The Skills
The 1er RPIMa relies on a number of skills to successfully carry out its missions. Most skills are either regiment or brigade-specific and need constant honing to be kept at the desired level of proficiency. They can be divided into several generic fields:
- The RAPAS (Airborne Reconnaissance and Special Action) basic skills
- The RAPAS skills are given to Enlisted men and NCOs after they have completed a series of organic and basic regimental courses - Basic training leading to the first rung of the RAPAS ladder is the elementary RAPAS technical certificate which is 6 months long. - RAPAS training covers all the basics of the SF operator's functions. It is then complemented by specific courses (DZ and LZ marking, basic and advanced CQB, sniping…) - A RAPAS group is led by a senior NCO or a Lieutenant. NCOs are generally former enlisted men who have risen from the ranks of the regiment while officers come from various specialised schools (mostly Infantry, Armour and Engineer) before following a specific course complemented by on job training within the groups. - When fully qualified and operational, a RAPAS team member has reached the rank of Caporal-chef (Master Corporal), and has been in the regiment for five years and spent more than two thirds of his time in the regiment following courses and has been deployed on real-world operations probably once a year.
- Air insertion
- Parachute operations: each member of the regiment is static-line parachute qualified using some specific low-altitude (125 metres) dropping techniques. The 1er RPIMa can also field different teams proficient in both HAHO and HALO techniques. Each company has a HALO capability. - Helicopter operations: Fast-roping and helicopter rappelling, special purpose infiltration and extraction rigs, LZ marking, special operation procedures, helicopter fire support, helicopter-borne sniper support, light helicopter insertion and extraction - Air delivery: the 1er RPIMa is unique in the way it has integrated air delivery component with teams able to rig and airdrop light to heavy loads and pallets in support of special operations from cargo aircraft of dedicated special operations division of the French air force.
- Amphibious operations
- Open circuit breathing apparatus: the 1er RPIMa can field a complete open air circuit (scuba) team for beach recce or riverine operations using light crafts, including kayaks - Closed circuit breathing apparatus: the 1er RPIMa can field a complete closed circuit team for covert underwater missions. This team is not a combat diver team; its purpose is to use waterways as another infiltration method.
- Motorised operations
- True to their SAS ancestors, the 1er RPIMa has always maintained a motorized patrol capability. It currently centres around PATSAS patrols that are tasked with developing and refining the methods and equipment needed for such operations. In addition to the PATSAS, each RAPAS company fields several motorised RAPAS groups. The mounts of motorised patrols are modified Peugeot P4s, Mercedes VPS and ACMAT VLRA trucks, all fitted with machine guns, automatic cannons, mortars, AGLs or ATGWs.
- The Special Recce Patrols (PRS)
- Having understood with time and experience that it is always better to act on intelligence which had been gathered and analysed by operators that intimately know which method of operation would be best used by the action groups, the 1er RPIMa has decided to include in its specialized teams the PRS concept. - The PRS are infiltrated ahead of the action teams and provide real time intelligence on the target area. The information gathered by the PRS is then transmitted by a variety of secure means to the command level which then disseminates it to the action groups.
- Counter Terrorism
- The 1er RPIMa can field several CT teams, all backed by specialized sniper teams proficient in calibre's ranging from 5.56 mm to 12.7 mm (.50 cal) - All ranks of the company are CT trained - The Regiment benefits from proximity to the Centre d'Entraînement Adapté (CTA), Europe's largest and most modern CQB facility (CQB = Close Quarters Battle or Killing House). The CTA is located in Pau and offers unmatched live firing capabilities for all sorts of CT scenarios. - The CQB skills are kept honed to a high level thanks to regular training in the CTA and cross training with French and Allied CT units.
- Bodyguard teams
- The 1er RPIMa has been involved in bodyguard duties for the last 25 years. - The Regiment only provides Bodyguard teams to high ranking officials at theatre level. - A fully qualified RAPAS team member is also Bodyguard qualified
- Jungle, desert and mountain operations
- So as to prepare RAPAS units of the 1er RPIMa for operations over difficult terrain it can use French and foreign training centres around the world - Mountain, jungle and desert training exercises are scheduled every year - RAPAS team members are sent regularly as permanent instructors to jungle and desert schools in French Guyana or friendly African countries - Every year, the Regiment sends some of its members to foreign schools to improve its tactics and procedures in hostile environments (jungle, bush…) - A regular influx of experienced NCOs volunteering from the French 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade keeps the Regiment up-to-date on modern mountaineering techniques
Read more about this topic: 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment
Famous quotes containing the word skills:
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—Haim Ginott (20th century)