The Rapid Action Group (GAR) of the Guardia Civil is an elite unit created in 1980 to combat terrorism in the rural areas of Spain during the height of ETA’s activity. Its origins were harsh: endless mountain patrols, vulnerable escorts, and constant ambushes in northern towns. From that era came its unofficial motto: “To resist is to win.” 

Over the years, the GAR evolved from a rural anti-terrorist unit into a highly specialized group for high-risk operations, protection of critical infrastructure, discreet surveillance, and international missions under the EU and the UN. Their presence is usually discreet, but their reputation speaks for them: if the GAR arrives, the problem is serious. 

Real facts 

1) Born to hunt terrorists 

For decades, the GAR patrolled the most remote corners of the Basque Country and Navarra, where ETA sought refuge, explosives, or collaborators. They operated in two-man teams and patrols moving through farmhouses, secondary roads, and wooded areas. Their silent work allowed the arrest of operational cells, the dismantling of weapons caches, and the protection of public officials in their daily routines. 

2) Endurance training and extreme realism

The GAR course is one of the most demanding in the Guardia Civil: 
– Mountain survival and endurance 
– Advanced shooting under adverse conditions 
– Interventions in rural and semi-urban environments 
– Ambush and counter-ambush techniques 
– Explosives, search, and reconnaissance 

Night exercises, forced marches, and the use of real scenarios are part of the daily routine. The objective is clear: 

Operators capable of resisting physically and mentally for days in hostile environments. 

3) An international GAR: Iraq, Mali and Colombia 

Few Spanish police units have accumulated as much experience abroad. 
The GAR has trained and advised special forces from:

– Iraq 
– Afghanistan 
– Mali 
– Niger 
– Colombia (former GAULA and rural units) 

Its model of rural counter-terrorism is so highly regarded that it participates in European stabilization missions in unstable areas. There, they act not only as instructors but also carry out high-risk escorts and provide protection for diplomatic personnel.