2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment

2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment; (2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes)
	Badge of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
Active	9 October 1948 as 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion – present
Country	France
Allegiance	French Foreign Legion
Branch	French Army
Type	Foreign Airborne Regiment
Role	Primary Tasks:; • Air Assault; Other Roles:; • Urban Warfare (1e CIE); • Mountain warfare (2e CIE); • Amphibious warfare (3e CIE); • Sniping and Demolitions (4e CIE)
Size	1,190 men
Part of	11th Parachute Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Calvi, Corsica France
Nickname(s)	The 2e REP
Motto	More Majorum (in the manner, ways and traditions of our ancestors)
Colors	Green & Red
March	La Legion Marche vers le front (The Legion marches towards the front)
Anniversaries	Camerone Day (30 April),; Saint-Michael Day (29 September)
Engagements	First Indochina War; Battle of Route Coloniale 4; Battle of Hoa Binh; Battle of Na San; Battle of Dien Bien Phu; Algerian War; Battle of Algiers; Batlle of the Frontiers; Shaba II; Battle of Kolwezi; Lebanese Civil War 1975-1990 Multinational Force in Lebanon 1982-1984; Koweït 1990–1991; Kosovo; Ivory Coast; Global War on Terrorism (2001-present) War in Afghanistan (1978–present); Operation Enduring Freedom Afghanistan; ; Northern Mali conflict;
Commanders
Current; commander	Colonel Benoît Desmeulles
Notable; commanders	Rémy Raffalli,; Paul Arnaud de Foïard; Jeannou Lacaze; Philippe Erulin; Bruno Dary; Benoît Puga; Alain Bouquin; Éric Bellot des Minières
Insignia
Circle Winged Armed Dextrochere Insignia of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment worn on a Green Berets. This Insignia is also worn by French Army Metropolitan and Marine Infantry Paratroopers backgrounded by an Anchor on Red Berets.
Abbreviation	2e R.E.P

Each year, the French Foreign Legion commemorates and celebrates Camarón in its headquarters in Aubagne and Bastille Day military parade in Paris; featuring the Pionniers leading and opening the way.

The 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (French: 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes, 2e REP) is the only foreign airborne regiment of the French Foreign Legion, stationed at Camp Raffalli near the town of Calvi on the island of Corsica, just south of mainland France. It is part of the 11th Parachute Brigade^[1] and part of the spearhead of the French rapid reaction force.^[1]^[2]

History, creation and different nominations

3rd Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment (1948-1949)

Compagnie Parachutiste du 3e REI

When the idea of paratroopers imposed a visit on the Legion, TAP formations already presented titles of glory on all the lists of battlefields across World War II.^[3] Nevertheless, Indochina would really be the crucible in which morale "état d'esprit" and French TAP style would surface.^[3] The glory of sacrifice and the nostalgia of a lost cause would entertain the myth.^[3]

The Parachute Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment, (Para Co.3e REI) was created on April 1, 1948.^[3] The command of the Para company of the 3e REI was entrusted to a young 23-year-old veteran, Legion lieutenant Jacques Morin as Regimental Commander or "Chef de Corps" of the Para Co. of the 3e REI from April 31, 1948 to May 31, 1949.^[3] Volunteers filled in the ranks from the foreign regiments present in already in Indochina.^[3] Dependent on the organization of the 3e REI, the raised paratrooper company was operated under the operational missions of the 3rd Indochina Air Infantry Battalion of the 1st Parachute Chasseur Regiment, (III/1e RCP).^[3] Stationed at Hanoi, the Para company engaged immediately and partake in active airborne operations.^[3] Following a series of brilliant combat action operations in the most exposed sectors of the high regions and airborne operations in the Delta, the para company of the 3e REI is dissolved on May 31, 1949.^[3] At the time of the dissolve, the para company counted : 3 Legion officers, 14 Sous-officiers, 92 Legion corporals and Legionnaires, all of whom were transferred to the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion, (1e BEP) which just disembarked in Indochina.^[3]

