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2016-05-10

BATTLING TERRORISM: Specialized training holds the key

Terrorism is one of the most frequent threats to peace and security on the planet today. It appears in various sophisticated forms and is aimed at destabilising entire regions.

According to official data, the number of deaths due to acts of terrorism has grown fivefold over the past 15 years. If in the year 2000 there were 3,361 victims of terrorist attacks, by 2014 the number had increased to 32,658. The top countries affected by terrorist attacks include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. Recently, acts of terrorism have been committed in Europe as well.

In this regard, the world community has to seek new forms and methods to counter the present development of terrorist activities. In the fight against terrorism, international organizations use the full set of measures in putting an emphasis on acceptance of relevant international treaties. Military agencies, security agencies and law enforcement agencies of different countries are looking for their own ways to stand against terrorist activity.

STC – The Perfect Partner

Special force units of the National Security Organization of the Republic of Belarus pay special attention to the prevention, detection and suppression of terrorist acts. Special Training Centre (STC) was established in 1991 for the purpose of concentration and systematization of the Belarusian Special Forces.

Since then, STC trains specialists of all Special Forces of Belarus in order to efficiently perform their tasks. Since 2007, STC has provided training in the field of security, as well as counterterrorism training for Special Forces of foreign states. STC has experience in specialist training in the field, detection and suppression of terrorist activity as well as informational and analytical work.

STC is one of the only places where educational technology for the special, firing and physical training is being perfected. The staff of STC includes highly skilled experts who are operating officers in law enforcement agencies and are veterans of Special Forces with extensive operational experience.

Currently, STC has implemented more than 30 training projects with foreign partners from different countries with more than 5,000 specialists. Some projects took place in the territory of the Republic of Belarus; while some were implemented at customer premises. STC has wide operational experience in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, South and Central America, Asia, and the CIS countries.

STC issues foreign specialists training completion documents as well as certificates in Russian and English, which in the future are taken into account for promotion of a particular special force unit specialist. They are known to offer a comprehensive training approach in the fight against terrorism, which includes three interrelated elements: consulting, training and logistics in the area of security and counterterrorism.

STC is cooperating extensively with companies from the UAE. Streit Group is one of its long-standing and reliable partners in the UAE. The Group is one of the largest private manufacturers of armoured vehicles with assembly plants in Ras Al Khaimah. Products of the company were actively used during the training of special force units from Central Africa in 2014-2015. Today, STC and Streit Group are working together on a project to establish a training centre for foreign servicemen at the premises of Streit Group where STC will function as a partner.

This year can become crucial in terms of cooperation with the UAE. In the course of meetings organised during the ISNR 2016 exhibition in Abu Dhabi, Caracal and STC reached an agreement regarding unprecedented build-up of partnership and mutual promotion in CIS, Africa and other states. Hamad Salem Al Ameri, CEO of Caracal, and colonel Andrey Krasouski, Head of STC, were instrumental in making this a fruitful partnership.

In addition to the integrated solutions for the organization and training of special units, STC offers Specialist Course Training taking into account the challenges and threats typical of a particular region. STC conducts training using the most modern weapons, ammunition, military and special equipment, and technical means.

As part of the integrated solution for the organization and training of special counterterrorism units, STC provides consulting services for the development of concept and organizational structure intended for special purposes, as well as for the military equipment list which includes weapons and equipment for a unit; plus selection of candidates for training.

Candidate Selection

Training for appropriate specialists takes place in the following areas - basic course, specialist course, advanced specialization and coordination of a unit. Also, a unit is equipped with weapons in accordance with the military equipment list. The STC specialists carry out selection of candidates with the representatives of the customer. Based on the results of this selection, the assessment is made.

As a result of the selection, STC provides the customer with recommendations for the most appropriate staffing of a unit with the best-suited military men out of the total number of candidates.

During the Basic Course Training, the specialists improve their basic skills and experience. It includes special tactical training, firing training, general physical training and hand-to-hand fighting. After the training each specialist acquires and improves the skills of accurate shooting, self-defence, decisive and tactically correct actions during counterterrorism operations in different conditions.

The aim of the Specialist Course Training is to develop various military and special techniques, skills, and abilities by specialists. It includes training in the following areas: control of units of different tactical level; snipers; bomb technicians; drone operators; specialists in electro-optical reconnaissance; radio operators; paramedics and specialists in collective weapons (machine guns, grenade launchers, automatic grenade launchers and mortar launchers).

As a result of training, various techniques of using weapons, military and special equipment are mastered and specific experience and skills in the fight against terrorism are acquired.

Special Units

The purpose of the Advanced Specialization Course Training is to teach already trained staff and specialists to operate within units according to their staffing assignment.

Advanced Specialization Course Training is carried out in accordance with the organizational structure such as special task force units (e.g. Rangers unit, Commandos).

After the training completion, the personnel of a special unit become trained specialists according to the organizational structure, being able to perform their duties in a variety of combat conditions.

Combat Coordination of a unit makes the final training component as a part of an integrated solution. It takes place at the customer premises for the effective performance of combat missions within a unit. During the Combat Coordination, specialists are trained to perform combined actions within a squad, platoon, and group, and the whole unit during the combat task performance. As a result of Combat Coordination, the integrated special force unit is formed. The unit is able to implement assigned missions.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

For many years, a huge threat to humankind has been posed by armed conflicts involving the use of mass destruction weapons. Such weapons have a great destructive effect and are designed for infliction of mass losses to enemy personnel and substantial destruction of enemy infrastructure. In the modern world, terrorists can use these weapons for intimidation purposes.

STC provides training of personnel of special force units for defence against the use of chemical, biological and other types of mass destruction weapons (e.g. FFF radioactive munitions) by a terrorist or a terrorist group during execution of counterterrorism operations. The essence of training is based on an analysis of methods and techniques of a normal and potential use of chemical, biological and other types of mass destruction weapons by terrorists.

Today, in order to effectively fight against terrorism and ensure security of the state, security services are required to promptly and accurately fulfil air reconnaissance tasks related to search, detection and identification of different objectives (e.g. humans, vehicles), as well as delivery and evacuation of personnel of counterterrorism and other units, weapons and other cargo. Such tasks can be successfully performed by the gyrocopter.

Unique flying and technical characteristics of the gyrocopter allow it to execute a wide range of tasks more effectively than other traditional aircraft. These are the main areas of the use of gyrocopters: air intelligence and terrain reconnaissance; patrolling and monitoring of vast areas; reconnaissance and search operations; search and rescue operations; drones suppression (requires installation of special equipment) and radio retransmitting (requires installation of special equipment).

At the same time, it should be noted that the gyrocopter can’t be considered as a fully featured substitution of helicopters, light airplanes or drones. The use of the gyrocopter is relevant for execution of specific tasks where the advantages of this type of aircraft can be used most effectively.

Today, STC considers training of specialists in combat search and rescue (CSAR) as one of the high-priority areas of its educational activities. The results of the analysis of the use of aviation in armed conflicts reveal the importance of rapid search and rescue of crews that perform forced ejection or landing in their territory and the territory controlled by the enemy.

STC has modern training technologies, instructors, and material and technical resources required for the organization and training of a separate CSAR detachment for support of flights.

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