PARATROOPERS of GREECE

In addition to the Rangers and the 71st Air Assault, the Hellenic (Greek) military maintains a number of elite units within its ranks. One of the most highly trained, and secretive, of these units is the Army's Idiko Tmima Alexiptotiston, or E.T.A. The E.T.A. (Special Parachute/Airborne Unit) was formed in 1959, as a Long Range Recon Patrol (LRRP) type unit, and is tasked with conducting operations similar to US Special Forces or British SAS units. Some of these missions include: strategic reconnaissance, direct action raids, and sabotage missions.

Very little information about the units training, organization, or operations has been released publicly. What little is known is that it's composed of carrier officers and NCO's. ETA's troops undergo some of the most extensive and grueling training within the Greek armed forces.

In addition to completing training at the Army's KEAP (Kentro Ekpedefseos Anorthodoxou Polemou -Unconventional Warfare Training Center), SERE, and parachute courses, ETA operators have also attended the Greek Navy's MYK course, and the NATO International Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol School in Germany. ETA operators have conducted joint training exercises similar type units from allied NATO countries, excluding Turkey.

Reportedly ETA recently been active in the former Yugoslavian republics.

ETA is known to use the US produced M-16 assault rifle, M-4 carbines, M-203 40 mm grenade launcher, and Belgian produced Minimi (US M-249 5.56 mm) light machine gun.

Other special operations units include: Eidiko Tmima Alexiptotiston (ETA “Special Parachute Unit - Greek Army LRRP type unit)

1st Sintagma Katadromon (1st Commando Regiment) - B, D, E Commando Squadrons 2nd Sintagma Alexiptotiston (2nd Parahute Regiment) -1st Parachute Squadron -2nd parachute Squadron 13th Sintagma Amfivion Katadromon (13th Amphibious Commando Regiment) - A,C Amphibious Commando Squadrons 32nd Taxiarhia Bezonafton (32nd Marine Brigade)

Monada Ypovrixion Kastrofon (MYK - “Underwater Destruction Unit�) now DYK Dimoria Eidikon Apostolon (DEA - Special Mission Platoon) of the Athens City Police (CT)

Eidikes Katastaltikes Antitromokratikes Monades (EKAM - Police CT unit)

Special Operations Squadron “Achiles� - AF CSAR unit.

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