Thread: American made CT units post 9-11

Originally Posted by troung

Since 9-11 we have been training nations in CT/HR tactics.

We have even formed totally new units in several nations for the role of tackling Islamic terrorism. These units are trained and equipped by the US government. And where they come from and what they do is a story in itself.

Reminds me of during the Cold War when we formed COIN units in overseas SF and regular forces. And when we could not train and army we just beefed up the police. Just with the WOT the skill set we are passing on has changed.

Kevlar vests and helmets and M-4 Carbines are a standard even with nations that don't use the M-16A2.

The Philippine military with the help of the USA formed several Light Reaction Companies (LRC) to hunt the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). Most of the members come from the Scout Ranger Regiment. This is not the normal MOUT operations most people think of but jungle tracking and fighting. The ASG doesn't bring people into cities or hold them in the cities but hides in the jungles. So the LRC has to go on operations in the jungle. Of course they have had problems because their damn gear is so heavy. Other elite units in the Philippines wear as little gear as possible on operations while the LRC wears very heavy vests and helmets and carries around extra equipment to effect raids. The Burnham raid was supposed to be done by them but a shortage of UH-1Hs led to the Ranger having to do the operation. Still on operations the LRC have been very successful.

We formed Detachment 88 in the Indonesian police. They already had CT units but this one was new. If not for sanctions on training with Kopassus that unit would have likely done the training with us (now if a bunch of the guys in the classes happened to be Kopassus who knows). The unit in fact is planning to get a C-130 for rapid transportation. Indonesia has a long history of CT warfare. The number "88" comes from handcuffs. While normal Indonesian riflemen carry FNCs or M-16A1s and most of the CT units had MP-5s, AUGs or FNCs, Det-88 uses the M-4A1 carbine. Basically we could not train their army because of Congress so ripping a page out of our own playbook we trained the Police who recently stopped being a branch of the military .

Pakistani police have been trained by the USA and the "Elite Force" is armed, trained and equipped by the USA to deal with local terrorist groups. We also have formed Iraqi units that are equipped very similar to American units to deal with the guerillas/terrorists. So they also conduct combat operations in the cities and today are pretty much the best unifit in the Iraqi army.

Granted these units are not facing terribly similar threats and go on different types of operations we have helped form them to conduct the needed missions.

LRC
LRC
Det-88
Det-88
Iraqi SF

Are You Referring to the ATAP? Are you part of the ATAP team?

Yes we did get a lot of assistance from the program, but the instructors did not just train us in CRT but also trained and certified our Forensic Techs, Bomb Techs, Post Blast Investigators and Crime Scene Management and Investigations Officers.

Bomb Tech's and EOD Techs got their certifications from the BATF and the FBI. Where as those officers on the first batch of CRT: Crisis Response Team Training went to New Mexico for training and a refresher course was held in Islamabad at the Police Training School-Sihala. "Islamabad"

The equipment provided included: Post Blast and Forensic Investigation Kits, EOD Equipment, CRT: Both AR-15 and M-4, Safari Land Tac Vest with Polyethylene Inserts, F-8 Kevlar Helmet and various non lethal weaponry including my favourite the Pepperball Launcher "Now Out of Commission due to damage... "

Some Pics: ATS Unit "Islamabad"





A Video of Islamabad Police "Anti Terrorist Squad" also referred to as ELITE FORCE in training:

Video of ATS unit in Training

*Need a decent Connection and realplayer to view this one.