1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1948-1955)

1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutiste, 1e BEP - I,II,III Formations -

The 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion, (1e BEP, I formation) was created on July 1, 1948 at Khamisis, in Algeria.^[4] The 1e BEP disembarks in Indochina on November 12 and is engaged in combat operations in the Tonkin.^[4] On June 1, 1949, the Para Co. 3e REI completed its count.^[4] On November 17, 1950; the 1e BEP (1e BEP, I Formation) jumps on That Khé and sacrifices itself in Coc Xa to protect the unfolding of the RC4 in a traditional Foreign Legion battlefield.^[4] Heading and leading tradition was 1e BEP battalion commander Chef de Corps du 1e BEP, Commandant Pierre Segrétain.^[4]

The battalion dissolved on December 31, 1950; is reconstituted on March 1, 1951 (1e BEP, II formation) and is seen participating excessively in combat operations at Cho Ben, on the black river and at Annam.^[4] On November 21, 1953; the reconstituted 1e BEP is parachuted on Dien Bien Phu.^[4] In this gigantic battle, the reconstituted (1e BEP, II formation) 1e BEP counts 575 killed and missing for the second time in a traditional Foreign Legion battlefield.^[4] Amongst the fatal casualties feature Lieutenants Dumont, Boisbouvier and de Stabenrath, killed in between April 1 and May 13 as well as Sergent-Chef Grimault, killed on March 30.^[4] Reconstituted for the third time (1e BEP, III formation) on May 19, 1954, the 1e BEP leaves Indochina on February 8, 1955.^[4] The 1e BEP totals 5 citations at the orders of the armed forces and the fourragère of the colors of the Médaille militaire.^[4] The 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1e BEP, III Formation) becomes the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1e REP) in Algeria on September 1, 1955.

The insignia of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion was created in 1948 by Commandant Segrétain, battalion commander Chef de Bataillon, CBA of the 1e BEP.^[4]

3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion (1948-1955)

3e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutiste, 3e BEP - I, II, III, IV Formations -

Before becoming the 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment; the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion was created on April 1949 at Mascara.^[5] The 7th combat company of paratrooper training of the 1st Foreign rejoins Sétif 7 months later, starting November 15, 1949, to become officially the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion.^[5] The mission of the 3e BEP was to instruct and form the legionnaires destined to relieve the 1e BEP and 2e BEP.^[5] While mainly formed and created to instruct the Legionnaires, the 3rd Foreign Paratrooper Battalion participates in operations of maintaining order in Tunisia from January to June 1952.^[6]

On May 4, 1954; when struggle becomes of a rage at Dien Bien Phu, the 3e BEP makes and clears way to Indochina.^[5] On May 25, 1954, the battalion is at Haïphong.^[5] On June 1, the count of the men forming the 3e BEP is transferred to the 2e BEP during the reconstitution of the later.^[5] The 3e BEP merges with the injured of annihilated foreign battalions while in the meantime, owing to numerous volunteers, the 3e BEP is seen reconstituted at Sétif.^[5] Back to Algeria, the three foreign paratrooper battalions (1e BEP, 2e BEP, 3e BEP) will be seen filling the ranks of the foreign regiment. On September 1, 1955, the 3e BEP becomes the 3rd Foreign Parachute Regiment (3e REP).^[5] Based at Batna, the regiment becomes opeational but then is dissolved on December 1, 1955; the men constituting the regiment are merged with the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion, (2e BEP) to form a new corps, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment, (2e REP).^[5]

The insignia of the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion was created in 1950 by Captain Darmuzai, battalion commander Chef de Bataillon, CBA of the 3e BEP.^[5]

1st Foreign Parachute Regiment (1955-1961)

