The Special Intervention Detachment (, ) is a

police tactical unit A police tactical unit (PTU) is a specialized police unit trained and equipped to handle situations that are beyond the capabilities of ordinary law enforcement units because of the level of violence (or risk of violence) involved. The tasks of a ...

of the

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

n Gendarmerie Nationale. I

History

The DSI was created on August 27, 1989, by a presidential decree. It is elite unit of the Algerian gendarmerie. and the Algerian equivalent of the French

GIGN The GIGN ( ; ) is the elite police tactical unit of the French National Gendarmerie. Among its missions are counterterrorism, hostage rescue, surveillance of national threats, protection of government officials, critical site protection (such ...

. It was established to confront the increase in crimes and criminals, especially in its mode of action, as it offers adapted intervention possibilities and additional tactical capacities.

Training

Recruitment

The DSI recruits its future operators directly within the superior schools of the national gendarmerie for officers (the latter are selected before their graduation) and at the level of the schools of non-commissioned officers of the national gendarmerie of

Sétif Sétif () is the capital city of the Sétif Province and the 5th most populous city of Algeria, with an estimated population of 1.866.845 in 2017). It is one of the most important cities of eastern Algeria and the country as a whole, since it is c ...

and

Sidi Bel Abbès Sidi Bel Abbès (), also called Bel Abbès, is the capital''Sidi Bel Abbes'', lexicorient.com (Encyclopaedia of the Orient), internet article. of the Sidi Bel Abbès wilaya, Algeria. It is named after Sidi bel Abbass, a Muslim marabout or noble ...

for non-commissioned officers.

Induction training

The students wishing to join the unit are first evaluated, if they pass this evaluation phase, they will be admitted to the integration program which has 4 phases: * The physical preparation program: (Military training, instruction in combat sports such as

karate (; ; Okinawan language, Okinawan pronunciation: ), also , is a martial arts, martial art developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom. It developed from the Okinawan martial arts, indigenous Ryukyuan martial arts (called , "hand"; ''tī'' in Okinawan) un ...

boxing Boxing is a combat sport and martial art. Taking place in a boxing ring, it involves two people – usually wearing protective equipment, such as boxing glove, protective gloves, hand wraps, and mouthguards – throwing Punch (combat), punch ...

unarmed combat Hand-to-hand combat is a physical confrontation between two or more persons at short range (grappling distance or within the physical reach of a handheld weapon) that does not involve the use of ranged weapons.Hunsicker, A., ''Advanced Skills in ...

, armed combat, martial arts in general). They are supervised by professional instructors from the combat sports unit. * The blocked training course of preparation: (Physical, psychological, and combat training) this phase is one of the most difficult because the trainee is put to hard test (day and night exercise, unfavorable climatic conditions) and it ends with the famous psychological obstacle course. * The qualification parachute jump: They go through the School of commando training and initiation to parachuting (EFCIP) of Boghar in order to pass their parachutist license, but also to be initiated to commando techniques and parachuting. * The special intervention professional patent (BPSI): This is the final training to be operational within the unit, the trainees will receive courses in

diving Diving most often refers to: * Diving (sport), the sport of jumping into deep water * Underwater diving, human activity underwater for recreational or occupational purposes Diving or Dive may also refer to: Sports * Dive (American football), ...

, combat first aid, training for dog handlers, but also shooting, use of explosives,

close protection A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects an important person or group of people, such as high-ranking public officials, wealthy business ...

, and techniques of

climbing Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or other parts of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders) to small boulders. Climbing is done for locom ...

buildings and reliefs, intervention in closed environment ( Close Quarter Battle), open, etc.), are on the menu of these daily sessions. The training is carried out in 2 stages, the first is the phase of pedagogical instruction, and the second is the phase of restitution and evaluation of the trainees, they must pass the final test if they want to integrate the unit. If they pass this test, they will be given the DSI pin and patch and will be admitted to the operational unit and become full-fledged operators of the unit. The duration of training in DSI is 6 months, and trainees receive the equivalent of 1400 hours of advanced training.

Continuous training

Nevertheless, the operators are in almost permanent training and each member follows a daily training. Shooting training is daily, with each element able to go to the shooting range whenever they wish. Shooting tests including timed, selective shooting, accuracy, long range, are evaluated by the training cell instructors. The training operations of different scenarios, always with live ammunition, are reviewed and debriefed to correct each action and try to improve its technicality. also often train at night under night vision binoculars on all types of situations in the 13 sites reserved for them. exercises from a helicopter with recall techniques but also on fast driving and basic techniques in the field of negotiations and hostage taking. DSI has trained a number of elite promotions from African countries in intervention and close protection. They exchanged with several foreign counterparts, among them the Austrian unit

EKO COBRA EKO Cobra (; "Special Intervention Unit Cobra") is a police tactical unit of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior. EKO Cobra is not part of the Austrian Federal Police, but instead is part of the Directorate for Special Units/Special ...

, the Jordanian Special Operation Forces and the Jordanian Gendarmerie and the French

. The DSI has provided many promotions from African countries; training in intervention and close protection. The DSI has provided training in intervention and close protection to a number of elite promotions from African countries.

Missions

The main tasks of the DSI are : * The

counterterrorism Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and Intelligence agency, intelligence ...

and the

hostage rescue A hostage is a person seized by an abductor in order to compel another party, one which places a high value on the liberty, well-being and safety of the person seized—such as a relative, employer, law enforcement, or government—to act, o ...

