Grupo Especial de Operaciones

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Grupo Especial de Operaciones


caption= Coat of Arms of the Grupo Especial de Operaciones
country= Spain
type= Police special forces
branch=
dates= 1978 - Present
specialization= Domestic counter-terrorism and law enforcement
command_structure= Directly under control of the Policía Nacional
size= 200 operatives
current_commander= Director General Víctor García Hidalgo
garrison= Guadalajara
ceremonial_chief=
nickname= GEO
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Rescue of Julio Iglesias, Sr., attempted arrest of Madrid train bombings suspects and many other operations
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=The Grupo Especial de Operaciones (Special Operations Group, GEO) is part of the Spanish Cuerpo Nacional de Policía and is stationed in Guadalajaracite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/ubicacion.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Ubicación
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] near the capital, Madrid. The GEO has special response capabilities and is responsible for VIP protection duties, as well as countering and responding to terrorism. Designed, set up and organised along the lines of many other special counter-terrorism units throughout Europe, the GEO is specifically focused on dealing with terrorist attacks, including aircraft hijackings as well as maritime threats and hostage takingcite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/operaciones.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Operaciones
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] . The GEO can also be utilised in a support role for Spanish Police operations outside the realm of terrorism, and is active in protecting visiting heads of state and providing security for high-profile events such as the 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona.Ryan, Mann and Stilwell, p. 110]

History

With the intention of fighting against terrorism and several organized crime groups from Spain in the 1970scite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/cuerpo.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Inicio
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] , on November 1977 the third section of Spanish military staff announced for members of the Policía Nacional that there were many vacants which could be accessed freely for the newly formed Grupo Especial de Operaciones. The first training course began on March 1978.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/historia.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Historia
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

A select group of public servants who had been months before in the GSG 9 base in San Agustín del Guadalix were selected to train this new unit. Colonel Ulrich Wegener, along with some members of his unit, took care of the equipment, the training and techniques which this new special unit in Spain would use.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/historia.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Historia
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

The first access course of the GEO ended on 19 January 1979 with the assistance of Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain. It wasn't until 23 February of that year when the unit was announced to the press.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/historia.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Historia
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

Its first planned operation had to take place at the Madrid Barajas International Airport on August 1978 but they didn't have to fight because the conflict was solved before their arrival. GEO's first struggle took place in Bilbao, the 7 February 1981, in which five persons were freed from two armed criminals in a branch office of the bank then known as Banco Bilbao Vizcaya. No one of either criminals, hostages and police members were hurt during the missioncite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/historia.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Historia
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

GEO has had some noteworthy successes over the last decade. It was responsible of rescuing Dr. Iglesias Puga, father of singer Julio Iglesias as well as foiling an attempt by ETA to attack the 1992 Summer Olympics in BarcelonaRyan, Mann and Stilwell, p. 110] . Aside from that, the GEO has unarmed several organized crime groups, arrested forty-one armed members of different terrorist groups, freed 424 persons who had been kidnapped or taken as hostagescite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/opera_nacional.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Operaciones en territorio nacional
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-14] and boarded twenty ships used to carry narcotics to seize their load and arrest their crew.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/opera_extranj.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Operaciones en el extranjero
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-14]

During the 27 years it has been active, five members of the GEO have diedcite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/historia.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Historia
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] . It has had only one casualty in combat, which occurred during the assault on the Leganés flat where the suspected perpetrators of the Madrid train bombings of 11 March, 2004 were hiding. Having realised that they were trapped the terrorists subsequently detonated bombs in the flat killing themselves and GEO Subinspector Francisco Javier Torronteras Gadea [cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/04/03/enespecial/1081016920.html
title=Cuatro terroristas islámicos se inmolan en un piso de Leganés y matan a un agente de policía
author=Roberto Bécares and Olalla Cernuda
work=www.elmundo.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] . This fatality was caused probably by the fact that the agents who entered the flat didn't know that the terrorists could have explosives. [cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2005/03/09/espana/1110365634.html
title=Uno de los GEO heridos en el piso de Leganés explica que nunca supieron si los terroristas tenían explosivos
work=www.elmundo.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

As of 2005, the GEO was having problems with the number of members, which was below the necessary quantity. This meant that riot control units had to be sent to Iraq instead of GEO members, as originally intended. [cite web|url=http://www.belt.es/noticias/2005/marzo/14/falta_geos.htm
title=La falta de GEOS (Grupo Especial de Operaciones) obliga a sustituir a parte de los destinados en Bagdad por antidisturbios
work=www.belt.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

Organization

The GEO depends officially on the General Operative Subdirector of the Policía Nacional and its commander by a police superintendent. Its 200 members are divided in an Operative Section and a Support one.Ryan, Mann and Stilwell, p. 110]

GEO's Operative Section is formed by two Operative Action teams, a group of Formation and Specialities and a Techniques and Experiences team. The action teams are called 40 and 50 and them all are under the command of an inspector.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/organiza.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Organización
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

Each group, with a subinspector as head overseer is split in two subgroups which are formed by three operative commandos of five men each. Every operative commando includes two snipers, a lock picking specialist, an explosives expert, a combat diver and a special environment technician.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/organiza.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Organización
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

The Formation and Specialities operative team features the instructors of the formation and recycling courses. The Techniques and Experiences team is the one that tests new equipment and looks for new possible terrorist objectives.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/organiza.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Organización
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

Administrative, medical and transport personnel act as members of the Support Sectioncite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/organiza.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Organización
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] . The vehicles of the GEO depend on this section.Ryan, Mann and Stilwell, p. 110]

