2002)
  • Colonel dG Reinhard Trischak (2003-2004)
  • Colonel dG Siegfried Bognar (2004-2005)
  • Colonel dG Heinz Assmann (2005)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Rudolf Weissenbacher (2006)
  • Colonel dG Harald Vodosek (2006-2007)
  • Lieutenant Colonel Rudolf Weissenbacher (2007)
  • Colonel dG Horst Hofer (2008)
  • Colonel dG MMag. Philipp Ségur-Cabanac (2019)

Former Jagdkommando soldiers

literature

See also

Web links

Commons : Jagdkommando (Bundesheer)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Terror: More money for the army's elite troops. Retrieved November 29, 2016 .
  2. ↑ missions. As a special task force, the Jagdkommando has successfully completed a large number of missions in the years of its existence. Retrieved February 15, 2019 .
  3. ↑ https://kurier.at/chronik/niederoesterreich/corona-krise-so-bringt-das-jagdkommando-landsfolk-nach-hause/400809866
  4. ↑ Gernot Bauer, Martin Staudinger: Desert Warriors. A RH report involuntarily sheds light on a state secret: Austrian soldiers killed rebels in Chad. December 2, 2011, accessed February 15, 2019 .
  5. ↑ The Jagdkommando basic training. The Jagdkommando offers you a fascinating and in any case exceptional professional challenge. Retrieved February 15, 2019 .
  6. ↑ The motto of the Jagdkommando. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008 ; Retrieved August 12, 2014 .
  7. ↑ General Ferdinand Foltin - "In memory of a fallen comrade, Rest in Peace" , website www.fjr6.net, accessed on June 25, 2016
  8. ↑ Heeressportmannschaft 1962 - 2007 , PDF document p. 24
  9. ↑ Head of the day: Colonel Heinz Assmann , website derstandard.at, accessed on June 25, 2016
  10. ↑ Afraid of Islam? (PDF) Retrieved August 26, 2014 .
  11. ↑ a b c d Die Presse : Clemens Hellsberg was also a wild dog , May 25, 2007