The
Brigada de Reacção Rápida (
Rapid Reaction Brigade), is a unit of the
Portuguese ArmyThe Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
which was known as
BAI - Brigada Aerotransportada Independente (Independent Airborne Brigade) until 2006. Its different units are highly trained
AirborneAirborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
Light InfantryTraditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
and
Special ForcesSpecial forces and special operations forces are generic terms for elite highly-trained military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, direct action and counter-terrorism actions.In the United States, the term special operations forces is...
capable of responding to threats in any part of continental
PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
or any other Portuguese overseas territory with quick deployment by air, sea or land (with the support of the
Air ForceThe Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
and/or the
NavyThe Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal.The Portuguese Navy also participates in missions related with international compromises...
when required).
The
Brigada de Reacção Rápida (
Rapid Reaction Brigade), is a unit of the
Portuguese ArmyThe Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
which was known as
BAI - Brigada Aerotransportada Independente (Independent Airborne Brigade) until 2006. Its different units are highly trained
AirborneAirborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
Light InfantryTraditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
and
Special ForcesSpecial forces and special operations forces are generic terms for elite highly-trained military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, direct action and counter-terrorism actions.In the United States, the term special operations forces is...
capable of responding to threats in any part of continental
PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
or any other Portuguese overseas territory with quick deployment by air, sea or land (with the support of the
Air ForceThe Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
and/or the
NavyThe Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the military defence of Portugal.The Portuguese Navy also participates in missions related with international compromises...
when required). This brigade is the most requested by the
Portuguese GovernmentThe Government is one of the four sovereignty organs of the Portuguese Republic. It is also the organ that conducts politics in general in the country and is also the superior body in public administration...
to fulfill international assignments due to its experience and multi-role capability.
By 2012 the Portuguese Army expects to receive 10 NH-90 transport helicopters which will incorporate the
Unidade de Aviação Ligeira do ExercitoThe Army Light Aviation Unit , initially known as Army Light Aviation Group , is the Portuguese Army's unit dedicated to missions of light aviation, being integrated in the Army Forces System, under the operational command of the Ground Forces Operational Command .- Mission :* Organize, train and...
(Army Light Aviation Unit) removing partially the dependency from the Air Force for aerial transportation purposes. The
UALE will be part of the Rapid Reaction Brigade.
History
In 1993, the
Corpo de Tropas Aerotransportadas (Airborne Troops Corps), which was part of the
Portuguese Air ForceThe Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
was disbanded and the Portuguese airborne forces were transferred to the
ArmyThe Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in co-operation with other branches of the Portuguese military, is charged with the defence of Portugal...
. A new brigade was then created, the Independent Airborne Brigade (BAI) which included all airborne-capable forces in it. The Army also transferred to this brigade some heavier weapons like howitzers, thus giving the unit increased firepower, as well as creating an operational command named
Comando de Tropas Aerotransportadas (Airborne Troops Command).
The
Comandos RegimentFor the denomination of "commando" see commando; for the Argentine special operations unit see Amphibious Commandos Group; for other special forces with "Commando" in their names see list of special forces units....
was disbanded and the Comandos that had the Parachute Course were transferred to the new brigade. For more than 10 years the BAI kept serving the country in international missions, sending
ParatroopersThe ETP - Escola de Tropas Páraquedistas , based in Tancos, Portugal, is a unit of the Portuguese Army and serves as the instruction center for recruitment and training of the Portuguese paratroopers...
to several locations in
EuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus Mountains , and the Black Sea to the southeast...
and East-Timor. In 2002 the Comandos were reactivated as an independent unit and were separated from the Paratroopers.
In 2006, a reorganization in the Portuguese Army occurred, renaming the brigade as
Brigada de Reacção Rápida (Rapid Reaction Brigade) and adding
special forcesSpecial forces and special operations forces are generic terms for elite highly-trained military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, direct action and counter-terrorism actions.In the United States, the term special operations forces is...
to it. These units were the
ComandosFor the denomination of "commando" see commando; for the Argentine special operations unit see Amphibious Commandos Group; for other special forces with "Commando" in their names see list of special forces units....
and the Rangers, increasing the brigade size with two Comando companies and the Special Operations Forces but losing the 3rd Paratrooper Infantry Battalion (disbanded). Also this reformation had its costs since the 105mm howitzers were transferred to the Intervention Brigade (thus losing its airborne capability) and the Airborne Troops Command was disbanded, putting the unit under the orders of the
Comando Operacional de Forças Terrestres (Land Forces Operational Command) losing its autonomy from the rest of the Army.
Paratroopers
The Paratroopers are the heaviest troops on the
brigadeA brigade is a military unit that is typically composed of two to five regiments or battalions, depending on the era and nationality of a given army. Usually, a brigade is a sub-component of a division, a larger unit consisting of two or more brigades; however, some brigades are classified as a...
acting as airborne light infantry, used for conventional conflicts, with emphasis on airborne assaults. Paratrooper battalions contain units with heavy weapons and even light vehicles for quick assaults and raids. Although generally oriented for conventional warfare, a third (reserve) battalion contains many special units that are used as support on the
battlefieldA battlefield refers to the location of a battle.Battlefield may also refer to:-In music:*"Battlefield", a song by Diana Ross from her 1991 album The Force Behind the Power* Battlefield Band, a Scottish traditional music group...
.