Access and training

Joining the GEO isn't an easy task and is only accomplished by approximately 8% of the candidates every year. To join the GEO it's a must to have been a member of the Policía Nacional for two yearscite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/ingreso.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Ingreso
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-14] . It's necessary to have at least one of the following traits: expertise in a martial art, scuba diving skill, being a marksmanship instructor, being an explosives expert and having worked on one of the operative groups the Police has on some province capitals.Ryan, Mann and Stilwell, p. 226]

The trial features both physical fitness and psychological tests. Its physical fitness test includes arm flexions on a bar, vertical jump, an obstacle course, running three kilometres in eleven minutes and a half, fifty meters of freestyle swimming, a strength test, a speed race and a last challenge which tests the candidates' decision capacity. On the psychological and intelligence test the mental capabilities of the candidates are checked.Ryan, Mann and Stilwell, p. 226]

pecialization

After having passed the access trial, GEO potential members go have to go through a specialization course in Guadalajara which is not passed by all successful aspirants. It's hard, technical and very structured.Ryan, Mann and Stilwell, p. 226]

There are four areas which all candidates must have mastered. They are: instrumental, juridical, socio-professional and police sciences and techniques. Police science and technique features high speed and off-road driving, lock picking techniques, abseiling and climbing techniques, maneuvers with helicopters, transmissions, explosives and knowledge about terrorist groups. Instrumental area is the one that deals with physical aptitudes such as marksmanship, obstacle courses, martial arts, physical fitness, swimming, sniping, diving and proficiency with motorcycles. The remaining areas are the ones that are focused on rights of terrorist groups and exchanging experience with members of similar groups of other countries.Ryan, Mann and Stilwell, p. 226]

Equipment

The basic uniform of the GEO includes: anorak, jacket, sweater, t-shirt, pants, boots and beret. Overalls are used as a complementary clothing piece. During summer, GEO members use a short-sleeved shirt instead of the sweater and the jacket.cite web|url=http://www.cepolicia.com/tematico/uniformidad_distintivos/orden011092_uniformidad.pdf
title=Confederación Española de Policía - Orden de 1 octubre de 1992
work=www.cepolicia.com
language=Spanish
format=PDF
accessdate=2007-10-13]

Aside from their uniform, GEO members also use protective gear which features helmets, Bolle Commando protective goggles, balaclava, Draguër gas mask, ballistic vest, Safariland sheaths for SIG P226 and gloves.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/material.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Material
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] They also use vision enhancing devices. They employ MATIS thermographic cameras, daylight thermographic cameras, binoculars, PalMIr 250 night vision cameras, Philips BM8028A1 binocular night vision goggles, ITT AN/AVS-9 binocular night vision goggles, ITT Pocket F6010 night vision visor and laser rangefinders.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/material.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Material
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

To communicate between them they use the Matra SIRDEE ("Sistema Integral de Radiodifusión Encriptada del Estado") [cite web|url=http://web.madritel.es/personales3/tsgnet/tetrapol.htm
title=Sistemas digitales para la Guardia Civil, policía y otros servicios de emergencia en España
work=web.madritel.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] , Motorola MXR-1000 and MXR-2000 models and VHF/UHF portable repeaters.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/material.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Material
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

For operations underwater they use other special gear. It includes: neoprene suits of different thicknesses, dry suits for dives in contaminated water, "twin-hose" and "single-hose" open-circuit scubas, dive computers, underwater robots for dives up to 200 meters and different dive support equipment.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/material.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Material
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

The GEO also uses vehicles on its operations. Among them are: different types of cars and bikes, special boats, Police helicopters and if necessary, CH-47 Chinook heavy helicopters of the Spanish Army.Ryan, Mann and Stilwell, p. 110]

Weapons

GEOs utilize a wide range of firearms. The most common sniper rifles used by the group are: the Mauser SP66, Heckler & Koch PSG1, AMP DSR-1, Sako TRG-41 and TRG-21, Sako A-II (silenced) and Heckler & Koch G3SG/1.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/fusiles_preci.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Fusiles de precisión
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] Their assault rifles are the SG 551 SWAT and SG 552, Heckler & Koch G41TGS and HK33.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/fusiles_asalto.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Fusiles de asalto
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] They use Franchi, Remington and Heckler & Koch shotguns. MP5 and FN P90 are the submachine guns of choice. Their pistols are the SIG P226 (9x19mm Parabellum) and the USP Compact.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/material.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Material
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13] GEO members also employ electroshock weapons, which caused some controversy when Amnesty International denounced the use of such weapons by the Policía Nacional. [cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2007/09/27/solidaridad/1190893564.html
title=Amnistía Internacional denuncia el descontrol en el uso de armas paralizantes tipo Taser
work=www.elmundo.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-14]

To increase shooting accuracy they employ several shooting support devices. Currently, they make use of Holosight sights, AMT holographic sights, Schmidt & Bender 1.5 - 6 x 42 daylight sights, Simrad KN250F night vision sights, Zeiss Diavari daylight sights, Varo AN/PVS-4 night vision sights, EDS laser sights and Sure-Fire flashlights.cite web|url=http://www.policia.es/geo/material.htm
title=Grupo Especial de Operaciones - Material
work=www.policia.es
language=Spanish
accessdate=2007-10-13]

Notes

Bibliography

* cite book
author = Mike Ryan, Chris Mann and Alexander Stilwell
coauthors =
last =
first =
authorlink =
title = Fuerzas Especiales del Mundo
publisher = Editorial LIBSA
location = Alcobendas, Madrid
year = 2004
pages =
doi =
language = Spanish
isbn = 84-662-0891-7

External links

*es icon [http://www.policia.es/geo/cuerpo.htm Official website]
*es icon [http://www.lawebdelgeo.es Unofficial website]