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U.S., Slovenian Troops Train Serbian Special Anti-Terrorism Unit

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U.S. and Slovenian special operations forces gathered here to help broaden the tactical and technical capabilities of the Serbian special anti-terrorism unit known as the Specijalna Antiteroristicka Jedinica during joint combined exchange training exercises in the Goc Mountains of Serbia from April 3-30, 2017.

U.S. special operations forces greet U.S. Sen. John McCain, U.S. Ambassador Kyle Randolph Scott, Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Nebojsa Stefanovic and Serbian special anti-terrorist unit commander, Spasoje Vulevic, during a joint combined exchange training exercise at the unit’s headquarters complex in Serbia, April 10, 2017. The unit serves as a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian police and received training from April 3-30 in a variety of tactics and techniques over the course of the JCET to increase their effectiveness in future operations. Army photo by Sgt. Nelson Robles
U.S. special operations forces greet U.S. Sen. John McCain, U.S. Ambassador Kyle Randolph Scott, Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Nebojsa Stefanovic and Serbian special anti-terrorist unit commander, Spasoje Vulevic, during a joint combined exchange training exercise at the unit’s headquarters complex in Serbia, April 10, 2017. The unit serves as a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian police and received training from April 3-30 in a variety of tactics and techniques over the course of the JCET to increase their effectiveness in future operations. Army photo by Sgt. Nelson Robles
U.S. special operations forces greet U.S. Sen. John McCain, U.S. Ambassador Kyle Randolph Scott, Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Nebojsa Stefanovic and Serbian special anti-terrorist unit commander, Spasoje Vulevic, during a joint combined exchange training exercise at the unit’s headquarters complex in Serbia, April 10, 2017. The unit serves as a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian police and received training from April 3-30 in a variety of tactics and techniques over the course of the JCET to increase their effectiveness in future operations. Army photo by Sgt. Nelson Robles
Anti-Terrorist Unit
U.S. special operations forces greet U.S. Sen. John McCain, U.S. Ambassador Kyle Randolph Scott, Serbian Minister of Internal Affairs, Nebojsa Stefanovic and Serbian special anti-terrorist unit commander, Spasoje Vulevic, during a joint combined exchange training exercise at the unit’s headquarters complex in Serbia, April 10, 2017. The unit serves as a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian police and received training from April 3-30 in a variety of tactics and techniques over the course of the JCET to increase their effectiveness in future operations. Army photo by Sgt. Nelson Robles
Photo By: Army photo by Sgt. Nelson Robles
VIRIN: 170410-A-JQ649-007

“Our special operations detachment is in Serbia to facilitate this JCET event with the SAJ,” said a detachment commander for the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group. “They handle internal threats, high-level criminals and escorting VIPs within Serbia.”

The SAJ serves as a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian police and received training in a variety of tactics and techniques over the course of the JCET to increase their effectiveness in future operations in rural environments, while building military and civilian partner capacity.

Special Training

“They have a lot of special training and we’re here to give them basic rural tactics training at the request of their commander because of the growing terrorist threat in the rural areas of Serbia,” said the U.S. commander.

This training provided a change in training venue for the SAJ, headquartered in Belgrade, which specializes in urban operations.

“A lot of the criminals are located inside Belgrade, but they are finding safe haven out in the woods,” the U.S. commander said. “We want to teach the SAJ the ability to target, recon a house or compound in a rural environment and perhaps set up a raid, while teaching them the rules associated with that. You go there to show a positive presence, that the police are here to clean up, not add to the mess.”

U.S. Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, visited the SAJ headquarters complex in Belgrade, April 10, to observe the training.

U.S. Commitment to European Security

“As I travel through Southeastern Europe, my message is simple: the United States’ commitment to a Europe whole, free and at peace, is ironclad,” McCain said in a press release. “I hope future cooperation like this will deepen our security relationship and help to enhance the Serbian military’s interoperability with U.S. forces.”

A Serbian special anti-terrorist unit officer runs to the first station of a shooting exercise during joint  combined exchange training with U.S. and Slovenian special operation forces at the SAJ headquarters complex in Serbia, April 10, 2017. The Serbian unit, known as the SAJ, serves as a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian police and will receive training in a variety of tactics and techniques over the course of the JCET to increase their effectiveness in future operations. Army photo by Spc. Simeon Trombitus
A Serbian special anti-terrorist unit officer runs to the first station of a shooting exercise during joint combined exchange training with U.S. and Slovenian special operation forces at the SAJ headquarters complex in Serbia, April 10, 2017. The Serbian unit, known as the SAJ, serves as a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian police and will receive training in a variety of tactics and techniques over the course of the JCET to increase their effectiveness in future operations. Army photo by Spc. Simeon Trombitus
A Serbian special anti-terrorist unit officer runs to the first station of a shooting exercise during joint  combined exchange training with U.S. and Slovenian special operation forces at the SAJ headquarters complex in Serbia, April 10, 2017. The Serbian unit, known as the SAJ, serves as a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian police and will receive training in a variety of tactics and techniques over the course of the JCET to increase their effectiveness in future operations. Army photo by Spc. Simeon Trombitus
Officer Runs
A Serbian special anti-terrorist unit officer runs to the first station of a shooting exercise during joint combined exchange training with U.S. and Slovenian special operation forces at the SAJ headquarters complex in Serbia, April 10, 2017. The Serbian unit, known as the SAJ, serves as a special operations and tactical unit of the Serbian police and will receive training in a variety of tactics and techniques over the course of the JCET to increase their effectiveness in future operations. Army photo by Spc. Simeon Trombitus
Photo By: Army Spc. Simeon Trombitus
VIRIN: 170410-A-VL116-003

Friction between political groups in the Balkans have led to increased security concerns in and around Serbia, according to the chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S Embassy in Serbia, according to U.S. Army Lt. Col. Corey Shea.

“Increases in tension in the region can lead to the greater likelihood of some sort of conflict or violence,” Shea said. “It also gave us an opportunity to highlight to the Serbian population who are probably largely unaware that there is any cooperation between the U.S. and Serbia in the field of counterterrorism, and the senator’s visit allowed us to bring this to the public forum.”

The JCET fosters bilateral cooperation at the national level between the U.S. and Serbia.

American-Serbian Partnership

“The partnership is an opportunity for both sides to show that there is a level of cooperation that exists between the U.S. and Serbia,” Shea said.

The SAJ took full advantage of the training exercise to bolster its operational knowledge and tactical capabilities.

“It is really important that we continue this joint training; this new knowledge will be included in our new standard operating procedures,” said Spasoje Vulevic, commander of the SAJ. “Our previous JCET with the Navy SEALs focused on urban fighting and we learned new ways to deal with that, we followed that up with the [Army] Green Berets to cover tactical techniques in rural environments to round out this valuable skill set.”

According to Shea, the U.S. will provide over $7 million in military support to Serbia in fiscal year 2017, including over 100 bilateral engagements between the U.S. and Serbian militaries and civil authorities.

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