Grupo de Acción Rápida (GAR) (English: Rapid Action Group) is the tier two police tactical unit of the Spanish Civil Guard (Spanish: Guardia Civil).[3][4] that specialized in quick response to emergencies with SWAT unit tactics.
| Rapid Action Group | |
|---|---|
| Grupo de Acción Rápida (Spanish) | |
 | |
| Active | 1982–present[1] |
| Country | Spain |
| Agency | Guardia Civil |
| Type | Police tactical unit |
| Operations jurisdiction | National |
| Part of | Jefatura de Unidades Especiales y de Reserva[2] |
| Headquarters | Logroño |
| Abbreviation | GAR |
| Structure | |
| Agents | Approx. 500[3] |
| Companies | Four[1] |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lieutenant Colonel Jesús Gayoso Rey[3] |
The unit's missions primarily involve anti-irregular military, apprehension of armed and dangerous criminals, counterterrorism and hostage rescue crisis management, executive protection, high-risk tactical law enforcement situations, operating in difficult to access terrain, protecting high-level meeting areas, providing security in areas at risk of attack or terrorism, special reconnaissance in difficult to access and dangerous areas, support crowd control and riot control, and tactical special operations.
Tracing its origins to the Unidad Antiterrorista Rural (UAR) formed in April 1978.[5] The Grupo Antiterrorista Rural was formed in 1982 and later renamed to Grupo de Acción Rápida.[1] It is based in Logroño.[6]
Initially aimed to counter Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), since 1998 it has re-oriented towards international deployments, taking part in European Union (EU), NATO, and United Nations (UN) missions in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Central African Republic, Haiti, Kosovo, and the Lebanon.[6]
Applicants to GAR have to complete over five months of training with between 25% and 30% completing the course.[7]
Firearms used include the Heckler & Koch USP Compact 9×19mm, Heckler & Koch MP5 9×19mm and the Heckler & Koch HK417 7.62×51mm respectively.
_Mannequin_Challenge_UAR_(Unidad_de_Acci%C3%B3n_R%C3%A1pida)-_Guardia_Civil._Rapel.jpg)
References
edit- ^ a b c "Unidad de Acción Rural de la Guardia Civil (UAR)". Guardia Civil (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ "Operations Division". Guardia Civil (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Molpereces, Diego; Martínez, Javier (23 November 2017). "Un día de maniobras con los GAR, el grupo antiterrorista de élite de la Guardia Civil". Voz Pópuli. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ^ "Special Operations Force returns to the desert with Exercise Flintlock". Ministry of Defence (Press release). 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
- ^ "Grupo de Acción Rápida (GAR)". Guardia Civil (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- ^ a b Vallejo, César; Mahia, Irene (26 October 2015). "G.A.R.: La lucha contra el terrorismo continúa". RTVE. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ^ Villamayor Jimenez, Valentin (December 1999). "The Terrorist Fighters". KFOR Chronicle. NATO Kosovo Force. p. 11. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
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