1e Regiment Etranger de Parachutiste, 1e REP

Disembarked in Algeria on February 25, 1955, the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion becomes the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment on September 1, 1955.^[7] Based at Zéralda, the regiment is composed of one command and support company, one assault company and three combat companies.^[8] Quite quickly, operations commence : Nementchas, Tunisian and Moroccan frontiers, Ouarsenis and de Suez.^[9] On November 6, 1956; the regiment debarks at Port-Fouad and operates quickly along the canal.^[10] The progression of the regiment is halted by the ceasefire and the regiment is quick to make way to operate around the mountains of Algeria by December 10.^[11]

Following the petrol route in the Sahara, combat operations engage the regiment non-stop in the region of Guelma.^[12] The magnificent results are paid and earned by the death of superior French regimental commander Chef de Corps Legion Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Paul Jeanpierre; the legendary Para Legionnaire's Legionnaire leading; who fell to the ennemy on May 28, 1958 along with a couple of hundred legionnaires in a traditional Foreign Legion battlefield.^[13] In 1959, action around the mountains retake course in operations "Jumelles", "Cigales" and "Ariege" in the Aurès, ending in Kabylie.^[14] Lory representation of paratooper legionniares; the reputation of the 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment is tarnished with the unfortunate events of the General's Putsch.^[15] The regiment is dissolved on April 30, 1961 at Thiersville.^[16]

Since creation, the 1st Foreign Paratrooper Regiment retakes the insignia of the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1e BEP), with a new inscription "1e REP".^[17]

2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (1948-1955)

2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutiste, 2e BEP, I, II, III, IV, V Formations

The 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion was created on October 1, 1948 by execution of a ministerial prescription dating to March 27, 1948.^[18] The combat companies of the 2e BEP were constituted by the 4th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion (4e D.B.L.E) in Morocco and the depot of the foreign regiments in Sidi-bel-Abbès, were assigned by the 25th Aeroportable Division Element (French: , 25e Elément Divisionnaire Aéroporté, EDAP/25).^[19] Compromised of one command company and three combat companies type fusiliers-voltigeurs, the battalion makes and clears way to Oran on January 19, 1949, destined for Indochina.^[20] Disembarked in Saïgon on February 9, the battalion is directed to Kep (Cambodia) by land route.^[21] On November 1949, the battalion takes base in Quan Thé.^[22]

The first combat engagements of the 2e BEP have for theatre of operations, Cambodia, Cochinchine and Annam.^[23] On October 1950, the 2e BEP is summoned to Tonkin. Reinforced by a heavy mortars company, the battalion engages in all military operations in the Delta, in Thaï lands, Mékong and the plains of Jarres.^[24] The impressive series of combat engagements are earned at the battle of Nghia Lo, colonial route N°6 (RC6), Hoa Binh and the defense of the camp by an airborne operation on Langson.^[25] Crowned of a magnificent epoque, the 2e BEP makes and clears way to Dien Bien Phu on April 9 and 10 of 1954 in the middle of the furnace.^[26] Following the couter-attack of supporting point "Huguet", lead by a rare determination during the night of the 22 and 23 of April; the 2e BEP and the 1st Foreign Parachute Battalion (1e B.E.P) merge to form a single foreign marching battalion. On May 7, the foreign marching battalion is dissolved and the 2e BEP is recreated by members of the 3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion.^[27] On June 1, 1954, the 2e BEP leaves Asia on November 1, 1955.^[28] The colors of the battalion are decorated with 6 citations at the orders of the armed forces and the fourragère of the colors of the Legion of Honor.^[29] The losses of the 2e BEP rises to 1500 Legion officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and Legionnaires killed along with their "chef de corps", Legion commandant Barthélémy Rémy Raffali leading and heading a traditional Foreign Legion battlefield.^[30] Returned to Algeria, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2e BEP) becomes the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment on December 1, 1955.^[31]

The insignia of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion was created in 1949, in Cambodia. The battalion was commanded at the time by commandant Solnon (1948-1950).^[32]

2nd Foreign Paratrooper Regiment, 2e REP (1955-present)

2e Regiment Etranger de Parachutiste, 2e REP

Elements of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion (2e BEP) during the First Indochina War.

