Cuerpo de Fuerzas Especiales
Corps of Special Forces [COFES]
The Special Forces Corps [Cuerpo de Fuerzas Especiales], formed in September 2002, was reportedly composed of three brigades that were distributed in nine battalions and a Rapid Intervention Force (FIR - Fuerza de Intervención Rápida), the elite troops of the SEDENA. On 1 Jan. 2002, the Special Forces Airmobile Group [Grupos Aeromóviles de Fuerzas Especiales - GAFE] was formed. As of 2003 the Special Forces Airmobile Group (GAFES) were composed of about 1,500 personnel, while the Special Forces Groups Amphibians (GANFES) had 620 troops. As of 2007 the Special Forces Corps was made up of 109 units [109 Unidades], including 73 Airmobile Groups [Grupos Aeromóviles] and 36 Amphibious Special Forces Group (Grupos Anfibios de Fuerzas Especiales (Ganfes)), the latter of which was transferred to the Marina.
Faced with the rapid and constant geopolitical, economic and social aspects of increasingly globalized world, the modernization of the armed forces is a priority. The modernization calls today to ensure the establishment of firm foundations aimed at preparing for the future with the possibility of response to the challenges of today. Combining the preparation for future scenarios without neglecting attention to the current problem, a condition which reaffirms the commitment of the Army and Air Force missions to meet the constitutionally mandated.
The Special Forces began in the Army in 1986 with the creation of a panel that was called "Quick Intervention Force." ["Fuerza de Intervención Rápida"]. Subsequently changing its name to Special Forces Group Airborne [Grupo Aeromóvil de Fuerzas Especiales]. On June 1995, began the development of Special Forces on the basis of Article 17 of the Organic Law of the Mexican Army and Air Force and Article 29 First and Fourteenth fractions of the Organic Law of the Federal Public Administration. Thus, the 1 May 1997 Journal Entry establishes the Special Forces Corps, which is assigned the missions of" steering and control of technical-operational, administrative and supervisory of the Units and Training Centers Special Forces; delivery of special training to Conventional Auxiliary Units; and implementing the Training Center of Special Forces doctrine.
On April 16, 1998 the Special Forces Military Academy was created, in order to unify the criteria of doctrine and homogenize the knowledge in the different branches of the members of the Special Forces, and dated 1 May 2002, the journal entry and Training Center Special Forces, depending on technical and administrative body of Special Forces. The training imparted at this Center is aimed at developing a high sense of responsibility and create a culture of safety and trust in each Officer and Class, to ensure efficient operations in Special Forces units.
The Special Forces are organized, equipped and trained to meet the operational needs of the Army in all types of terrain and under any weather conditions, favoring quality over quantity, so the units are small but great operational capacity able to act independently or in support of the Conventional Forces in areas including: land, airmobile and amphibious. The units are trained initially to respond to the issues and geographical environment of the area or military zone to which jurisdictions are also their training allows them to operate anywhere in the country. The Amphibians of Special Forces Groups allows extending the operations of ground troops in the coastal and inland waters, in close coordination with the Navy of Mexico.
To comply with these considerations, the Special Forces training aims to improve each soldier in their field and learning the physical environment will act to eliminate their risk, generating each element, physical strength, moral and spiritual strength to meet with missions at any time, place and circumstance. One of the principles of the Special Forces is to guide and that "quality is more important than quantity.
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