Due to neonazis and similar rightwing extremists basically taking over part of the Kommando Spezialkräfte (KSK), the Minister of Defence is taking action - after three years of investigations. Detailing them here since in rather shortened format this is hitting international news slowly right now, probably not covering just how deep this goes.
The measures are intended to primarily address internal issues of KSK discovered in the investigations, but also - following a discovery of ammunition stocked "at home" by a KSK soldier - missing ammunition (estimated to be at least around 80,000 rounds plus 62 kg of explosives) and the fact that MAD personnel involved in the investigations was slipping KSK personnel information on it. In addition the very recent investigation of extremist reservists plays into the package.
Immediate Suspension:
Formal Restructuring of KSK:
Internal Reorganization:
MAD - Military Counterintelligence Service:
Other Repercussions:
The Minister of Defence will review by October 31st this year whether the reorganization of KSK is sufficiently implemented and fruitful with regard to the target of eradicating extremist tendencies, toxic leadership culture and separatist-elitarian commando culture within KSK. Should this not be the case a possible dissolution of the entire KSK is on the table.
The measures are intended to primarily address internal issues of KSK discovered in the investigations, but also - following a discovery of ammunition stocked "at home" by a KSK soldier - missing ammunition (estimated to be at least around 80,000 rounds plus 62 kg of explosives) and the fact that MAD personnel involved in the investigations was slipping KSK personnel information on it. In addition the very recent investigation of extremist reservists plays into the package.
Immediate Suspension:
- KSK is ordered to "concentrate on the task of rebuilding itself", being given "a chance to regain trust".
- All missions and training deployments of KSK are suspended indefinitely. Functions on active deployments, where possible, will be covered by other units.
Formal Restructuring of KSK:
- The 2nd company of the unit - the one affected - will be permanently dissolved.
- The recently created SOCC company, stationed separately from KSK, will be detached from it and placed directly under command of the Rapid Forces Division.
- All training functions will be removed from KSK and placed with the Infantry School, also switching Divisions (i.e. oversight) from the Rapid Forces Division to the Army Training Command.
Internal Reorganization:
- The battalions belonging to KSK (both combat and support) will get new posts for deputy battalion commanders, as well as increasing their staff with regard to sections 1, 2 and 4 (personnel, intelligence, logistics). An advisory board headed by the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr will oversee this process.
- All leadership posts -officers, NCOs - within KSK will have a maximum on-post time before a soldier is moved to a different post. All soldiers newly posted to such posts are from now on required to have had experience in command and training of soldiers in units outside KSK.
- All commando teams - non-leadership posts, and on a per-team basis - will be rotated between all companies of the unit, regularly switching them. All soldiers newly posted to such posts are from now on required to have served in other units outside KSK before.
MAD - Military Counterintelligence Service:
- The President of MAD will work out a package of internal measures, including obligatory implementation plan, and present it to the Minister by end of August. Measures shall address internal organizations, methods and lines of communication towards the Ministry of Defence and the German Parliament.
- The President of MAD will investigate all personnel involved with the KSK investigations among his staff, as well as investigating all MAD personnel for contacts with KSK personnel. Announcement in this regard is pretty much that if you are not keeping professional distance to other Armed Forces members as a MAD officer you're not supposed to be in this post.
Other Repercussions:
- The commander of the Rapid Forces Division is ordered to perform a full inventory audit among his forces immediately. The Rapid Forces Division will introduce a digital system "correctly representing stocks of ammunition and equipment". A working group headed by the Inspector General of the Army will audit the use and disposition of ammunition from deployments, missions and training exercises in general - report to be presented early 2021.
- The Ministry of Defence is planning to implement a new "Level 4" security check specifically for "particularly sensitive posts including in KSK" that shall involve "a more intensive wider check of personal environment" and "more frequent repeat checks".
- The Ministry of Defence will also be introducing regular security checks for reservists. In addition it will examine together with the Ministry of the Interior how the present cooperation between Bundeswehr, reservist associations and the Federal Constitutional Protection Service (= domestic intelligence) can be expanded for the purpose of combatting extremist tendencies among reservists.
The Minister of Defence will review by October 31st this year whether the reorganization of KSK is sufficiently implemented and fruitful with regard to the target of eradicating extremist tendencies, toxic leadership culture and separatist-elitarian commando culture within KSK. Should this not be the case a possible dissolution of the entire KSK is on the table.
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