This month, personnel of the 72nd Special Operations Brigade and the helicopter squadron of the 98th Air Brigade of the Serbian Armed Forces performed a joint training in rappel insertion techniques. The exercise was performed within the area of the Colonel-Pilot Milenko Pavlović military airfield in Batajnica.
The rappel insertion from Airbus H145M helicopters was just a part of the complex training course for the special operation teams. It was especially significant for the unit newcomers who must be able to carry out actions and operations of special importance, as well as spec-ops tasks, in all terrain, weather and combat conditions.
´What is the most important during rappelling is to ensure coordination between a special operations crew and an air force and air defence team, i.e. technicians, pilot, but also the chief instructor, and the team in charge of the training. This is a complex training during which our personnel practice the correct actions and procedures of rappel insertion´, – explained the instructor from the 72nd Special Brigade.
´We perform a wide range of training activities, such as exercises in summer and winter conditions, tactical and fire courses, as well as training in skiing and diving. Teamwork in our unit is of great importance, because we depend on each other so team cohesion is a must´, – one of the soldiers from the 72nd Brigade added.
98. ваздухопловна бригада (the 98th Air Brigade) of Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздухопловна одбрана Војске Србије (the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence) is a mixed aviation unit being based at Lađevci and Niš air bases.
The Brigade includes, inter alia, the 241st Fighter-Bomber Squadron Тигрови (Tigers), equipped with Orao J-22 jets; the 714th Anti-armour Helicopter Squadron Сенке (Shadows), operating Mi-35 and SOKO ´Gama´ rotorcraft; the 119th Mixed Helicopter Squadron Змајеви (Dragons), with H145M, Mi-8 and SA341H helicopters; as well as the 353rd Reconnaissance Squadron Соколови (Falcons), equipped with CH-92 UAVs.
72. бригада за специјалне операције (the 72nd Special Operations Brigade) is, on daily basis, being stationed in Pančevo. The Brigade includes three spec-ops battalions, Соколови, Грифони, and Орлови (Hawks, Griffins and Eagles). Young men and women who wish to join the 72nd Brigade must be adult citizens of Serbia, under 30 years of age, and secondary school graduated (or attending the final year of secondary school, respectively). It does not matter if they have completed military service before joining the special forces, or not.
All photos and quotations © Министарство одбране Републике Србије / MoD Republic of Serbia. MoD press releases were used.
