The Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS) : the special forces unit of the Italian Carabinieri.

During my stay in Italy, I had the honor of meeting fantastic people. The GIS is part of that. They are discreet people of course, professional and experienced. They spend a lot of time training in Italy but also all over the world with international cooperations.

Thank you to my team and my contacts, I was able to visit their center and especially meet their commander.

The Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS) (English: Special Intervention Group) is the special forces unit of the Italian Carabinieri. The Carabinieri, a branch of the Armed Forces responsible for both military and civil policing, formed GIS in 1978 as a police tactical unit.[1] In 2004, GIS assumed a special operations role, evolving to a special forces unit, in addition to the police tactical unit role, becoming part of the Comando interforze per le Operazioni delle Forze Speciali (COFS; English: Joint Special Forces Operational Headquarters).

The unit has taken part in counter-terrorism operations and VIP, executive and dignitary protection security. Since its inception, GIS has distinguished itself throughout Italy for efficiency and excellent preparation, and has also operated and operates in several theatres of war including Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Horn of Africa, as well as in all the countries where Italian diplomatic offices are at risk.

In Italy, GIS is one of three police tactical units that can operate throughout the country, the other two being Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza (NOCS) of the Polizia di Stato and Antiterrorismo Pronto Impiego (ATPI) of the Guardia di Finanza.

Grazie mille a tutti. A presto Pascal.