Commando Battalion (Albania)

Last updated
Commando Battalion
Batalioni Komando
CommandoBattalionAlbania.jpg
Albanian Commando Insignia
Active1998-Present
Country Flag of Albania.svg Albania
Branch Albanian Land Forces
Type Infantry
Role Special operations
Counter-terrorism
Close-quarters combat
Urban warfare
Size Battalion
Motto(s)Commando lead the way
Branch colours

Colour of Beret
Blue

   Blue
Engagements
Commanders
Current
commander
Lieutenant Colonel Pëllumb Hidri [1]
Insignia
Right shoulder patch Albanian commando insignia.svg

Commando Battalion (Albanian: Batalioni Komando), is one of elite units of the Albanian Land Forces. [2] [3] The unit is tasked with special operations in wartime, and primarily with counter-terrorism in peacetime. [4] The Commando members can be recognized by their blue berets, and the unit insignia which is carried on the right sleeve of their uniforms.

Contents

History

The Commando Battalion was created in 1998 [5] as a direct answer to the region's geopolitical situation and was part of Special Operation Battalion. [6] Shortly after their creation, teams of commando 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, Commandos' main tasks were reconnaissance and long-range patrol. In 2002, commando operators were deployed in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. [7] In Afghanistan, the first contingents operated under Turkish command and their tasks mainly dealt with patrolling the areas around Kabul.In 2003, Albania sent a unit from the Commando Battalion to Mosul as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. [8] [9] The unit together with other units from the Commando Battalion were responsible for base security and perimeter defense.

Recruitment, selection and training

All members of the Albanian land forces can be considered for Commando forces training.Recruits test their psychological, physical and operational skills in carrying out special tasks.The Commando course lasts 3 months

Members of Albanian Commando Battalion at 2019 Albanian Effort exercise Albanian Commando Members.jpg
Members of Albanian Commando Battalion at 2019 Albanian Effort exercise

Some of the parts of the course program are: survival, ambush, reaction of the Commando Squad in patrolling in contact with the enemy, hostage rescue, object strike, precision shooting, as well as hand-to-hand combat. [10]

Equipment

Blue Berets
Pistols Beretta Px4 Storm, FN Five-seveN, Glock 19, Heckler & Koch USP, Yavuz 16, Glock 19
Shotguns Benelli M4 Super 90
Assault rifles MPT-76, Beretta AR70/90, , AKM
Machine guns Heckler & Koch MG4 , Heckler & Koch MG5
Sniper rifles Sako TRG,Barrett M82, Heckler & Koch HK417
Vehicles Land Rover Defender,Humvee

Source: [11]





Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Albania

The Albanian Armed Forces are the military of Albania and were formed after the declaration of independence in 1912. Today, it consists of the General Staff, the Albanian Land Force, Albanian Air Force and the Albanian Naval Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian Air Force</span> Air warfare branch of Albanias armed forces

The Albanian Air Force is the air force of Albania and one of the branches of the Albanian Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion</span> Military unit

4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion is a United States Marine Corps Light Armored Reconnaissance battalion of the Marine Corps Reserve. Their primary weapon system is the LAV-25 and they are part of the 4th Marine Division and Marine Forces Reserve. The unit headquarters is at Camp Pendleton, California, but other units in the battalion are located throughout the United States. 4th LAR Bn is the largest combat battalion in the Marine Corps, with 7 companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian Naval Force</span> Military unit

The Albanian Naval Force is the naval branch of the Albanian military. Their name was changed from the Albanian Naval Defense Forces in 2010. The Naval Force is headquartered in Durrës, and operates multiple bases, including Kepi i Palit base in Durrës, and Pashaliman in Vlorë.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shindand Air Base</span> Military airbase in Herat, Afghanistan

Shindand Air Base is an Afghan air base located in the western part of Afghanistan in the Shindand District of Herat Province, seven miles (11 km) northeast of the city of Shindand. The runway has a concrete surface. An all-weather asphalt road connects it with the Kandahar–Herat Highway, part of Highway 1. The base is of great strategic importance because it is just 75 miles (121 km) from the border of Iran. It is capable of housing over one hundred military aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Support Command (Albania)</span> Military unit

The Albanian Support Command is a supporting command of the Albanian Armed Forces, which has as its primary mission the support of the Armed Forces in the areas of procurement and supply, maintenance, transport, inventory, medical supply, and supporting civil-military cooperation for these issues. The Support Command and logistic support units of the AAF should be able to accomplish all requirements to enable logistics sustainment of force operations in every kind of environment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian Land Forces</span> Military unit

The Albanian Land Force is the land force branch of the Albanian Armed Forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Training and Doctrine Command (Albania)</span> Military unit

The Albanian Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) is a research-oriented formation in the Albanian Armed Forces. It is headquartered at Tirana, Albania. TRADOC is charged with overseeing training evaluation and reforms; weapon, equipment and force modernization; development of concepts and doctrine revision.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Raider Regiment</span> US Marine Corps special forces unit

The Marine Raider Regiment (MRR), formerly known as the Marine Special Operations Regiment (MSOR), is a special operations force of the United States Marine Corps, which is a part of Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC). Renamed for its predecessor, the World War II Marine Raiders, this unit is the principal combat component of MARSOC, which is the Marine Corps' contribution to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Operations Regiment (Albania)</span> Military unit

The Special Operations Regiment, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Police (Albania)</span> Military unit

The Albanian Military Police is a provost independent branch of the Albanian Armed Forces responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in Albania and while service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises. The PU it is under the authority of Ministry of Defence. Its tasks increase during wartime to include traffic control organisation and POW and refugee control. The Military Police are distinguished from other units by their wearing of black uniform and the blue brassard worn around the left upper arm, with the "MP" lettering in white, symbol of military police.

The Northern Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment, part of the Albanian Land Force. The RKV it is based in Vau i Dejës, Shkodër County. It consists on 3 battalions.Normally they fall under the command of Land Force Command and Staff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Group Light Infantry Battalion</span> Military unit

The Group Light Infantry Battalion is an infantry battalion part of the Albanian Land Force.The BKL it is based in Zall-Herr, Tirana. It consists on 5 companies, with 100 – 130 soldiers each, with a total about 700, effective as a whole battalion. Normally they fall under the command of Land Force Command and Staff.

The Southern Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment, part of the Albanian Land Force. The RKJ it is based in Poshnjë, Berat County. It consists of 3 battalions. Normally they fall under the command of Land Force Command and Staff.

This article represents the structure of the Albanian Armed Forces as of May 2020:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoma Xhixho</span> Military commander, officer, military scientist, WWII

Thoma Koço Xhixho was a major-general of the Albanian Army, military scientist, founder and first commander of the Albanian Military Academy. He is one of the framers of the Albanian Military Art, as well as the base documents and regulations for training in the Albanian Army. During World War II, Thoma Xhixho was one of the important leaders of the National Liberation Army (NLA). At the onset of the Antifascist Resistance in Albania, he was one of its first members and one of the first commanders of the armed resistance against occupation forces.

The Combat Support Regiment is a supporting regiment of the Albanian Land Force, which has as its primary mission to create separate military capabilities with a specific mission and tasks for fire support, air defense, engineering operations, protecting armed forces maneuver units and population from weapons of mass destruction.

References

  1. https://www.aaf.mil.al/komanda-e-ft/129-te-rejat-e-fundit-nga-ft/6104-prezantohet-komandanti-i-ri-i-batalionit-komando
  2. "Nga krijimi në kohët antike deri më sot, historiku i Forcave të Armatosura! Si bëhej regjistrimi i vullnetarëve! Me lindjen e shtetit të parë Ilir, nisi…".
  3. "Albania - Commando Regiment".
  4. https://www.aaf.mil.al/komanda-e-ft/122-struktura/127-struktura-e-forces-tokesore
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN2y_jhiQFg
  6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZxFCQAyyZo
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdzyHw8zECQ
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0Eek9PeBmc
  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuPilMELwlY
  10. https://www.aaf.mil.al/komanda-e-ft/129-te-rejat-e-fundit-nga-ft/5709-perfundon-kursi-xvii-komando
  11. https://www.aaf.mil.al/armatimet-e-pajisjet