1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment

1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine
Regimental insigne
Active	1941-
Country	France
Branch	Armée de Terre
Type	Special Forces
Role	Special Operations Counter Terrorism
Size	One regiment
Part of	Troupes de marine / Army Special Forces Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Bayonne, France
Motto	Qui Ose Gagne (Who Dares Wins)
Anniversaries	Saint-Michel Day
Engagements	World War II First Indochina War Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Vidaud
Insignia
Beret badge of the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
Abbreviation	1er RPIMa

The 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Parachutistes d'Infanterie de Marine, 1er RPIMa) is one of three regiments in the French Army Special Forces Brigade. The regiment is based at the local citadel in Bayonne. Unit personnel have operated all over the world.

Unit Specialization

• CTLO (Counter-terrorism and hostage rescue teams)
• GDC (Bodyguards Garde du Corps)
• THP (Snipers Tireurs Haute Précision)
• RCO (Pathfinders – Rapas Chuteurs Opérationnels)
• PRS (Desert special reconnaissance patrols Patrouilles de Reconnaissances Speciales)
• RPO (Combat divers Rapas Plongeurs Offensifs)
• Mountain and jungle warfare
• Explosives and demolitions

History

Origins

Members of the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment during the Second World War.

The origins of 1er RPIMa date back to the Second World War. The Regiment was first formed as the 1ère Compagnie d’Infanterie de l’Air in Britain, redesignated 1ère Compagnie de Chasseurs Parachutistes (1e CCP) under Captain Georges Bergé. It consisted of approximately 50 paratroopers. They were subsequently transferred to David Stirling's Special Air Service for use in the North African campaign; while assigned to this unit, they undertook successful operations in Africa, Crete, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Today, this SAS heritage is still noticeable, specifically in regards to the regimental insignia and the regimental motto "Qui Ose Gagne" (Who Dares Wins). After completing the SAS training course they became known as the French Squadron SAS. The regiment is the heir to the two Free French Special Air Service (SAS) regiments: 3 SAS (3e RCP) and 4 SAS (2e RCP). On 1 October 1945, 3 and 4 SAS were handed over to the French Army. The regiment was restructured upon returning from Indochina and acted as training depot for the colonial parachute force during the Algerian War. It remained in this role until 1974 when it became a Special forces regiment.

Parent unit

• Army Special Forces Brigade

Organisation & Structure

Due to its long history with the British Special Air Service much of the 1er RPIMa core aspects are based upon the British SAS. Each company specialises in a particular area such as maritime, air ops/pathfinder, mobility.

• Four main RAPAS combat companies:
  • 1e Compagnie (Pathfinders / Combat divers / Snipers)
  • 2e Compagnie (Mountain and jungle warfare)
  • 3e Compagnie (Mobility / Desert special reconnaissance patrols)
  • 4e Compagnie (Urban warfare, counter-terrorism and bodyguards)

RAPAS, or Recherche Aéroportée et Actions Spécialisées, translates as Airborne Reconnaissance and Special Action. There is also one Command and Logistics Company.

Selection & Training

Officers and NCOs joining the regiment have to attend the same selection and training as enlisted personnel.

Enlisted: Each soldier enlisted in the French Army can try to join 1er RPIMA, between 1 and 3 years of active duty, if they are medically OK (airborne agreement).

First step is a profile selection: Candidates will be selected regarding unit requirements and personal file (e.g : if the regiment needs some mountain specialists, they will ask for more mountain troopers to come for the selection). Candidates selected must attend the two weeks basic airborne training prior the SF training, for those who are not already enlisted in an airborne regiment.

Second step of selection is "adaptation training" and "stage commando" lasting twelve weeks. Candidates must be above average to continue the training. Most cases of failure and RTU occur during this phase.

Last step of selection is the "stage CTE RAPAS" lasting six months. After completion of this "stage", candidates are fully assigned to the regiment as special force soldier. They will attend additional training to become specialists (bodyguards, pathfinders, etc)

Lineage

• May, 1941: 1st Air Infantry Company
• June, 1943: 1st Air Infantry Battalion
• March, 2011, Libya: direct action & unconventional warfare e.g. 1e Cie, 3e Cie

Honours

Battle Honours

• Crete 1942
• Libye 1942
• Sud Tunisien 1943
• France 1944
• Ardennes Belges 1945
• Hollande 1945
• Indochine 1946-1954
• 2011 Libyan civil war

Decorations

• Cross of the Légion d'honneur
• Cross of the Libération
• Croix de guerre 1939-1945 with 6 palms
• Croix de guerre des Théatres d'Opérations Exterieures with 3 palms
• Croix de guerre (Belgium)
• Bronze Star (USA)
• Bronze Lion (Netherlands)

References

• Shortt, James (1981). The Special Air Service. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 0-85045-396-8. 

External links

• Official website