Legionnaires of the 1st Foreign Parachute Heavy Mortar Company (1e CEPML) in Indochina.

2e REP global campaign history include but not all of :^[33]

Algeria

On December 1, 1955, the 2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion, 2e BEP was enlarged to a full regiment, and was redesignated as the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (French: 2e Régiment étranger de parachutistes, 2e REP).^[34] The regiment served throughout the Algerian War and suffered a total of 741 casualties.^[35] After the armistice on March 19, 1962 the regiment was to moved to Telergma and in September to Mers-el-Kebir.^[36] In June 1963 Lt. Col. Caillaud took command with a plan to transformed the now demoralized regiment into an elite para-commando force.^[36] In June 1967 the regiment was moved to its current base at Camp Raffalli, Calvi on the island of Corsica.^[36] It was assigned to the 11th Division and became part of France's rapid intervention forces.^[36]

Chad

Chad (in 1969, Operations Pout, Manta, Sparrowhawk):

Elements of the regiment were deployed to Chad in April 1969 as part of a French force to support the government against two rebel forces. Returning at the end of 1970. Individual companies were deployed again in 1978-79 to protect French lives and again in 1984.^[36]

Djibouti

Djibouti (1976 Loyada, 1992 Operation Iskoutir).

Zaire

In May 1978, a force of gendarmes katangais entered the Katanga province of Zaire from Angola and occupied the mining town of Kolwezi. They began to loot the town and kill government soldiers and civilians (including several Belgian and French employees of a mining company). At the request of the government of Zaire, 2 REP was airlifted to Kinshasa and dropped on Kolwezi. The operation was a success and the town was quickly recaptured with minor casualties in the ranks of the paratroopers. Some 120 civilian hostages died in the occupation.

Lebanon ( 1982 part of the Multinational Force in Lebanon and then UNIFUL )
Rwanda (1990, 1992, Operation Noroit)
Gabon (1990, Operation Shark)
Somalia (1992, Operation Oryx)
Central (1996, Operation Almandine)
Congo-Brazzaville (1997, Operation Pelican)
Former Yugoslavia (1993 Sarajevo, 1995 RIF 1996 and 1999 KFOR, Kosovo 2001 and 2003)
Kuwait (GCP, 1991 Operation Desert storm part of Opération Daguet)
Côte d'Ivoire (2002, 2004, 2006, 2010 Licorne)

Afghanistan

The regiment partook in various operations from 1960 to 1980, OMLT 2008, GTIA Altor 2010, Red SGTIA 2011 and Operation PAMIR. 2e REP deployed to Afghanistan from January to July 2010, as part of Task Force "Altor". Two Legionnaires, Pole Konrad Rygiel from 2e REP GCP, Slovakian Robert Hutnik from the regiment were killed in action.

Mali

A reinforced company of the 2nd REP was parachuted north of Timbuktu on January the 28th, 2013.^[37]

Selection

"Sharping up" for 2nd REP takes 12 months of physical, mental and psychological tests across all terrain and weather conditions including special operations training.

2nd REP is the only regiment of the 11th Parachute Brigade (France) which trains its own paratroopers. The Legionnaires spend their parachute training in Calvi TAP within the walls of the regiment. All other French Army paratrooper units are trained at the École des troupes aéroportées (ETAP) in Pau.

Organization

Insignias of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment.

