![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(March 2010) |
Special Operations Regiment | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Founded |
|
Country | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Type | Special operations |
Size | 1,500 |
Headquarters | Heverlee, Belgium |
Motto(s) | "Far ahead", "Who Dares Wins" |
Colors | |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Colonel Linotte Frédéric |
Insignia | |
Parachute Qualification Brevet | ![]() |
Commando Qualification Brevet | ![]() |
The Special Operations Regiment is a special operations force of the Land Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. Its headquarters is located in Heverlee. It was known as the Light Brigade until 3 July 2018 when it was renamed and transformed into its current form. [1]
During the Second World War, parachutist and commando units were founded in Great Britain. In January 1942 the first Belgian parachutists were trained at RAF Ringway, Manchester, England, to serve in the No. 10 (Inter-Allied) Commando. The same year, the Belgian Independent Parachute Company was established and commanded by Captain Eddy Blondeel.
Later, the unit was incorporated into Britain's Special Air Service Brigade and became the 5th Special Air Service (known as the Belgian SAS squadron). The SAS squadron was active during World War II until enemy activities were discontinued. They performed several operations using the parachute regiment and armoured jeeps. Thereafter, the unit also took part in counter-intelligence operations.
On 21 September 1945 5th SAS was transferred from the British Army to the newly reformed Belgian Army. Renamed as the Regiment of Parachutists SAS, they served independently as a highly mobile airborne unit until 1952. That year, the parachutist and commando units were brought together to form the Para Commando Regiment. Later, an antitank company, a field artillery battery and a reconnaissance squadron were added to the regiment.
In 1991, the regiment became the Para-Commando Brigade by adding new support units. In 2003, the Para Commando units (1st Paratroopers Battalion, 3rd Paratroopers Battalion, 2nd Commando Battalion) together with the 12/13th Battalion of the Line formed the new Light Brigade. It was stationed in Marche-en-Famenne.
On 3 July 2018 the Light Brigade was transformed into the Special Operations Regiment and its headquarter moved to Heverlee. The regiment consists of the two remaining Para-commando battalions (3rd Para, 2nd Commando), the Special Forces Group, the 6th Group CIS, the training centre for parachutists and the training centre for commandos. The 12/13th Battalion of the Line was transferred to the Motorized Brigade.
The Para-commando battalions work closely with the Belgian Air Force's 15th Air Transport Wing, who operate the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft.
Other units personnel from the Belgian Armed Forces that support the 2nd Commando Battalion and 3rd Paratrooper Battalion, who as well as their primary trade have to complete the Para commandos "A" certificate training and in so doing, earn their Parachutists and Commando Brevets. Some of these units are currently in the process of being integrated into the new SOR (Special Operations Regiment) structure and as such will no longer be dependent upon the non-paracommando HQ of their former unit. [2]
A paratrooper is a military parachutist—someone trained to parachute into a military operation, and usually functioning as part of airborne forces. Military parachutists (troops) and parachutes were first used on a large scale during World War II for troop distribution and transportation. Paratroopers are often used in surprise attacks, to seize strategic objectives such as airfields or bridges.
The Commandos Marine are the special operation forces (SOF) of the French Navy. The Commandos Marine are nicknamed Bérets Verts. They operate under the Maritime Force of Sailor riflemen and Navy Commandos (FORFUSCO) and form part of the French Special Operations Command.
The green beret was the official headdress of the British Commandos, a special-forces unit active during World War II. It is still worn by members of the Royal Marines after passing the Commando Course, and personnel from other units of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF who serve within 3 Commando Brigade and who have passed the All Arms Commando Course.
A parachutist badge is a military badge awarded by the armed forces of many states to soldiers who have received parachute training and completed the required number of jumps. It is difficult to assess which country was the first to introduce such an award.
The black beret is a colour of beret, a type of headgear. It is commonly worn by paramilitaries and militaries around the world, particularly armored forces such as the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment (RTR), the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC), and Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) and the Indian Army Armoured Corps and Indian Border Security Force. Notable non-armored military units to wear the black beret include the non-military police and non-special forces elements of the Irish Defence Forces, MOD Guard Service, Russian Naval Infantry and Russian OMON units, the United States Air Force (USAF) Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) members, and the Royal Canadian Navy. It was also worn by the United Kingdom's Royal Observer Corps (ROC) with their Royal Air Force (RAF) uniform, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The 10th Brigade (Parachute) (Malay: Briged ke-10 Payung Terjun – 10 Briged Para, Jawi: ١٠ بريڬيد ڤارا), abbreviated as 10 PARA BDE, is an elite division-sized hybrid airborne-marine unit within the Malaysian Army. It is tasked with rapid reaction forces inside or outside the boundaries of Malaysia and serves as the key element of the Malaysian Rapid Deployment Force (Malay: Pasukan Aturgerak Cepat – PAC).
The 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment or 1er RPIMa is a unit of the French Army Special Forces Command, therefore part of the Special Operations Command.
The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the Second World War. It was first officially introduced by the British Army in 1942, at the direction of Major-General Frederick "Boy" Browning, commander of the British 1st Airborne Division. It was first worn by the Parachute Regiment in action in North Africa during November 1942.
The tan beret, also known as a beige beret, has been adopted as official headgear by several special operations forces as a symbol of their unique capabilities.
Special Forces of Zimbabwe are the units of the Zimbabwe National Army that operate as special forces. These forces have been deployed in several African conflicts, including the Mozambique Civil War and the Second Congo War.
The 6th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment is an airborne infantry unit of the French Army.
The Special Forces Group is the special forces unit in the Land Component of the Belgian Armed Forces.
In the United States (US) military, a beret flash is a shield-shaped embroidered cloth that is typically 2.25 in (5.72 cm) tall and 1.875 in (4.76 cm) wide with a semi–circular base that is attached to a stiffener backing of a military beret. These flashes—a British English word for a colorful cloth patch attached to military headgear—are worn over the left eye with the excess cloth of the beret shaped, folded, and pulled over the right ear giving it a distinctive appearance.
The 5th Special Air Service was an elite airborne unit during World War II. It consisted entirely of Belgian volunteers. It saw action as part of the SAS Brigade in Normandy, Northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands and (Germany). Initially trained in sabotage and intelligence gathering, they converted to motorized reconnaissance on armored jeeps. They were the first Allied unit to set foot onto Belgian soil and the first to cross the Siegfried line, albeit accidentally.
Troops began wearing berets as a part of the headgear of military uniforms in some European countries during the 19th century; since the mid-20th century, they have become a component of the uniforms of many armed forces throughout the world. Military berets are usually pushed to the right to free the shoulder that bears the rifle on most soldiers, but the armies of some countries, mostly within Europe, South America, and Asia, have influenced the push to the left.
The Para-Commando Brigade was an elite force in the Belgian Land Component, consisting of two paracommando battalions, the Special Forces Group and a support unit of the Communication & Information Systems Group (CIS). In 2003, its name was changed to the Light Brigade. On 3 July 2018, the Light Brigade was renamed and transformed into the Special Operations Regiment.
The 2nd Parachute Chasseur Regiment or 2e RCP, is one of the most decorated French units of the Second World War, the only land unit awarded the red fourragère in that war, including six citations at the orders of the armed forces. The French Navy 1500-ton class submarine Casabianca also accumulated six citations at the orders of the armed forces and therefore its crewmen were entitled to wear the same fourragère.
This article represents the structure of the Belgian Armed Forces as of May 2020: