Special Operations Battalion (Croatia)

The Battalion was focused on airborne assault as well as operations behind enemy lines with insertion from land, air or sea. However, unlike most special forces in the world, the Battalion is also trained in non-combat search and rescue of civilians and providing aid as well as dealing with natural disasters. The unit was equipped with the most sophisticated weapons and equipment available, and trained to undertake the full range of special ops missions and even the dangerous mid-air, aircraft-to-aircraft operations. Personnel were trained for:

• Combat operations on land, air and sea on all types of terrains and all weather conditions
• Deep battlefield infiltration by land, air and sea
• Unconventional warfare behind enemy lines
• Counter-terrorism and hand-to-hand combat
• CSAR missions (Combat Search and Rescue)
• Humanitarian and peacekeeping operations

The Croatian General Staff exercised direct command over the battalion which thus elevated the unit to strategic level for quicker response time and overall better and faster deployment on both tactical and strategic levels. Also, this meant that members of all three branches of the Croatian armed forces could apply for selection. In 2008, two women successfully completed selection and training, earning their green berets and making the BSD one of the few special forces units in the world that have women among their ranks as combat qualified operators and not just support staff.

The BSD was composed of one command section and five companies, each specialized for a different variety of missions:

• Command Section - responsible for command, control and communications, supplies, medical personnel and transport
• 1st Special Operations Company - specialized for airborne and pathfinder operations
• 2nd Special Operations Company - specialized for alpine and mountain operations
• 3rd Special Operations Company - specialized for naval and amphibious operations
• 4th Special Operations Company - specialized for urban and anti-terrorist operations
• Fire Support Company - specialized for sniper and mortar training, also provides fire support with snipers to other four BSD companies

BSD members have been deployed on several peacekeeping operations and missions in the world. BSD was engaged in EUFOR Tchad/RCA, ISAF within ISAF SOF TF-50 detached from Polish Jednostka Wojskowa Komandosów.