In the fall 1977 the Carabinieri's HQ decided to establish a CT Unit to counter the growing terrorist phenomena. GIS is the Carabinieri CT Unit and it responds directly to the Carabinieri' HQ and to the Ministry of Interior. The focus of GIS has always been on very high risk CT operations, such as the storming of hijacked aircraft.
Every section is divided into detachment of four men.
In every moment there's a section ready to leave the base in 30 min. During action men alternate in the scout role. As first selection, all candidates go to an interview with a GIS high officer to verify their motivation, which is a key element. The soldiers who pass the first selections go to a basic course which last 5 months. From them who pass, only the better ones are selected to go to the Specialization Course which lasts other six months, after which they become operative members.