Operations Division

Based on the organisational chart of the Hellenic Rescue Team, the Operations Division is responsible for coordinating the search and rescue missions.

The Operations Division is comprised of the Director of Missions and its four main members, while on a regional level coordination is carried out by the local operations’ coordinators, who are responsible to the Division. Its role is to organise and coordinate all the search, rescue and aid missions in which the Hellenic Rescue Team participates, both in Greece and abroad.

The Operations Division was established in May 2002, during the reorganisation of the HRT organogram. Its members have successfully completed United Nations’ training programmes on issues of managing missions and cooperation. The division also acts as the operational link between the HRT and other agencies (GSCP, Fire Service, Air Force, UN, EU, etc.).

Twice a year, it holds collaborative exercises on telecommunications with the competent public authorities, as well as foreign organisations, and it also organises schools on relevant subjects for the continuous training of its regional personnel. In addition, the Operations Division runs schools for the training of all HRT personnel on issues of emergency rescue missions abroad.

In order to achieve its aims, the Operations Division uses modern electronic and telecommunications equipment, as well as special IT applications. It has four mobile telecommunications centres with the code name “HERMES”, which are equipped with various kinds of telecommunications devices and other equipment. The Operations Division is also responsible for running the HRT’s radio network.