The regiment is composed of around 1140 men organized into 9 companies and a reserve unit of 60 men.^[1]

Compagnie de commandement et de logistique (CCL) - Command and Logistics Company^[38]
Compagnie d'administration et de soutien (CAS) - Administrative and Support Company^[39]
Compagnie d'éclairage et d'appui (CEA) - Reconnaissance & Support Company (pathfinder (SRR), anti-tank (SAC), sniper (STE), and airborne commando (SCP) sections)^[40]
1er CIE - 1st Company (specialises in Urban warfare^[41])^[42] (a command section and 4 combat sections)
2e CIE - 2nd Company (specialises in Mountain warfare^[43]) (a command section and 4 combat sections)
3e CIE - 3rd Company (specialises in Amphibious warfare^[44]) (a command section and 4 combat sections)
4e CIE - 4th Company (specialises in sniping and demolitions^[45]) (a command section and 4 combat sections)
5e CIE - 5th Company (specialises in Desert warfare^[46]) ( a command section and 4 combat sections )
5e Compagnie de maintenance (5e CM) - 5th Maintenance Company (formed August 1994)^[47]
6e Compagnie (6e CIE) - Reserve Unit (founded July 2001 upon the dissolution of the 173rd Infantry Regiment of Corsica)^[48]

Commando Group teams of the 2e REP belong to the Commando Parachute Group - Groupement Commando Parachutiste which is a special forces unit of the 11th Parachute Brigade of the French army. While GCP members of other units wear the parachutist's red beret, the 2e REP GCP members maintains the green beret of the French Foreign Legion.^[49]

Traditions

The Archangel Michael featured in Mont Saint-Michel and the Insignia of the 9th Parachute Chasseur Regiment.

Except for the Legionnaires of the 1e REG, 2e REG, 2e REP that conserve the Green Beret; the remainder of the French army metropolitan and marine paratroopers forming the 11th Parachute Brigade wear the Red Beret. While the French and foreign parachute brevet is the same amongst French and foreign units, the Legion Parachute Moniteur Brevet, Legion Commando Parachute Brevet, and Legion Instructor Moniteur Brevet of Chuteur Opérationnel are different than the French Armed Forces and centered by the flag of the French Foreign Legion.

French and Foreign Legion Parachute Brevet
Circled Winged Armed Dextrochere worn on Foreign Beret of Foreign Legion 2e REP excluding Foreign Paratrooper Berets of 1e REG and 2e REG DINOPS and GCM.

Insignias

The beret insignia of the Foreign Legion Paratroopers of France represents a closed <<winged armed dextrochere>>, meaning a "right winged arm" armed with a sword pointing upwards. The Insignia makes reference to the Patron of Paratroopers. In fact, the Insignia represents <<the right Arm of Saint Michael>>, the Archangel which according to Liturgy is the <<Armed Arm of God>>. This Insignia is the symbol of righteous combat and fidelity to superior missions.

Para Co. of the 3rd R.E.I in the 1e B.E.P and 1e R.E.P
1e B.E.P
Officers, Sous-Officiers and Legionnaires of the R.E.Ps and B.E.Ps
1e R.E.P
3e B.E.P & 3e R.E.P

Regimental Colors

Colors of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment

The regimental colors include stitched in golden letters in its fold the following inscriptions.^[50]^[51]

Regimental Songs

Chant de Marche : La Légion marche featuring:^[52]

La Légion marche vers le front,
En chantant nous suivons,
Héritiers de ses traditions,
Nous sommes avec elle.

(Refrain)
Nous sommes les hommes des troupes d'assaut,
Soldats de la vieille Légion,
Demain brandissant nos drapeaux,
En vainqueurs nous défilerons,
Nous n'avons pas seulement des armes,
Mais le diable marche avec nous,
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, car nos aînés de la Légion,
Se battant là-bas, nous emboîtons le pas.

Pour ce destin de chevalier,
Honneur, Fidélité,
Nous sommes fiers d'appartenir
Au 2e REP.

