7th Airborne Assault Brigade

The 7th Airborne Assault Brigade (Tajik: Бригадаи 7-уми ҳамла ба десанти) is a paratrooper unit of the Tajik Mobile Forces. The Mobile Forces act as the special forces of Tajikistan, subservient to the Defense Ministry. Located in Dushanbe, it forms the backbone of the mobile forces.[1] The brigade is also one of the most combat ready forces in the Tajik Armed Forces.[2][3]

7th Airborne Assault Brigade
Бригадаи 7-уми ҳамла ба десанти Тоҷикистон
Founded2 August 1997
Country Tajikistan
Branch Tajik Mobile Forces
TypeParatroopers
RoleCounterterrorism, special forces
HeadquartersDushanbe
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Rajabali Rakhmonaliev

History

During the Tajik civil war, special forces units were formed in addition to the regular army. The first of these units that appeared in Tajikistan was the special forces company of the National Security Committee (the former KGB of the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic), which was formed in 1991.[4] It was later reorganized into a battalion. As the armed conflict began, it was expanded into a battalion as a practicality. On 2 August 1997, this battalion was transformed into the 7th Airborne Assault Battalion.[5] 12 graduates of the Ryazan Higher Airborne Command School formed the basis of the battalion's officer corps, with Rajabali Rakhmonaliev (a graduate of the Tallinn Higher Military-Political Construction School) being appointed commander.[6][7] In 1999, the battalion was transformed into an airborne assault brigade, becoming the reserve of the Supreme Commander (President of Tajikistan).[8] About half of the brigade's officer corps, served during the Civil War. In particular, the unit was sent to Khujand to battle against the forces of Colonel Mahmud Khudoiberdiyev, freeing hostages and stopping the mutiny after four days of fighting.[8]

Modern era

Currently, the brigade is part of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces of the CSTO, during which they take part in exercises with the Russian Airborne Forces, the Special Forces of Belarus, and the Special Forces of the Kyrgyz Army, among others.[9] Every year, brigade fighters take part in military exercises held in a field training center located a couple of kilometers from Dushanbe. In addition, the brigade's fighters also are trained extensively in hand-to-hand combat. The average age of women serving in the brigade, of which there is just twenty, is 20-30 years old. The positions they hold, include that of snipers, shooters and sappers, one of the few Central Asian nations to have that arrangement.[8]

References
  1. "Или разбегутся, или уидут к талибам". ВПК.name (in Russian). Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  2. "Таджикистан — Десантура.ру - Таджикистан". desantura.ru. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  3. "Вооруженные силы Таджикистана - вчера и сегодня". www.caravan.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  4. "Спецназ Таджикистана - спецподразделение Центральной Азии". tchest.org. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  5. "В Таджикистане День воинов-десантников отметили широкомасштабными учениями". tajikta.tj (in Russian). Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  6. "РАХМОНАЛИЕВ (РАХМОНАЛИ) Раджабали Файзалиевич | ЦентрАзия". centrasia.org. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  7. "В ДУШАНБЕ ГОСПИТАЛИЗИРОВАНЫ 14 ТОП-ОФИЦЕРОВ ГКНБ, В ТОМ ЧИСЛЕ КОМАНДУЮЩИЙ ПОГРАНВОЙСК ТАДЖИКИСТАНА". akhbor-rus.com. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  8. "ТЯЖЕЛО В УЧЕНЬЕ, В БОЮ ЕЩЕ ТРУДНЕЙ". www.kommersant.ru (in Russian). 2 February 2001. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  9. "Контингенты КСОР ОДКБ в Таджикистане на полигоне «Харбмайдон» завершили активную фазу практических действий внезапной проверки боевой готовности". odkb-csto.org (in Russian). 19 May 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
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