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Belgian Para Commandos
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Para-Commando
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During
the Second World War parachutist and commando units
were founded in Great Britain. In 1952 the parachutist
and commando units were brought together in a Para-Commando
Regiment. Later an antitank company, a field artillery
battery and a reconnaissance squadron were added.
In November 1991 the Para-Commando Regiment became
a brigade by adding new support units.
Organisation
Today
the Para-Commando Brigade, spread over the entire
Belgian territory, is composed of three para-commando
infantry battalions:
The support
units are:
They provide
the necessary combat support. The Para-Commando Brigade
also disposes of two training centers:
A special
reconnaissance unit is attached to the Brigade headquarters,
the Detachment Long
Range Recce Patrol.
In peacetime
the brigade counts about 3000 men.
The Para-Commando
Brigade operates closely with the 15th
Transportation Wing of the Belgian Air Force and has
a high level of operational readiness. The brigade
can be put into action at very short notice and is
therefore well suited to form intervention units.
The Para-Commando Brigade is one of the Belgian contributions
to NATO and is prepared to participate both in the
Immediate and Rapid Reaction Force. From December
1992 to November 1993 the Brigade took part in UN
peace support operations. Besides de defence of the
Belgian territory the Brigade is also charged with
the execution of operations to protect or evacuate
our citizens abroad.
All
candidates to serve with the Brigade are volunteers.
The are subjected to a thorough medical examination
and follow, no matter what rank or Branch, a five
month course at the Commando Training Centre of Marche-les-Dames
before attending the one month parachutist course
at the Parachutist Training Centre of Schaffen. At
the end of this training, the candidates are fully
qualified Para-Commandos. They then join their units
where they carry on with their specialized and collective
training. It is continuous up to brigade level and
includes the different methods of brigade deployment:
parachuting, assault landing, air and helicopter transportation,...
This unit training is based on a three-year cycle,
although some of it occurs in yearly activities, for
instance specific para-commando exercises. These exercises
are held in Belgium as well as abroad.
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a
reconnaissance battalion on jeeps, the