The 3rd Paratroopers Battalion
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The 3rd Paratroopers Battalion |
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The 3rd Paratroopers Battalion is one of the three infantry battalions of the Belgian Para-Commando Brigade.
The Battalion is organised into four companies:
Each company is equipped with different means of transportation:
It also disposes of different types of armament to execute its missions:
The
mortars platoon of the staff company has, depending on its mission:
The main weapon of every para-commando is the 5,56mm FNC rifle
Within the missions of the Para-Commando Brigade, the battalion can :
In the framework of these allocations the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion can be appointed to:
Foreign Operations
Since its existence, the battalion has executed several foreign operations. A summary:
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A unit of the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion takes part in humanitarian actions in Congo. They were parachuted on Stanleyville and Paulis where they helped to save thousands of civilians from the hands of the rebels. |
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The 3rd Paratroopers Battalion as a whole conducts a short field operation in Kolwezi (Shaba) and saves hundreds of compatriots. |
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The 22nd company, reinforced by part of the 15th company, takes part in the operation "GREEN BEAM". They are sent to Rwanda to reinforce the 2nd Commando Battalion. |
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 The battalion participates in the operation "BLUE BEAM" in Zaire and evacuates 2500 civilians. The headquarters company, reinforced by the 17th company, goes to Iran to take part in the operation "BLUE LODGE", in support of Kurdish refugees. |
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In
January, the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion returns to Africa, to
Congo-Brazzaville, for the operation "SUNNY WINTER".
From August to December, the battalion takes part in the UN mission called UNOSOM, in Somalia. |
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April, the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion is called upon to evacuate Belgian and other civilians out of Rwanda, this operation is called "SILVER BACK". |
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The 22nd company reinforced by the 15th leaves once again for Africa to prepare the evacuation of Belgian and other nationals in the operation "GREEN STREAM". |
The 3rd Paratroopers Battalion is founded in Belgian
Congo in 1955. Detachments from the 1st Paratroopers Battalion and the 2nd
Commando Battalion are joined up to create the new battalion. It takes over the
traditions of the Volunteers Corps for Korea. 
This
corps earned many honorable citations in battle. During the independence
struggles in Belgian Congo in 1960, the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion participates
in airborne actions in Kikwit, Indu, and Manono. It also conducts raids on
Dokandu and Kasongo. In 1962, the battalion leaves its base in Burundi and is
relocated in Belgium where it moves into new barracks at Lombardsijde. The city
of Kortrijk accepts the godparenthood of the battalion in 1963. The 3rd
Paratroopers Battalion remains in Lombardsijde for fifteen years. Then, in 1977,
it moves again, this time to "The Kempen", a forest rich area near the
Dutch border. A former British ammunition depot near the village of Tielen will
be their new home. In 1983, the 3rd Paratroopers Battalion officially becomes
unilingual. That same year the battalion has the privilege to welcome Prince
Filip of Belgium as one of its platoon commanders. The barracks are renamed in
1987, henceforth they are known as "P. Gailly Barracks" in honour of
Captain Pierre Gailly, who died in action in 1953, during the Korean war.
The battalion standard flies the following citations :