TC André Luis Cruz Correia
Special Operations, as the name implies, are operations that must be conducted by specially organized, trained and equipped military forces, with sufficient capacity to operate in hostile, denied or sensitive environments, in order to achieve strategic objectives, employing specific military capabilities not found in conventional forces (BRASIL, 2019).
Understanding the concept of Special Operations, it can be inferred that they are highly sensitive operations that require meticulous planning and excellence in execution, factors that are of fundamental importance in modern combat. They also require military forces that are highly trained and committed to their mission.
In this context, the Special Operations Forces (F Op Esp) stand out as the only forces dedicated to carrying out Special Operations, which can have significant effects on the success of military campaigns. In the Brazilian Army, these Forces are made up of Commandos and Special Forces troops.
In Brazil, the origin of Special Operations dates back to the period of the Dutch invasions, which began in 1624 in Bahia, when native settlers organized themselves into “Ambush Companies”, adopting Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) characteristic of Special Operations, in order to expel the invader and maintain the integrity of our territory. In this context, Captain Francisco Padilha, commander of one of the “Ambush Companies”, stood out, whose achievements were fundamental to the withdrawal of the Dutch Fleets from the Bahian capital. In 2006, the 1˚ Battalion of Commando Actions was given the historic name of “BATALHÃO CAPITÃO FRANCISCO PADILHA”, in honor of the captain’s heroic deeds (BRASIL, 2020).
Another soldier who also stood out during that period was Sergeant Major Antônio Dias Cardoso, who performed brilliantly, organizing local forces to carry out ambushes. Leading a “small army” of Pernambucans, he also defeated, in 1645, in the battles of Monte das Tabocas and Casa Forte, better-equipped and better-trained Dutchmen, among them the general commander of the troops in the Northeast, Colonel Van Hans. It is also worth highlighting the achievements of this valiant soldier in the first and second battles of Guararapes, on April 19, 1648 and February 19, 1649, respectively, which marked the genesis of the Brazilian Army and our nationality. In 1991, the 1st Special Forces Battalion was given the historic name of “BATALHÃO ANTÔNIO DIAS CARDOSO”, in honor of this valiant soldier who dedicated his life to defending his people (BRASIL, 2020).
Given these historical accounts, it can be seen that the origin of Brazil’s Special Operations stemmed from a strong sense of belonging of a people to a land, which was protected against a bellicose invader, at the cost of many lives and the blood of many heroes. These feelings of self-sacrifice, stoicism and commitment to the nation and to society are non-negotiable values for the Special Forces to this day.
The Brazilian Army’s first Special Operations Course was held in 1957, at the Aeroterrestrial Division Center in the city of Rio de Janeiro (RJ), under the initiative and leadership of then Infantry Major Gilberto Antônio Azevedo e Silva, who had just returned from the United States of America (USA), bringing important lessons from that country’s Special Operations doctrine. Despite the difficulties encountered in conducting the course, Maj. Gilberto and 15 (fifteen) other soldiers successfully concluded what gave rise to the Brazilian Army’s Special Forces. This is what Maj. Gilberto wrote in his last report:
“I take the liberty of speaking on behalf of the fifteen officers and sergeants who have completed the first Special Operations course and who have placed themselves entirely at the disposal of this command, in order to spare no sacrifice and always keep the flame burning that warms the hearts that have dedicated themselves to Special Operations, serving BRAZIL with all their enthusiasm and accomplishment:
Anything
At any time
Anywhere
In any way”.
Later changed to: “Any mission, any time, anywhere and any way”, became the motto of Special Operations, which represents nothing more than the translation of the commitment of each Special Forces soldier to the Brazilian nation, to defend the Homeland against external threats at any cost, including the sacrifice of one’s own life. This commitment is still constantly remembered in the Commandos and Special Forces Courses.
In this sense, it can be seen that Special Forces soldiers, since their training, develop attributes and beliefs that make them strong enough to overcome the adversities inherent in the missions assigned to the troops made up of this universe. Such missions, according to Brasil (2019), are characterized by high risk, a high degree of precision and the difficulty of coordination and support. Discipline, maturity and professionalism are some of the characteristics that give these men and the Special Operations Forces a prominent position when it comes to faithful respect for hierarchy and discipline, the institutional basis of the Armed Forces.
