Aviation and Special Forces Command
| Aviation and Special Forces Command | |
|---|---|
| 中華民國陸軍航空特戰指揮部 | |
 | |
| Founded | Original: January 1, 1944 Current form: March 1, 1958 |
| Country |  Republic of China (Taiwan) |
| Branch |  Republic of China Army |
| Type | Unified combatant command |
| Engagements | Vietnam War Third Taiwan Strait Crisis |
The Republic of China Army Aviation and Special Forces Command (Chinese: 中華民國陸軍航空特戰指揮部) is the unified combatant command charged with overseeing the various special warfare operations component commands of the Republic of China Army (ROCA).[1] It is intended to be a highly mobile force that can quickly respond to PRC attacks against Taiwan's government.[2]
History
[edit]The command traces its origin to the 1st Airborne Division that was founded on January 1, 1944, in Kunming, Yunnan.[1] The division was part of the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) before being transferred to the ROCA on May 1, 1951.[3] The Army Special Forces Headquarters was created on March 1, 1958, and was combined with the Army Airborne Headquarters on April 1, 1974. In 2006 it was renamed the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command.[1][3]
Organization
[edit]
The command includes five special operations battalions (forming the 862nd Brigade), two helicopter brigades, two training centers, and separate units.[2][3][4]
- 101st Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion
- 862nd Special Warfare Brigade
- Airborne Special Service Company (ASSC)
- Army Aviation Training Center (AATC)
- Army Special Forces Training Center (ASFTC)
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c "Headquarters – Republic of China Army". Republic of China Army Headquarters. Ministry of National Defense. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ a b Thompson, Leroy (October 21, 2014). "ROC Military: Taiwan's Top Tier". Tactical-life.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019.
- ^ a b c "陸軍航空特戰部隊特展" [Special Exhibition of the Army Aviation and Special Forces Command] (in Chinese). ROC Armed Forces Museum. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2024.
- ^ IISS 2023, p. 291.
References
[edit]- IISS (2023). The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5.
