Grupamento de Mergulhadores de Combate The Grouping Combat Divers ( Grupamento de Mergulhadores de Combate or GRUMEC ) Is a unit of Special Forces of Navy of Brazil . With doctrine similar to the U . S . Navy Seals and the Boats Special Service British . Its function is to infiltrate without being perceived , in coastal areas and riparian and perform tasks such as recognition , sabotage and destroy targets of strategic value . The GRUMEC was created in 1974 and is subject to Submarine Force , Which gives you your primary means of transportation . The teams are transported to the vicinity of the target by a submarine , From which come swimming in kayaks or inflatable boats can be launched from the submarine still under water . The GRUMEC can also reach the target jumping from parachute or alighting from helicopters . The Gerr - MEC , and the Special Resume Rescue - Combat Divers Brings together staff responsible for the resumption of ships , naval installations , oil platforms , as well as the hostage rescue that may be taken / dominated by terrorists or other criminals . Using the tactic known as VBSS ( " Vessel Boarding Search and Seizure " ) And train regularly together with the Commands Amphibians . History . The first MECs ( Combat Divers ) Brazil were two officers and two squares that concluded in 1964 the course of the Underwater Demolition Team ( Underwater Demolition Team ) , a former elite force of U . S . Navy , forerunner of the Navy Seals . Based on the experience of these soldiers was created in 1970 Division of Combat Divers at Base Almirante Castro e Silva . In the year 1971 two officers and three squares were qualified by the French Navy as " " nageurs de combat " " And 1974 , Was formed in Brazil , the current Centre for Education and Dressage Almirante Monteiro Attila Aché ( CIAM ) , the first class of Combat Divers . In 1983 Division of Combat Divers was transformed into the Grouping Combat Divers , as part of the Command of the Submarine Force . On December 12 of 1997 the Minister of the Navy created the Cluster of Combat Divers , based in the city Rio de Janeiro and directly subordinated to the Command of the Submarine Force . Was activated on March 10 of 1998 . Formation . The training course is a priority for Brazilian Navy , Army Corps or the Navy Supplementary Table can not be attended by Marines and aims to enable them to operate diving equipment , weapons , explosives , use techniques and tactics for unconventional warfare and low intensity conflict , enabling them to perform , in short , the various types of special operations . Besides being the longest operating current of the Brazilian Armed Forces , is known to be one of the most rigorous of every 30 subscribers , an average of four can complete it , and there are issues on which no candidate was formed . It is divided into two categories , so officials there called CAMEC - Stroke Improvement Diver Combat Officers , Lasting 41 weeks , divided into four phases and a phase 0Where special emphasis is given to the planning of operations , with the disciplines of military physical training , military planning process and case studies , contemporary management and basics of managers and leadership . In the other stages , the materials include : military physical training , self - defense ; hygiene campaign , first aid , self - contained open and closed circuit , fighting techniques , riverine operations , demolitions , weapons , communications , recognition techniques beach ; operations Special underwater ; introduction to the microcomputer and communications system of the Navy , and intelligence . For squares ( Sergeants and Corporals ) , there is ESP - C - MEC - Special Course Combat Divers , Lasting 42 weeks , with the same instructional activities of Cameco , except stage 0 . After graduating MEC , the military is called to serve in GRUMEC , where he will attend a full complement of training program and conduct extension courses and internships in various areas , such as deactivation of Explosive Devices ( AED ) , Basic Parachutist Course Military Master Salto , Salto Livre , Mestre de Salto Livre , Precursor Parachutist , Dubbing and Maintenance of Parachute and supplies by air ( Domps ) Basic Mountaineering Training Course , Jungle Operations , Stage Operations in the Pantanal , Stage Hunter , among others .