[1][3] In 1974 the Chief of the Polizia di Stato Anti-Terrorism Bureau, Emilio Santillo, announced the necessity to establish a tactical unit with the capability to arrest known terrorists and to support the local counter-terrorism field office.

Personnel were selected from Police Sports Group "Fiamme Oro ("Gold Flames"), particularly trained in martial arts.

After one year of training (offensive driving, sniping, various shooting skills, and a tactical assault course) in 1975 the unit became operational and immediately started a mission against the left wing terrorist organization NAP ("Nuclei Armati Proletari", Proletarian Armed Service).

Later they operated against the right-wing group "New Order", which resulted in the arrests of well-known terrorists Gentile Schiavone and Pierluigi Concutelli.

In 1982 under the tactical command of Captain Edoardo Perna a 12-man section, without firing a single shot, freed Brigadier General James Dozier, who had been held hostage by Red Brigades terrorists.

[2][4] In the following years NOCS expanded in size and capabilities and under new command, then Major Maurizio Genolini, became a full-fledged counter-terrorism unit, with capabilities of operations on aircraft, trains, buses, embassies, and stadium areas and established good relations with several counter-terrorism units in the western world.