Paratroopers are instructed at the
Parachute Troops SchoolThe ETP - Escola de Tropas Páraquedistas , based in Tancos, Portugal, is a unit of the Portuguese Army and serves as the instruction center for recruitment and training of the Portuguese paratroopers...
, in
TancosTancos is a Portuguese parish, located in the municipality of Vila Nova da Barquinha. It has a population of 295 inhabitants and a total area of 1.56 km².Tancos is the location of a major air base and a military academy....
, central
PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
.
- Aeroterrestrial Support Battalion
The Batalhão de Apoio Aeroterrestre , based at the ETP - Escola de Tropas Páraquedistas , in Tancos. It is a special and operational unit of the Rapid Reaction Brigade of the Portuguese Army...
, part of the Parachute Troops SchoolThe ETP - Escola de Tropas Páraquedistas , based in Tancos, Portugal, is a unit of the Portuguese Army and serves as the instruction center for recruitment and training of the Portuguese paratroopers...
(Escola de Tropas Páraquedistas)
- 1st Paratrooper Infantry Battalion, part of the 15th Infantry Regiment (Regimento de Infantaria Nº15)
- 2nd Paratrooper Infantry Battalion, part of the 10th Infantry Regiment (Regimento de Infantaria Nº10)
Special Operations Forces
The Special Operations Forces are generally the first to arrive and the last to leave the operational area. They are the most autonomous unit of the brigade, able to infiltrate deep behind enemy lines. Not as heavily armed as the Commandos nor the Paratroopers, its units rely on
stealthStealth may refer to:*Stealth technology, technology used to conceal ships, aircraft, and missiles*Stealth aircraft, aircraft which use stealth technology*Stealth ship, ships which use stealth technology*Stealth mode, secretive business behavior...
to complete their objectives. Since it is airborne-qualified it can be deployed by air, sea or land.
Special Operators are instructed at the Special Operations Troops Centre,in
LamegoLamego is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The municipality has a population of about 27,054 inhabitants. The city itself has a population of about 8,848 in the historic center and approximately 17,000 in i`ts urban area.Region:Norte;Sub Region:Douro....
, northern
PortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east...
.
- Special Operations / CTOE - Special Operations Troops Center (Centro Tropas Operações Especiais)
Comandos
The Comandos are an elite light infantry unit capable of conducting several
special operationsSpecial operations are military operations that are considered "special" .Special operations are typically performed independently or in conjunction with conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does...
missions, although they are mainly a
rapid reaction forceA rapid reaction force is a military or police unit designed to respond in very short time frames to emergencies. When used in reference to police forces such as SWAT teams, the time frame is minutes, while in military applications, such as with the use of paratroops or other commandos, the time...
. They can be deployed by air, sea or land.
Commandos are instructed at the Commando Troops Center, in
MafraMafra Municipality is located in district of Lisbon on the west coast of Portugal, in the Greater Lisbon region. The seat is in the town of Mafra.The municipality had a total population in 2002 of 53,069...
, near the capital
LisbonLisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It is also the seat of the district of Lisbon and the main city of the Lisbon region...
.
- Comandos
For the denomination of "commando" see commando; for the Argentine special operations unit see Amphibious Commandos Group; for other special forces with "Commando" in their names see list of special forces units....
/ CTC - Commando Troops Center (Centro Tropas Comando)
Independent Airborne Brigade missions
As the ancestor of the Rapid Reaction Brigade, the Independent Airborne Brigade made several missions to several different countries mainly in peacekeeping operations. Paratrooper Battalions were sent to
BosniaBosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( or (Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian Latin: Bosna i Hercegovina; Serbian Cyrillic: Босна и Херцеговина) is a country in Southeast Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula...
, East-Timor and
KosovoKosovo is a disputed territory in the Balkans. Its majority is governed by the partially-recognised Republic of Kosovo , a self-declared independent state which has de facto control over the territory; the exceptions are some Serb enclaves...
.
Afghanistan
After the creation of the brigade, the unit was sent to Afghanistan. An entire
CommandoFor the denomination of "commando" see commando; for the Argentine special operations unit see Amphibious Commandos Group; for other special forces with "Commando" in their names see list of special forces units....
company was sent to the area (western provinces), suffering the first
KIAKilled in action is a casualty classification generally used by militaries to describe the deaths of their own forces by other hostile forces. The United States Department of Defense says that those declared KIA need not have fired their weapons but have been killed due to hostile attack...
of the
Portuguese Armed ForcesThe armed forces of Portugal, commonly known as the Portuguese Armed Forces encompasses a Navy , an Army and an Air Force...
since the end of the
Portuguese Colonial WarThe Portuguese Colonial War , also known as the Overseas War in Portugal or in the former colonies as the War of liberation , was fought between Portugal's military and the emerging nationalist movements in Portugal's African colonies between 1961 and 1974...
, during a daytime patrol. The KIA Comando was 1st Sergeant Roma Pereira, mortally hit when an
IEDAn improvised explosive device is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
detonated his Humvee.
The Comandos were replaced by a company of Paratroopers who suffered no casualties while performing the mission. This company was yet again replaced by a second company of Comandos.
Bosnia
In the beginning of 2007, the Portuguese Defense Minister decided to end the mission in Bosnia due to the lack of need of a military presence in the area. All units from the Rapid Reaction Brigade and from the Mechanized Brigade present in the region withdrew.