Unit Profile
Gruppo di Intervento Speciale or GIS (Translated: Special Intervention Group) is a special branch of L'Arma dei Carabinieri (Translated: The Carabinieri Corps) that handles counterterrorism, hostage rescue, hijackings, kidnapping, and extremely violent crime. In 2004 the GIS evolved into a special forces unit.
The Ministry of Interior can task the GIS with hostage rescue from airplanes, ships, trains, buses and buildings. It has the informal reputation of being the finest aircraft assault unit in Italy. They may also be tasked with the recovery or protection of vital assets from terrorists and with providing high-risk international meetings with security. The GIS can also be tasked by the Carabinieri General Command to provide VIP security or assist regular units on extremely violent missions such as kidnappings, raids and apprehension of dangerous fugitives. Since the GIS is a part of the Carabinieri, it can be deployed outside Italy to conduct CT operations or protect Italian citizens and interests from terrorism.
At any given time, one detachment will be on alert at the base, ready to deploy within 30 minutes of notification. The teams and equipment for different scenarios are prearranged. The Carabinieri always has a number of helicopters and aircraft on alert to provide transportation. The second detachment can be deployed in three hours and the rest of the unit can follow within 24 hours. With the widespread use of pagers and cellular phones, these times have reduced significantly.
Mission
- Direct Action
- Counter Terrorism
Raised and Disbanded
- Raised: February 6th, 1978