In 1956 the Paratroop Battalion “Batalhão de Caçadores Pára-quedistas” was established with its unit settled in the former Pantonier Battalion at Tancos. 3 May 1956 was the The Companhia de Precursores (pathfinder Company) is an elite unit within the Portuguese Army’s Brigada Aerotransportada Independente (BAI-Airborne Brigade). Their mission’s include:

• Recon and operate launching and landing zones Navigation and control of air traffic in hostile environment Limited direct action operations Operate behind enemy lines In order to maintain it's operational levels, the Prec's Company participate in several drills and exercises.
  • Land Infiltration drills
  • Tactical drills:
  • Low altitude infiltration jumps (auto opening) at day, night, land or water high altitude infiltration jumps (HAHO and HALO) at day, night with oxygen (SOGA Teams) other drills with other forces

• Operation of the Prec training course, which is divided in two parts:
  • Phase A -Commando tactics
  • Phase B - Air operations
• After completing this course, the Precursores must take the Saltadores de Operacionais de Grande Altitude (SOGA - HALO/HAHO) course, which allows high altitude jumps with oxygen equipment, combat equipment and a wing type parachute. HALO and HAHO.

Portuguese Army LRRP Detachment

With the end of the cold war, and a number of new security threats arising, NATO underwent a thorough reassessment of the security threats facing it the future. As a result the Portuguese military reorganized and modernized many of its units to allow them to respond more quickly to any potential military or humanitarian crisis that could arise.

One of the new units formed during this reorganization period was a new Long Range Recon Patrol (LRRP) Detachment. The unit is assigned as the Portuguese component of the Allied Command Europe (ACE) Mobile Force (Land), or AMF (L). AMF is brigade sized unit, tasked with rapidly responding within 72 hours to any crisis arising in Europe. The Detachment has participated in AMF(L) operations since January 1997.

The 48 man Detachment was raised in 1996 and is tasked with performing missions similar to the US Army's Special Forces or British SAS. Some of these missions include:

• conducting Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols,
• raids against high value targets,
• locating enemy command and control centers,
• targeting and destruction of enemy air defense, and radar systems, and
• POW rescue operations.

The unit can be infiltrated by parachute, helicopter, small boat, or by foot. The Detachment is capable of operating independently behind enemy lines for a period of up to ten days.

The unit is composed of a special operations platoon, medical section, communications section, and transportation section. The special operations platoon is subdivided into a six-command section and four five man patrols. The communications section provides secure link between operational teams, and higher headquarters. The transportation section is equipped with six trucks and two all-terrain vehicles. They provide transport of the units equipment and supplies. The unit has participated in a number of AMF (L) exercises including deployments to Norway; for cold weather training.

Currently the Detachment is equipped with weapons of Israeli and German manufacture; including the G-3 rifle and HK MP-5 SMGs, Israeli Galil rifles and Uzi SMGs. Other equipment is obtained from various manufactures on as needed basis.

* Most of the above information was obtained from "Freedoms Thunderbolt: Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land)* -Dominique Sumner

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Portugal's special opertions units include:

Fuzileiros Navais (Naval Rifles-Marines) Destacamento do Accoes Especiais (DAE) -Marine Commandos

Comando das Tropas Aerotransportadas - Brigada Aerotransportada Independente (BAI) Companhia de Precursores (Cprecs - Pathfinders) - Saltadores de Operacionais de Grande Altitude - SOGA -- HALO/HAHO teams) Centro de Instrução de Operações Especiais (CIOE)

BEOE Patrulhas de Longo Raio de Accao (PLRA - LRRPs) Comandos “Rangers�

Equipa de Resgate de Combate (RESCOM - AF CSAR Teams)

Grupo de Intervençao e Segurança Prisional (Prison Intervention and Security Group)

Guarda Nacional Republicana Pelotão des Operaçoes Especiais (Republican National Guard Special Operations Platoon)

Grupo De Operacoes Especiais (GOE -National PoliceCT unit)

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