Corroborating this assertion, one can see in the doctrinal basis of the Special Operations Command (C Op Esp) how the Operational Capabilities (OC) that contribute to the generation of forces for the Brazilian Army are developed. According to Brasil (2019), “[…] it is guided by Brazilian legislation and by the analysis of the situation and prospective scenarios, acting against concrete and potential threats to the State and national interests”. With this in mind, there is no doubt that the planning of any action to be carried out by Special Operations Command troops has Legitimacy as its basic principle:
[…] Characterized by the need to act in accordance with legal diplomas, mandates and commitments assumed by the State, and the system of principles and values that underpin the Force. Just as important as the formal aspect of the legitimacy of the use of FP elements is the perception that national and international societies and the local population in the area of operations have of the use of the Force in a given conflict (BRASIL, 2014, p. 5-5).
With regard to the importance of Special Forces, it is enough to look at the constitution of the world’s main armies and the missions carried out by this type of troop throughout history. The world’s main Special Operations Forces include the Special Air Service (SAS) – England; the U.S. Army Special Forces (SF) – USA; Sayeret Matka – Israel; and Spetsnaz – Russia.
The need to employ Special Forces becomes more notorious when the threats are diffuse and the operational environment is complex, which is common, for example, when it comes to operations to prevent and combat terrorism. According to Moon (2018), Special Operations Forces have become the military instrument for the global counterterrorism campaign, which began in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, due to their capabilities to track down, arrest or eliminate terrorists; as well as to advise and train friendly Special Forces, both state and non-state.
In Brazil, the importance of the Special Forces, especially the Brazilian Army, is seen in the most relevant and complex operations, which demand the maximum capabilities of the Ground Force. Whether carrying out kinetic actions, providing military assistance or cooperating in updating data and knowledge of strategic, operational or, eventually, tactical importance, the Special Forces always present themselves as a force multiplier for the Ground Force, faithfully following the directives issued by the Commander of the Brazilian Army.
Considering the principles of Special Operations, which, according to Brasil (2019), are adaptability, flexibility, integration, modularity, objective, restriction and selectivity, it can be concluded that the Special Forces are of great relevance to the Brazilian State and the Army, since they are able to fill the gaps not occupied by conventional forces, providing the necessary complementarity to strengthen the Ground Force in the face of the challenges posed by the conflicts of the 21st century.
It can also be concluded that the values cultivated by members of Brazil’s Special Forces are the result of a process that began during the colonial period and has been strengthened and consolidated over the decades.
Certain that the members of today’s Special Forces value the legacy left by those who preceded them and are fully aware of the responsibility of maintaining it, we also conclude that legality and legitimacy are basic requirements that are ingrained in the essence of each of these men.
Finally, knowing that, like war, Special Operations cannot be improvised, Special Forces soldiers continue to focus their efforts on excellence in fulfilling the Army’s constitutional mission, respecting the wishes of the Brazilian nation and the orders issued by the Land Force’s chain of command.
About the author
André Luis Cruz Correia graduated from the Agulhas Negras Military Academy (AMAN) in 2002. He completed the Command and Special Forces Courses in 2005 and 2006, respectively. He attended the Army Command and General Staff School (2019/20). He was Deputy Commander of Diamond Detachment IV on a mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2008. He was part of the Brazilian Battalion (BRABATT) in MINUSTAH (HAITI), 11˚ contingent. He completed the Special Operations Command Course in Guangzhou, China, in 2015. He was Commander of the Command Action Detachment (DAC) and the Special Forces Operational Detachment (DOFESP). He was Operations Officer of the Integrated Tactical Coordination Center (CCTI) – Counterterrorism, during the 2016 Olympic Games – Belo Horizonte – MG. In 2017, he completed the High-Personality Protection Internship (GAHP) at the École Nationale de Police (ENP) in Saint Malo, France.
*** Translated by DEFCONPress FYI Team ***