Kampfretter () are specialized forces of the
German Air Force
The German Air Force (, ) is the aerial warfare branch of the , the armed forces of Germany. The German Air Force (as part of the ) was founded in 1956 during the era of the Cold War as the aerial warfare branch of the armed forces of West Ger ...
, tasked with
combat search and rescue (CSAR) missions.
As part of
personnel recovery
The United States Armed Forces, in Joint Publication 3-50 Personnel Recovery, defines personnel recovery as "the sum of military, diplomatic, and civil efforts to prepare for and
execute the recovery and reintegration of isolated personnel."
The ...
Kampfretter units are tasked with the recovery of air crews and personnel in hazardous regions or behind enemy lines.
Selection and training
Candidates for serving as part of the Kampfretter units are recruited from the
German Air Force Regiment
The German Air Force Regiment “Friesland” () is an air force ground forces regiment sized branch of the German Air Force (''Luftwaffe'') with its main bases in Diepholz and Schortens. However, in the future this regiment will be located at Jev ...
. In order to increase the number of candidates, recruitment is being opened for every active duty member of the german armed forces. The completion of basic infantry training and an enlistment of 20 years is required for prospective members.
Candidates undergo a strict selection process which is followed by training in:
* Specialized infantry training
* Completion of
German commando course
* Parachutist course including HALO/HAHO qualification
* Rappelling/fast-roping
* Mountain rescue
*
SERE training
* Close quarter fighting
* Extraction via helicopter
* Medical training
The completion of the entire training circle may take up to two years.
Mission and deployments
Since their establishment Kampfretter personnel have been deployed as part of the NATO-led
Resolute Support Mission
Resolute Support Mission (RSM) or Operation Resolute Support was a NATO-led multinational mission in Afghanistan. It began on 1 January 2015 as the successor to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which was completed on 28 Dece ...
in
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...
.
[{{Cite news, url=https://de.reuters.com/article/afghanistan-bundeswehr-kampfretter-idDEKCN18C1Q3, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517032613/http://de.reuters.com/article/afghanistan-bundeswehr-kampfretter-idDEKCN18C1Q3, url-status=dead, archive-date=May 17, 2017, title=HINTERGRUND-Immer in Bereitschaft - Deutsche Kampfretter in Afghanistan, newspaper=Reuters, date=May 16, 2017, via=de.reuters.com]
Along with the German Army's
KSK Kampfretter were among the first to respond to the
2016 bombing of the German consulate at Mazar-i-Sharif.
See also
*
United States Air Force Pararescue
Pararescuemen (also known as Pararescue Jumpers or PJs) are United States Air Force Special operations, special operators who conduct personnel recovery and combat search and rescue operations as well as other missions for the U.S. military and ...
*
European Personnel Recovery Centre
The European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC) is an intergovernmental military organisation that contributes to the development and harmonisation of policies and standards related to personnel recovery. The EPRC also provides support for education ...
References
Special forces of Germany
Airborne units and formations of Germany
Units and formations of the German Army (1956–present)
Units and formations of the German Air Force
Search and rescue