Decorations

The regimental colors are decorated with:

The Croix de Guerre for Theatres of Exterior Operations with 6 palms obtained during the campaigns of the First Indochina War. The 6 palms obtained during the same campaign allows the regiment to wear the red fourragère wearing the ruban colors of the Légion d'honneur, only two regiments (2e REP & 1e RCP) earned this fourragère for participating in military campaigns in Indochina. The 2e REP has received a second fourragère Valeur Militaire in July 2013^[53]
The Cross for Military Valour with 4 palms for the following citations:
- Intervention at Loyada ( Djibouti, frontier with Somalia) in 1976 and the Battle of Kolwezi in 1978.^[53]
- Interventions in Afghanistan with the contingents of ISAF^[54](2 palms).^[53]
- Airborne operations on Timbuktu during Operation Serval in 2013.^[53]

The attribution of the two citations for the same operation theatre confers the right to wear the fourragère with colors of the Croix de la Valeur militaire (as of July, 2013)^[55] and the olive colors of the Médaille militaire for the ensemble of the four conferred citations.

Croix de la Valeur militaire
Croix de guerre des TOE
Fourragère with color ruban of the Legion of Honor

Honours

Battle honours

Company, Battalion & Regimental Commanders

Colonel Paul Marie Félix Jacques René Arnaud de Foïard
(1921-2005).

Colonel Philippe Louis Edmé Marie François Erulin
(1932-1979).

Colonel Bruno Dary

Note (* †): Legion officers killed heading their battalions and regiments

Para Company of the 3rd Foreign Infantry Regiment ( 1948 - 1949 )

Compagnie parachutiste 3ème REI Tenure (1948-1949)^[57]

1948 -1949 : Lieutenant Jacques Morin

1st Foreign Parachute Battalion, 1e BEP ( 1948 - 1955 ) - I,II,III Formations -

1er Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes Tenure ( 1948 - 1955 )^[58]

1948 - 1950 : chef de bataillon Pierre Segrétain(* †) (I Formation, 1e BEP)
- Acting second-in-command Adjoint : Pierre Paul Jeanpierre
1950 - 1950 : captain Raffalli
1950 - 1950 : captain Vieules
1951 - 1952 : chef de bataillon Darmuzai
1952 - 1953 : chef de bataillon Brothier
1953 - 1954 : chef de bataillon Guiraud
1954 - 1954 : captain Chalony (par intérim)
1954 - 1954 : captain Hélie Denoix de Saint-Marc (by interim)
1954 - 1954 : captain Germain
November 1, 1954 : chef de bataillon Pierre Paul Jeanpierre (II Formation, 1e BEP)
May 19, 1954 - September 1, 1955 : chef de bataillon Pierre Paul Jeanpierre (III Formation, 1e BEP)

3rd Foreign Parachute Battalion, 3e BEP ( 1948 - 1955 ) - I, II, III, IV Formations -

3e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes Tenure ( 1948- 1955 )^[59]

1949 - 1951 : captain Darmuzai
1951 - 1952 : lieutenant-colonel Brothier
1952 - 1954 : chef de bataillon Dussert
1954 - 1955 : captain Darmuzai

1st Foreign Parachute Regiment, 1e REP ( 1955 - 1961 )

1st Foreign Parachute Regiment Tenure (1955-1961)^[60]

September 1, 1955 - February 6, 1956 : battalion commander chef de bataillon commandant Pierre Paul Jeanpierre
1956 - 1957 : lieutenantt colonel Brothier
1957 - 1958 : Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Paul Jeanpierre (* †)
1958 - 1958 : Commandant Jacques Morin
1958 - 1959 : lieutenant colonel Brothier
1959 - 1960 : lieutenant colonel Dufour
1960 - 1961 : lieutenant colonel Guiraud
April 20, 1961 - April 30, 1961 : commandant Hélie Denoix de Saint Marc

2nd Foreign Parachute Battalion, 2e BEP ( 1948 - 1955 ) - I, II, III, IV, V Formations -

2e Bataillon Etranger de Parachutistes Tenure ( 1948 - 1955 )^[61]

1948 : captain Solnon
1950 : captain Dussert
1950 : chef d'escadrons commandant Barthélémy Rémy Raffali (* †)
1952 : chef de bataillon Bloch
1953 : captain Merglen
1953 : chef de bataillon Liesenfelt
1954 : captain Vial
1954 : chef de bataillon Masselot