Hunter Corps

Danish Jaeger Corps
Jægerkorpset

The group unit insignia of Jægerkorpset
Active 1 November 1961 – present
Country Denmark Denmark
Branch Royal Danish Army
Type Special Operations Force
Role

Primary tasks:

Other roles:

Size ≈200 Commandos
Part of Special Operations Command
Base Aalborg Air Base
Nickname(s) The Elite, Jæger
Motto(s) Plus Esse Quam Simultatur (More to be, than to seem)
Engagements

The Cold War
United Nations Protection Force
NATO intervention in Bosnia

Decorations Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Chief of SOKOM Major general Jørgen Høll
Chief of the Hunter Corps Lieutenant colonel Kåre Jakobsen

The Hunter Corps (Danish: Jægerkorpset) is an elite, special forces unit of the Royal Danish Army based at Aalborg Air Base.

History

The first incarnation of the corps was formed in 1785 as Jægercorpset i Sielland (The Hunter Corps of Zealand) and existed in various forms until it was remade in its current form in 1962 where Major P.B.Larsen and First lieutenant Jørgen Lyng were the first two to complete the training.[1] Their hunting origin is recalled in the hunting horn on their insignia. In the year 1995, the Corps was deployed for the first time. A six-man team was sent to Sarajevo, Bosnia as a counter-sniper reconnaissance team.

Throughout the Cold War, the Jaegers' primary tasking was that of a long-range reconnaissance unit, with wide renown for their skills in parachute operations.[2] However, with the advent of the post-9/11 Global War on Terror, the Jaegers were modernized to better meet the developing threat of global terrorism. As such, the Jaegers increased their proficiency in counter-terrorism skills, while still maintaining their excellence at reconnaissance operations.[3]

In 2002, the Jaegers were deployed to Afghanistan as part of the Danish contribution to Task Force K-Bar, along with the Frogman Corps. During these operations, the Jaegers took part in de-mining operations, reconnaissance in support of conventional forces, the capturing of high-value targets, and direct-action raids on Taliban and al-Qaeda positions.[4] As part of Task Force K-Bar, the Jaegers were awarded "The Presidential Unit citation" on December 7, 2004 for its effort as part of the joint-forces special forces group in Afghanistan.[5]

Selection and training

The selection course to become a Jægersoldat (a member of Jægerkorpset) is very demanding, both mentally and physically. For a candidate to be accepted into the corps, he/she must complete the following:

Introduces the candidate to the subjects covered in the patrol course, and gives the candidate a feel for what he/she must get better at. (Orienteering, swimming, etc.)
More training and evaluation in the above covered subjects.
More training and evaluation in the above covered subjects with tougher requirements.
Basic patrol skills. This course must be completed at a satisfactory level to continue to the aspirant course.
Very demanding course teaching the candidate the physical limits of himself/herself and his/her patrol. If passed the candidate is awarded his/her "bugle" for the beret.
When all this has been completed to a satisfactory level, the candidate can begin their actual training. Following the successful completion of a years full time training, the maroon beret is awarded, and the soldier is considered a full member of the corps.

Insignia and status

Jægerkorpset wears the maroon beret with a brass emblem depicting a hunter's bugle on a black felt liner. After one year of satisfactory service and training in corps the wearer is issued the shoulder patch "JÆGER" (English: Hunter) and may call himself by this name.

Jægerkorpset is composed of around 150 highly trained soldiers with special expertise in counter-terrorism, demolitions, parachuting, and combat swimming, HAHO and HALO parachuting, infiltration, sabotage, reconnaissance and more. The corps regularly trains with similar units from different countries, such as the US Navy SEALs, British SAS and the Danish naval special forces group, the Frogman Corps. The corps is based on the structure and modus operandi of the British SAS.

Their slogan, which is Latin, Plus esse, quam simultatur translates to Mere at være, end at synes ("More to be, than to seem") in Danish, meaning that the soldier's capabilities do not have to be widely recognized or boasted—they are only more effective if unknown.

Armament

Type Caliber Manufacturer Model Danish designation
Pistol 9mm Glock Glock 26 Glock 26
Pistol 9mm Heckler & Koch USP H&K USP
Pistol 9mm SIG SIG Sauer P210 Neuhausen M/49
Pistol 9mm, .38 Super, .40 S&W, .45 ACP STI Tactical 5.0 STI Tactical
Submachinegun 9mm Heckler & Koch MP5 MP5
Carbine 5.56 Heckler & Koch G53 M85
Rifle 5.56 Diemaco C8 CQB M/96
Rifle 5.56 Diemaco C8 SFW M/95
Light Support Weapon 5.56 Diemaco LSW M/04 LSV M/04
Machinegun 5.56 Heckler & Koch 23 E MG85
Machinegun 7.62 Rheinmetall MG3 LMG M/62
Machinegun 7.62 Heckler & Koch 21 E H&K 21 E
Sniper 7.62 Heckler & Koch MSG-90 MSG-90

International Joint Training

Like most western Special Operations Forces, the Jaegers regularly take part in joint training operations with other NATO and Coalition SOFs. These exercises include reconnaissance patrols throughout Europe, arctic survival training, helicopter insertion techniques, parachute insertion techniques, hostage rescue training, Close Air Support training, medical training, and other SOF-specific skills.

Allied units that the Jaegers regularly train with include:[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Test for Jægerkorpset 1962". Forsvaret TV (in Danish). Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  2. ↑ Rathsack, Thomas (March 14, 2015). Jaeger: At War with Denmark's Elite Special Forces. SOFREP.com.
  3. ↑ Rathsack, Thomas (March 14, 2015). Jaeger: At War with Denmark's Elite Special Forces. SOFREP.com.
  4. ↑ Rathsack, Thomas (March 14, 2015). Jaeger: At War with Denmark's Elite Special Forces. SOFREP.com.
  5. ↑ Rathsack, Thomas (March 14, 2015). Jaeger: At War with Denmark's Elite Special Forces. SOFREP.com.
  6. ↑ Rathsack, Thomas (March 14, 2015). Jaeger: At War with Denmark's Elite Special Forces. SOFREP.com.
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