* The neutralization of criminals or terrorists in various places (urban, forest, desert, mountain...) * The participation of judiciary police operations * The escort and transfer of dangerous individuals * Close protection and escort of VIP's

Organization

The DSI is subdivided into several units, each with its own function, depending on the mission, they can work together in one operation or separately on their own. The DSI is composed of : * Intervention units: composed of assault groups, support groups, marksmans * Operational support units:

reconnaissance In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...

, observation, listening, jamming * Combat swimmer units: amphibious assault, sabotage, reconnaissance, rescue, search *

Close protection A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects an important person or group of people, such as high-ranking public officials, wealthy business ...

and escort units: protection, security, VIP escort * Artificer and deminer units : demining, break-in, technical assistance * Cynophilia units: composed of cynotechnical groups, dog recruitment and training groups, drug or explosive search groups. * Training unit: composed of a training and instruction cell, a sports office and a combat sports cell

Main tasks

The DSI has carried out hundreds of operations since its creation, from the release of hostages to the arrest of forcible persons ("neutralization" in the unit's jargon). Some of the most well-known operations include the following: Massive hostage crisis in In Amenas ( Tiguentourine): On January 16, 2013, a column of four all-terrain vehicles, transporting about 30 heavily armed terrorists, crossed the Algerian-Libyan border, seized the gas complex of Tiguentourine, located 40 km from

In Amenas In Amenas (, ''‘In ’Amanās'') is a town and commune in eastern Algeria, bordering with Libya. The town is located west of the border. There is no border crossing in the area. The municipality had 7,385 inhabitants in 2008, up from 5.302 i ...

, and took the 800 workers, including 130 foreigners, hostage. The special forces carried out the assault, which resulted in the elimination of 27 members of the terrorist commando, the arrest of three others and the death of 37 hostages.

Equipment

The DSI, like all special forces in the world, has specific equipment for each intervention (helmets, tactical vests, bulletproof vests). The DSI operators are equipped with the latest generation of modern equipment.

Individual gear

* Fast ops core hemlet, helmet with bulletproof visor * Green Tactical combination,

Ghillie suit A ghillie suit is a type of camouflage clothing designed to resemble the background environmentsuch as foliage. Typically, it is a net or cloth garment covered in loose strips of burlap ( hessian), cloth, twine, or jute sometimes made to lo ...

(Support Sections and

Snipers A sniper is a military or paramilitary marksman who engages targets from positions of concealment or at distances exceeding the target's detection capabilities. Snipers generally have specialized training and are equipped with telescopic si ...

) *

Bullet-proof vest Bulletproofing is the process of making an object capable of stopping a bullet or similar high velocity projectiles (e.g. Fragmentation (weaponry), shrapnel). The term bullet resistance is often preferred because few, if any, practical materials ...

* Ciras Vest * Plate carrier vest *

Tactical vest Tactic(s) or Tactical may refer to: * Tactic (method), a conceptual action implemented as one or more specific tasks ** Military tactics, the disposition and maneuver of units on a particular sea or battlefield ** Chess tactics ** Political tacti ...

* Communication headset * Kevlar gloves * Night vision googles * Balaclava * Knee and elbow pads *

Holster A handgun holster is a device used to hold or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun, most commonly in a location where it can be easily withdrawn for immediate use. Holsters are often attached to a belt or waistband, but they may be atta ...

* Protective goggles * X26 Taser *

Crossbow A crossbow is a ranged weapon using an Elasticity (physics), elastic launching device consisting of a Bow and arrow, bow-like assembly called a ''prod'', mounted horizontally on a main frame called a ''tiller'', which is hand-held in a similar f ...

Vehicles

Terrestrial

Ford F-150 The Ford F-Series is a series of light-duty trucks marketed and manufactured by Ford Motor Company since model year 1948 as a range of full-sized pickup trucks — positioned between Ford's Ranger and Super Duty pickup trucks. Alongs ...

All Terrain Vehicle with Mobile Adjustable Ramp System (MARS) * Gendarmerie

Nissan Patrol The is a series of off-road vehicles and full-size SUVs manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951 and sold throughout the world. It is Nissan's longest running series of models. The Patrol has been available as either a short-wheelbase (SWB) ...

All Terrain Vehicle * Gendarmerie

Toyota Land Cruiser The , also sometimes spelt as LandCruiser, is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. It is Toyota's longest running series of models. , the sales of the Land Cruiser totalled more than 1 ...

All Terrain Vehicle *

Toyota Land cruiser The , also sometimes spelt as LandCruiser, is a series of four-wheel drive vehicles produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. It is Toyota's longest running series of models. , the sales of the Land Cruiser totalled more than 1 ...

civil armoured *

civil armoured * Unmarked vehicles

Aerial

* AS355N écureuil Helicopter of the National Gendarmerie * Agusta-Westland AW-109 LUH Helicopter of the National Gendarmerie *

Mil Mi-17 The Mil Mi-17 (NATO reporting name: Hip) is a Soviet-designed Russian military helicopter family introduced in 1975 (Mi-8M), continuing in production at two factories in Russia, in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. It is known as the Mi-8M series in Russ ...

Helicopter of the

Algerian Air Force The Algerian Air Force (, ) is the aerial arm of the Algerian People's National Army. History The Algerian Air Force was created to support the fight of the People's National Army against the French occupying forces. It came as part of the ...

* Aircraft of the

Pictures

File:Dsi assaut.png, DSI intervention group during a training. File:Plongeurs dsi.png, DSI divers group.

References

{{Algerian security forces Gendarmerie Law enforcement in Algeria Special forces of Algeria Military units and formations established in 1989 1989 establishments in Algeria Gendarmerie units and formations